The Divination Techniques of Plum Blossom Numerology in Plain Language, Part One

Zhengyuan Traditional Culture

Many enthusiasts of the Changes are fond of Plum Blossom Numerology (Meihua Yishu), but they find the original text dry and hard to understand. This article therefore offers a plain-language translation of the practical application of Plum Blossom Numerology, in the hope that it will be of help to readers who love the book.

1. The Method of Divination

The secrets within the Changes reach to the ends of heaven and earth; the workings of creation are revealed before they unfold.

Within them are spirits who govern fortune and misfortune; never from of old should they be passed on lightly.

Plain-Language Translation

The secrets of the Changes are unfathomably deep and encompass the mysteries of heaven and earth; the laws of nature's changes are fully revealed before they happen. Within them are spirits who govern the allotment of fortune and misfortune, and such knowledge should never be passed on lightly to the world.

2. Correspondence

Each thing has always had a body of its own, and each body holds a heaven and earth of its own;
if you can know that all affairs are complete within yourself, you will be willing to set the Three Powers on a root of their own.
Heaven divides creation within the One; humanity sets its plans in motion within the heart;
the immortals, too, speak in two ways; the Tao is not handed down in vain—it rests only with the person.

Plain-Language Translation

Every thing has always had its own unique essence, and within that essence is contained a small heaven and earth. If you can understand this principle and know that all things are complete within yourself, how could you lightly set up a separate foundation for the principles of the Three Powers of heaven, earth, and humanity? Heaven brings forth the mysteries of creation from within the One, while human beings begin to weave their wisdom and plans within their own hearts. Even the immortals speak in two ways, but the transmission of the truth is not false; the key lies in whether it meets the right person.

3. Dividing Trigrams by Eight

In casting a hexagram, no matter how large the number, use eight to form the trigram. If the number exceeds eight, divide it successively by eight and use the remainder as the upper trigram. If it cannot be divided out by one eight, divide by two eights, three eights, and so on, until the eights are exhausted, and use the remainder to form the trigram. If it is divided exactly by eight, it is the Kun (Earth) trigram, and no further division is needed.

Plain-Language Translation

When casting a hexagram, whatever the number, eight is used as the basis of the trigram. If the number exceeds eight, divide it successively by eight and use the remainder as the upper trigram. For example, if a number is not exhausted by dividing out one eight, go on dividing out two eights, three eights, and so on, until the eights can be divided out no further, and then use the remaining number as the trigram image. If the number is exactly divisible by eight, the result is the Kun trigram, and no further division is needed.

4. Dividing Lines by Six

In finding the moving line, divide the total of the doubled trigrams by six and use the remainder as the moving line. If the total is less than six, use that number as the moving line without dividing. If it exceeds six, divide it; if one six does not exhaust it, divide by two sixes, three sixes, and so on, until it is exhausted, and use the remainder as the moving line. If one line moves, look at whether this line is yin or yang: a yang line changes into a yin line, and a yin line changes into a yang line. In finding the line, the hour should be added.

Plain-Language Translation

To find the moving line, we divide the total of the doubled hexagram by six and use the remainder as the moving line. If the total is less than six, we use that number directly as the moving line without further division. If the total exceeds six, we keep dividing by six until it can be divided no further, and then use the remaining number as the moving line.

When we obtain a moving line, we need to look at whether it is yin or yang. If it is a yang line, we change it into a yin line; if it is a yin line, we change it into a yang line. In finding the moving line, the time at that moment must also be taken into account.

5. How to Form the Nuclear Hexagram

The nuclear hexagram uses only the eight trigrams; there is no need to take the names of the sixty-four hexagrams. The nuclear hexagram is formed by removing the first and sixth lines of the doubled hexagram and dividing the middle four lines into an upper and a lower trigram: which trigrams are obtained? It is also said: Qian and Kun have no nuclear hexagram; take the nuclear hexagram of their changed hexagram.

Plain-Language Translation

In forming the nuclear hexagram, we need use only the eight trigrams, not the names of the sixty-four hexagrams. The nuclear hexagram is obtained by removing the first line (the bottom line) and the sixth line (the top line) of the doubled hexagram (the six-line hexagram made up of an upper and a lower trigram), then dividing the four remaining middle lines into an upper and a lower trigram and seeing which trigrams they are.

There is another view as well: the two hexagrams Qian and Kun have no nuclear hexagram. If their nuclear hexagram is needed, look at the nuclear hexagram of their changed hexagram (the hexagram obtained after Qian or Kun changes).

6. Casting a Hexagram from the Year, Month, Day, and Hour

The year, month, and day form the upper trigram; the total of the year, month, and day plus the hour forms the lower trigram. The total of the year, month, day, and hour is also used to find the line. For example, the Zi year is one, the Chou year two, and so on up to the Hai year, twelve. For the month, the first month is one, up to the twelfth month, which is also twelve. For the day, the first day is one, up to the thirtieth day, which is thirty. Add up the numbers of the year, month, and day, divide by eight, and use the remainder as the upper trigram. For the hour, the Zi hour is one, up to the Hai hour, twelve. Add the number of the hour to the numbers of the year, month, and day, divide the total by eight, and use the remainder as the lower trigram; then divide by six to find the moving line.

Plain-Language Translation

When casting a hexagram from the year, month, day, and hour, we add up the numbers of the year, month, and day to obtain the upper trigram, and the total of the year, month, day, and hour to obtain the lower trigram. We then use the total of the year, month, day, and hour to find the moving line.

Specifically, the number of the year corresponds to its Earthly Branch: the Zi year is 1, the Chou year 2, and so on up to the Hai year, 12. The number of the month starts with the first month as 1, up to the twelfth month as 12. The number of the day starts with the first day as 1, up to the thirtieth day as 30 (if the month does not have thirty days, count the actual number of days).

Add up the numbers of the year, month, and day to obtain a total. Then divide this total by 8, and the remainder becomes the upper trigram.

The number of the hour also corresponds to its Earthly Branch: the Zi hour is 1, up to the Hai hour, 12. We add the number of the hour to the total of the year, month, and day to obtain a new total. Then we divide this new total by 8, and the remainder becomes the lower trigram.

Finally, we divide the total of the year, month, day, and hour by 6, and the remainder becomes the moving line. In this way we obtain a complete hexagram, with an upper trigram, a lower trigram, and a moving line.

7. Divining by the Number of Objects

Whenever you see objects that can be counted, use their number to form the upper trigram and pair it with the number of the hour to form the lower trigram; then add the trigram number and the hour number together, divide the total by six, and take the moving line.

Plain-Language Translation

When we see objects that can be counted, we can use their number to cast a hexagram. The method is to take the number of objects as the upper trigram and the number of the time at that moment as the lower trigram. Next, we add the trigram numbers (that is, the sum of the upper and lower trigram numbers) and the time number together, then divide this total by 6, and the remainder becomes the moving line.

For example, if we see 5 apples, the upper trigram is 5; if the time is the Wu hour (counting by the Earthly Branches, the Wu hour is 7), the lower trigram is 7. Next, we add 5 and 7 to get 12, then divide 12 by 6, which leaves a remainder of 0. In Plum Blossom Numerology, when the division leaves no remainder, the image of the lower trigram is changed to give the moving line (some hold that when the remainder is 0, the Kun trigram is taken as the moving line, or that it should be handled flexibly according to the circumstances). In this way we obtain a complete hexagram, with an upper trigram, a lower trigram, and a moving line.

8. Divining by Sounds

Whenever you hear sounds, count how many there are to form the upper trigram, and add the number of the hour to form the lower trigram. Sounds such as the cries of animals or the knocking of other people can all be counted to cast a hexagram.

Plain-Language Translation

When we hear a sound, we can count the number of times or beats of the sound and use this number to form the upper trigram. At the same time, we also need to add the number of the time at that moment to form the lower trigram.

The sounds referred to here can be of all kinds, such as the cries of animals or the sound of other people knocking on something; all of these can serve as a basis for casting a hexagram.

Specifically, if we hear a sound—say, a bird calls three times—we can take 3 as the upper trigram; if the time is the Si hour (counting by the Earthly Branches, the Si hour is 4), we can take 4 as the lower trigram. In this way we obtain the basic framework of a hexagram.

Of course, in actual use one must handle things flexibly according to the circumstances; factors such as the rhythm and loudness of the sound can also be taken into account to obtain a more precise hexagram.

9. Divining by Characters

Whenever you see a number of characters, if they are evenly balanced, divide them equally: one half for the upper trigram and one half for the lower trigram. If the number of characters is uneven, the part with one character fewer is the upper trigram, following the idea that heaven is light and clear, and the part with one character more is the lower trigram, following the idea that earth is heavy and turbid.

Plain-Language Translation

When we see written characters, if their number is even, we can divide them equally, with one half as the upper trigram and the other half as the lower trigram. For example, if we see ten characters, the first five represent the upper trigram and the last five the lower trigram.

If the number of characters is uneven—that is, one part has more and the other fewer—the part with one character fewer can be taken as the upper trigram, reflecting the principle that “heaven is light and clear,” and the part with one character more as the lower trigram, reflecting the principle that “earth is heavy and turbid.” For example, if we see seven characters, the first three represent the upper trigram and the last four the lower trigram.

This method of casting a hexagram matches the number of characters to the eight trigrams in order to obtain a hexagram. In actual use, it must be analyzed and interpreted in light of the specific situation and background.

10. Divining for Others

There are various ways of divining for others. One may listen to the sound of their speech, observe their person, take something from their body, take something from their belongings, observe the color of their clothes or an external object they encounter, use the year, month, day, and hour, or use their written statement of purpose. When listening to their speech, if it is a single sentence, divide it by the number of characters to cast the hexagram; if they speak two sentences, use the first sentence as the upper trigram and the second as the lower trigram. If they say much, use only the first sentence heard, or the last words heard; the other sentences are not used.

Observing their person means, for example, that an old man is Qian (Heaven) and a young girl is Dui (Lake), and so on.

Taking something from their body means, for example, that a movement of the head is Qian, a movement of the feet is Zhen (Thunder), a movement of the eyes is Li (Fire), and so on.

Taking something from their belongings means, for example, that if a person happens to have something in the hand, things such as gold, jade, and round objects are Qian, and things such as earthenware tiles and square objects are Kun (Earth), and so on.

Observing the color of their clothes means, for example, that a person in green clothes is Zhen and a person in red clothes is Li, and so on.

An external object they encounter means, for example, that if water is seen when the hexagram is cast, it is the Kan (Water) trigram, and if fire is seen, it is the Li trigram, and so on.

For the year, month, day, and hour, infer by analogy with cases such as “Observing the Plum Blossoms.”

A written statement of purpose: when a person comes for a reading, or writes down the purpose, divine by the characters written.

Plain-Language Translation

When divining for others there are many methods, and none is fixed. We can listen to the sound of their speech, observe their character and bearing, take something from their body or their surroundings, observe the color of the clothes they are wearing, or an external object near them; we can even cast the hexagram from the year, month, day, and hour, or divine from the purpose they write down.

If we cast the hexagram by listening to their speech—say they speak one sentence—we can divide that sentence by its number of characters into two parts, with the first part as the upper trigram and the second part as the lower trigram. If they speak two sentences, the first sentence is the upper trigram and the second the lower trigram. If they say a great deal, we take only the first sentence we hear, or the last one, and do not use the rest.

When casting the hexagram by observing their character and bearing, for example, an old man represents the Qian trigram and a young girl the Dui trigram, and so on.

When casting the hexagram by taking something from their body, for example, if their head moves it represents the Qian trigram, if their feet move it represents the Zhen trigram, and if their eyes move it represents the Li trigram, and so on.

When casting the hexagram by taking something from their surroundings, for example, if they happen to have something in their hand, gold, jade, or something round represents the Qian trigram, and earthenware tiles or something square represents the Kun trigram, and so on.

When casting the hexagram by observing the color of their clothes, for example, if they wear green clothes it represents the Zhen trigram, and if they wear red clothes it represents the Li trigram, and so on.

When casting the hexagram from an external object near them, for example, if water is seen at the time of casting it represents the Kan trigram, and if fire is seen it represents the Li trigram, and so on.

When casting the hexagram from the year, month, day, and hour, one can calculate by methods such as the plum-viewing reading in Plum Blossom Numerology.

If they write down their purpose for the divination, we can divine with the characters they have written.

11. Divining for Oneself

Whenever you wish to divine for yourself, you may cast a hexagram from the year, month, day, and hour, from a sound you hear, or from an external object you encounter at the time. These three cases are the same as the methods for divining for others in the previous chapter.

Plain-Language Interpretation

When you want to divine for yourself, you can use the year, month, day, and hour, a sound you hear, or an external object you come into contact with at the time; all of these can be used to cast a hexagram. The three methods described above are the same as the methods for divining for others described earlier.

12. Divining About Animals

For the movements of a group of animals, one may not cast a hexagram. If you see a single animal, take that animal as the upper trigram and the direction from which it comes as the lower trigram. Add the trigram number of the animal to the trigram number of the direction, add the number of the hour to find the line, and use this hexagram to judge the matter of the animal as a whole, as in the later heaven readings of an ox lowing or a rooster crowing. Also, for oxen, horses, dogs, and the like, when newly born, divine by the year, month, day, and hour of birth. Or if you buy such an animal, you may also calculate from the time you first bought it.

Plain-Language Interpretation

When divining the movements of a group of animals, one cannot cast a hexagram directly. But if you see a single animal, you can take that animal as the upper trigram and the direction it comes from as the lower trigram. Then add the trigram number of the animal to the trigram number of the direction, add the number of the time (such as the number of the double hour), and use the resulting total to divine and judge the animal's situation. This method is similar to the later heaven readings of animal behavior such as an ox lowing or a rooster crowing.

In addition, for animals such as oxen, horses, and dogs, if they are newly born, you can divine by the year, month, day, and hour of their birth. Or, if you have just bought these animals, you can also calculate from the time you bought them.

13. Divining About Still Objects

For still objects, such as rivers, mountains, and rocks, one may not cast a hexagram. As for houses, trees, and the like, one may cast a hexagram from the time a house was first built or a tree first planted. As for implements, one may divine from the time they were made, as with pillows, chairs, and the like. For the rest, one does not divine without a reason. In the case of observing the plum blossoms, the divination was made upon seeing sparrows fight over a branch and fall to the ground; in the case of the peony, it was made because someone asked; and in the case of the luxuriant tree, it was made after a branch withered and fell of itself.

Plain-Language Interpretation

When divining about still objects—natural things such as rivers, mountains, and rocks—one cannot cast a hexagram directly. But for objects that are built or planted, such as houses and trees, one can cast a hexagram from the time they were first built or first planted. For example, the moment a house is completed, or the moment a tree is planted, can serve as the time for casting a hexagram.

As for implements such as pillows and chairs, one can divine at the time they are finished being made.

Apart from this, one generally does not divine without a special reason. But in special situations one does: for example, when looking at plum blossoms, divining because sparrows fought over a branch and made the blossoms fall to the ground; or when looking at peonies, divining because someone asked; or when looking at a large tree, divining because a branch withered and fell of itself. These are all examples of divining about still objects in special circumstances.