Mei Hua Yi Shu (Plum Blossom Divination) is a profound branch of Yi Jing divination established by the Song Dynasty philosopher Shao Yong (邵雍) . Unlike traditional methods using yarrow stalks or coins, Plum Blossom allows a practitioner to derive hexagrams from any phenomenon in the environment—numbers, time, sounds, colors, or objects—using the mathematical logic of the Early Heaven (Fu Xi) Bagua .
Mei Hua Yi Shu (梅花易數 - Méi Huā Yì Shù)
Plum Blossom Divination: The Art of Spontaneous Resonance
✦ ◆ ✦
Module 1: The Numerical Foundation (數的基礎)
In Mei Hua Yi Shu, everything is a number. The core of the system is the mapping of the 8 Trigrams to the Early Heaven numbers.
| Number | Trigram (卦) | Element | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qian (乾) | Metal (Strong) | Heaven |
| 2 | Dui (兌) | Metal (Soft) | Lake |
| 3 | Li (離) | Fire | Sun / Flame |
| 4 | Zhen (震) | Wood (Hard) | Thunder |
| 5 | Xun (巽) | Wood (Soft) | Wind |
| 6 | Kan (坎) | Water | Abyss |
| 7 | Gen (艮) | Earth (Hard) | Mountain |
| 8 | Kun (坤) | Earth (Soft) | Earth |
Module 2: Deriving the Hexagram (起卦方法)
Mastering the two primary ways to "start the Gua" based on spontaneous events.
A. The Time-Date Method (年月日時起卦)
- Upper Gua: (Year + Month + Day) ÷ 8 = Remainder (The Trigram).
- Lower Gua: (Year + Month + Day + Hour) ÷ 8 = Remainder.
- Moving Yao: (Year + Month + Day + Hour) ÷ 6 = Remainder.
B. Subjective Observation (物數起卦)
Learning to assign numbers based on what you see: the number of people, the color of a person's shirt, the sound of a bird's chirp, or the stroke count of a Chinese character.
Module 3: The Three Hexagrams (三卦分析)
To see the full trajectory of an event, we analyze three distinct states of energy:
- Original Gua (本卦): The current situation or the "Seed" of the inquiry.
- Mutual Gua (互卦): The hidden process, internal complications, or the "Middle" development.
- Resultant Gua (變卦): The outcome, final transformation, or the "Fruit" of the matter.
Module 4: Ti and Yong (體用學說)
The "Self" (Ti) and the "Application" (Yong) are the keys to interpretation. We look at the interaction of the Five Elements between the two parts of the hexagram.
- Ti (體): The Trigram that does not contain the Moving Yao. Represents the Querent/Self.
- Yong (用): The Trigram that contains the Moving Yao. Represents the Matter/Other.
Basic Interpretation:
- Yong produces Ti: Auspicious (Support).
- Ti produces Yong: Leakage (Effort).
- Ti controls Yong: Success (Overcoming).
- Yong controls Ti: Inauspicious (Pressure/Harm).
- Ti and Yong are same element: Stable (Cooperation).
✦ ◆ ✦
Module 5: Derivation Methods (起卦法 — Qǐ Guà Fǎ)
The genius of Mei Hua Yi Shu lies in its radical premise: any phenomenon in the universe can become a hexagram . Shao Yong codified seven primary methods for triggering a reading. The guiding principle is 触机即占 (chù jī jí zhān) — "When the trigger presents itself, divine immediately." The diviner must cultivate 虚静 (xū jìng) , a state of empty receptiveness, so the mind naturally resonates with the cosmic pattern of the moment.
| Method | Chinese Name | Trigger Source | Formula / Procedure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Time | 时间起卦法 Shíjiān Qǐ Guà Fǎ | Chinese calendar year, month, day, and hour branch numbers | Upper = (Year Branch + Month + Day) mod 8 Lower = (Year + Month + Day + Hour) mod 8 Moving Line = Total mod 6 |
| 2. Number | 数字起卦法 Shùzì Qǐ Guà Fǎ | Any number(s) — phone digits, house number, page number | Two numbers: 1st mod 8 → Upper; 2nd mod 8 → Lower; Sum mod 6 → Moving Line. Single number: split naturally into two groups. |
| 3. Character Stroke | 笔画起卦法 Bǐhuà Qǐ Guà Fǎ | Stroke count (笔画) of Chinese characters | Two characters: 1st strokes mod 8 → Upper; 2nd strokes mod 8 → Lower; Total strokes mod 6 → Moving Line. Multiple characters: split into two groups. |
| 4. Sound | 声音起卦法 Shēngyīn Qǐ Guà Fǎ | Audible sounds — knocks, barks, bird calls, thunder | Count sounds in distinguishable groups. First burst → Upper; second burst → Lower. Add hour for Moving Line. Single burst: use count as single-number method. |
| 5. Object / Image | 物象起卦法 Wùxiàng Qǐ Guà Fǎ | Directly observed objects, people, or phenomena | Assign trigrams by association: old man → 乾; lake/girl → 兑; fire/light → 离; thunder → 震; wind → 巽; water → 坎; mountain → 艮; earth/mother → 坤. First image → Upper; second → Lower. |
| 6. Direction | 方位起卦法 Fāngwèi Qǐ Guà Fǎ | Direction from which a person or event approaches | Use Later Heaven (后天) assignments: S=离, N=坎, E=震, W=兑, SE=巽, NW=乾, NE=艮, SW=坤. Approaching direction → one trigram; querent's facing → the other. |
| 7. Random Event | 随机起卦法 Suíjī Qǐ Guà Fǎ | Any spontaneous occurrence — people in a room, petals on a flower, steps taken | Convert the observed count into numbers and apply the standard modular formula. The key is first impression (第一感觉) — use whatever strikes the mind first, without deliberation. |
Core Rule (核心规则): If any remainder equals 0 , use 8 for trigrams (= 坤 Kūn) or 6 for moving lines (= top line). The mnemonic: 乾一兑二离三震，巽五坎六艮七坤 (Qián yī Duì èr Lí sān Zhèn, Xùn wǔ Kǎn liù Gèn qī Kūn) .
✦ ◆ ✦
Module 6: Advanced Techniques (高级技法 — Gāojí Jìfǎ)
Beyond the foundational Ti-Yong analysis, senior practitioners employ a suite of advanced methods that transform a simple hexagram into a multi-dimensional portrait of reality. Mastery of these techniques distinguishes a competent student from a true 易师 (Yì Shī) .
A. Wai Ying — External Responses (外应 — Wài Yìng)
Wai Ying is the practice of reading environmental signs that occur simultaneously with the divination — considered by many masters to be the highest level of Mei Hua practice, surpassing the hexagram mathematics itself. Shao Yong wrote: "先看外应，后断卦象" (xiān kàn wài yìng, hòu duàn guà xiàng) — "First observe the external responses, then judge the hexagram images."
- While divining about a business deal, a bird sings happily → auspicious 吉 (jí)
- While asking about health, something breaks nearby → ominous 凶 (xiōng)
- A person walks in from the south → 离 (Lí / Fire) energy enters the reading
- The wind suddenly picks up → 巽 (Xùn / Wind) influence arrives
- A child laughs → 兑 (Duì) energy = joy, positive resolution
B. Hu Gua — Interlocking Hexagram (互卦 — Hù Guà)
The Hu Gua is derived from the inner four lines of the original hexagram and reveals the hidden middle process — what happens between the beginning (本卦) and the end (变卦).
- Upper Hu Trigram (上互): Lines 3, 4, 5 of the original hexagram
- Lower Hu Trigram (下互): Lines 2, 3, 4 of the original hexagram
The Hu Gua shows: underlying motivations, hidden complications, the "real story" behind appearances, and resources or obstacles not immediately visible.
C. Bian Gua — Transformed Hexagram (变卦 — Biàn Guà)
When the moving line changes (Yin ↔ Yang), the resulting hexagram is the Bian Gua. It represents the final outcome (最终结果) , the direction of change, and the future state after present dynamics play out. In a complete reading, the trajectory flows: 本卦 (present) → 互卦 (process) → 变卦 (outcome) .
D. Multi-Hexagram Analysis (多重卦象分析 — Duōchóng Guà Xiàng Fēnxī)
A complete Mei Hua reading examines four layers , each offering a different angle on the situation:
- 本卦 (Běn Guà / Original): The present situation as it stands right now.
- 互卦 (Hù Guà / Interlocking): The hidden dynamics, underlying forces, and mid-process complications.
- 变卦 (Biàn Guà / Transformed): The final outcome after transformation.
- 错卦 (Cuò Guà / Opposite) & 综卦 (Zōng Guà / Reversed): Alternative perspectives used by advanced practitioners — the "mirror image" and "flipped" views of the situation.
Any trigram across all layers that produces Ti (生体) is a helper (助力 / zhùlì). Any trigram that overcomes Ti (克体) is an obstacle (阻碍 / zǔ'ài). The balance of helpers versus obstacles across all four hexagrams determines the final judgment.
E. Timing Predictions (应期 — Yìng Qī)
Mei Hua predicts when an event will manifest based on elemental timing:
- Ti is strong (旺 wàng): The event occurs when Ti is overcome — the trigger arrives to "move" the stable energy.
- Ti is weak (衰 shuāi): The event occurs when Ti is produced — it gains enough strength to act.
- Yong overcomes Ti: The event occurs when a mediating element arrives to drain Yong's attacking force.
- Nearness Principle (远近取之 yuǎn jìn qǔ zhī): Urgent matters → hours/days; important matters → months; life matters → years.
✦ ◆ ✦
Module 7: Myriad Things Classification (万物类象 — Wànwù Lèi Xiàng)
A Mei Hua practitioner must internalize the comprehensive correspondence system that maps each trigram to categories of phenomena. This is the "vocabulary" of the hexagram language — without it, one can calculate trigrams but cannot read their meaning. As the classic says: "不知类象，不能断卦" (bù zhī lèi xiàng, bù néng duàn guà) — "Without knowing the image correspondences, one cannot interpret hexagrams."
| Trigram | Family Member | Body Part | Animal | Element | Direction (后天) | Season | Color | Key Objects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☰ 乾 Qián Heaven | Father (父 fù) Elderly man, leader | Head (首 shǒu) Skull, brain, lungs | Horse (马 mǎ) Lion, elephant | Metal 金 (Strong Yang) | Northwest | Late Autumn (9th–10th month) | White, Gold, Deep Red (大赤) | Crown, mirror, round objects, jade, precious items |
| ☱ 兑 Duì Lake | Youngest Daughter (少女 shàonǚ) | Mouth (口 kǒu) Tongue, teeth, throat | Sheep (羊 yáng) Birds, deer | Metal 金 (Soft Yin) | West | Mid-Autumn (8th month) | White, Silver | Musical instruments, kettles, vessels with openings, broken items |
| ☲ 离 Lí Fire | Middle Daughter (中女 zhōngnǚ) | Eye (目 mù) Heart, blood vessels | Pheasant (雉 zhì) Turtle, crab | Fire 火 | South | Summer (5th month) | Red, Orange, Purple | Books, documents, paintings, weapons, lanterns, candles |
| ☳ 震 Zhèn Thunder | Eldest Son (长男 zhǎngnán) | Foot (足 zú) Liver, hair, voice | Dragon (龙 lóng) Eagle, insects | Wood 木 (Hard Yang) | East | Spring (2nd month) | Green, Azure | Drums, vehicles, flowers, fireworks, musical instruments |
| ☴ 巽 Xùn Wind | Eldest Daughter (长女 zhǎngnǚ) | Thigh (股 gǔ) Respiratory, nerves | Chicken (鸡 jī) Snake, flying insects | Wood 木 (Soft Yin) | Southeast | Late Spring (3rd–4th month) | Green, White, Cyan | Ropes, thread, fans, incense, long/thin objects |
| ☵ 坎 Kǎn Water | Middle Son (中男 zhōngnán) | Ear (耳 ěr) Kidneys, blood | Pig (猪 zhū) Fox, rat, fish | Water 水 | North | Winter (11th month) | Black, Dark Blue | Wine, oil, medicine, wheels, bows, ink, hidden items |
| ☶ 艮 Gèn Mountain | Youngest Son (少男 shàonán) | Hand (手 shǒu) Fingers, back, nose | Dog (狗 gǒu) Tiger, leopard | Earth 土 (Hard Yang) | Northeast | Late Winter (12th–1st month) | Yellow, Brown | Rocks, gates, walls, tables, beds, storage containers |
| ☷ 坤 Kūn Earth | Mother (母 mǔ) Old woman, masses | Abdomen (腹 fù) Stomach, spleen | Cow (牛 niú) Mare, ant | Earth 土 (Soft Yin) | Southwest | Late Summer (6th–7th month) | Yellow, Black, Brown | Cloth, fabric, cauldron, flat objects, containers, vehicles |
Practitioner's Insight (修炼心得): The true power of 万物类象 is not memorization but pattern thinking (象思维 xiàng sīwéi) . When you see a trigram, let it unfold into its full family of images. 乾 is not just "metal" — it is the father, the head, the horse galloping, the jade disc, the government hall, the unyielding will. In a reading, the specific image that resonates with the question is the one the cosmos is highlighting.
✦ ◆ ✦
Module 8: Case Studies (案例分析 — Ànlì Fēnxī)
The following historical and analytical case studies illustrate how the principles of Mei Hua Yi Shu combine in real-world divination. Each case demonstrates different derivation methods, Ti-Yong relationships, and interpretation layers.
Case 1: Shao Yong's Plum Blossom Sparrow Prediction (邵雍观梅占)
📖 The Founding Legend — 观梅占 (Guān Méi Zhān)
Context: Winter, 辰年 (Chén nián), 12th month, 17th day, 未时 (Wèi shí, 1–3 PM). Shao Yong (邵雍) was sitting quietly in his garden admiring plum blossoms. He observed two sparrows (麻雀 máquè) fighting on a plum blossom branch — both fell to the ground. He recognized this as a cosmic signal (有感 yǒu gǎn) and immediately derived a hexagram.
Derivation (Time Method):
- Upper: (5 + 12 + 17) = 34 ÷ 8 = remainder 2 → 兑 (Duì / Lake)
- Lower: (34 + 8) = 42 ÷ 8 = remainder 2 → 兑 (Duì / Lake)
- Moving Line: 42 ÷ 6 = remainder 0 → 6th line (remainder 0 = line 6)
- 本卦 (Ben Gua): ䷹ 兑为泽 (Duì Wéi Zé, Hex 58 — The Joyous)
- 变卦 (Bian Gua): ䷻ 泽水困 (Zé Shuǐ Kùn, Hex 47 — Oppression)
- 互卦 (Hu Gua): 风火家人 (Fēng Huǒ Jiārén, Hex 37 — The Family)
Ti-Yong Analysis: Moving line in upper trigram (line 6), so Upper = Yong (兑/Metal) , Lower = Ti (兑/Metal) . Ti-Yong are 比和 (Bǐ Hé / same element). But the Bian Gua reveals 坎 (Kǎn/Water) below — Water drains Metal, showing the transformation turns unfavorable.
Image Reading: 兑 = young girl (少女). The Hu Gua contains 巽 (Xùn) = thigh (股). 困 (Kùn) = entrapment, difficulty. Shao Yong predicted: "Tomorrow evening, a young girl will come to pick plum blossoms and will be injured in the thigh by the gardener."
Outcome: The next evening, a girl climbed the garden wall to steal plum blossoms, was startled by the gardener, fell, and injured her leg. Prediction confirmed (应验 yìng yàn).
Source: 《梅花易数》原文 (Méi Huā Yì Shù original text)
Case 2: Time-Based Hexagram — The Merchant's Trade Deal (商人贸易占)
📊 Time Method Application — 年月日时起卦
Context: A merchant asks at 申时 (Shēn shí, 3–5 PM) on the 8th day of the 3rd month, 寅年 (Yín nián), whether an important trade deal will succeed.
Derivation:
- Upper: (3 + 3 + 8) = 14 ÷ 8 = remainder 6 → 坎 (Kǎn / Water)
- Lower: (14 + 9) = 23 ÷ 8 = remainder 7 → 艮 (Gèn / Mountain)
- Moving Line: 23 ÷ 6 = remainder 5 → 5th line moves
- 本卦: 水山蹇 (Shuǐ Shān Jiǎn, Hex 39 — Obstruction)
- Moving in upper trigram → Upper = Yong (坎/Water) , Lower = Ti (艮/Earth)
Ti-Yong: Ti = Earth (艮), Yong = Water (坎). 体克用 (Tǐ Kè Yòng) — Earth overcomes Water. The merchant (Ti) can control the deal (Yong). The hexagram name 蹇 (Jiǎn / Obstruction) warns of initial difficulties, but because Ti overcomes Yong, the merchant prevails through persistence.
Judgment: Favorable with effort (小吉) . Initial setbacks in negotiation, but the merchant's position is fundamentally stronger. Advise patience through early obstacles — the deal completes successfully.
Timing (应期): Earth is Ti; the deal closes when Earth energy peaks — 辰 (Chén) or 戌 (Xù) day/month.
Source: Classical Mei Hua teaching example, adapted from 《梅花易数》pedagogical tradition
Case 3: Wai Ying External Sign — The Missing Cat (寻猫外应占)
🔮 External Response Overrides Mathematics — 先看外应，后断卦象
Context: A woman asks about her missing cat. At the moment of asking, a child laughs happily outside the window and a neighbor's door opens .
Hexagram (Time-derived): 天水讼 (Tiān Shuǐ Sòng, Hex 6 — Conflict). The hexagram name 讼 (Sòng) means "dispute" — seemingly ominous for finding a lost pet.
Wai Ying (外应) Analysis — the critical layer:
- Child laughing = 兑 (Duì) energy = joy, positive outcome imminent
- Door opening = 艮 (Gèn) reversed = obstruction removed, passage opened
- Combined: the "conflict" in the hexagram refers to the cat being trapped somewhere with a blocked exit , but the external signs indicate the obstruction will be removed
Prediction: The cat is stuck in a neighbor's shed or closed room (讼 = confined struggle). The opening door signals release. The cat will return within 2 days (兑 = Metal, number 2).
Outcome: The cat returned the next evening from a neighbor's locked garage. Wai Ying proved decisive — without reading the environmental signs, the hexagram alone would have yielded a negative judgment.
Source: Modern Mei Hua practice case, widely cited in 梅花心易 (Méi Huā Xīn Yì) teaching circles
Case 4: Multi-Layer Analysis — The Official's Promotion (仕途升迁三卦分析)
🏛️ Ben Gua + Hu Gua + Bian Gua — Full Trajectory Reading
Context: A government official asks about an anticipated promotion. A time-derived hexagram produces three layers of analysis.
Layer 1 — 本卦 (Ben Gua / Present): 地天泰 (Dì Tiān Tài, Hex 11 — Peace). Moving line: 3rd.
- Upper (non-moving) = 坤 (Kūn/Earth) = Ti
- Lower (moving) = 乾 (Qián/Metal) = Yong
- Ti-Yong: Metal produces Earth → 用生体 (Yòng Shēng Tǐ) = Very favorable! The environment supports the official.
Layer 2 — 互卦 (Hu Gua / Hidden Process): 雷泽归妹 (Léi Zé Guī Mèi, Hex 54 — The Marrying Maiden).
- 归妹 (Guī Mèi) = "a maiden marrying into a new family" → the process involves transition and subordination
- The official must accept being junior in the new role, making concessions during the transition period
Layer 3 — 变卦 (Bian Gua / Outcome): 地雷复 (Dì Léi Fù, Hex 24 — Return).
- 复 (Fù) = return, renewal — one Yang returning at the bottom, symbolizing a fresh start
- 震 (Zhèn/Wood) is the new lower trigram; Wood overcomes Earth (Ti) — minor warning: in the new position, challenges will arise from subordinates or new responsibilities
Comprehensive Judgment: Promotion will happen (Ben Gua highly favorable). The transition requires humility (Hu Gua = 归妹). The new role brings fresh challenges from below (Bian Gua = 复). Timing: Earth is Ti; event manifests when Earth is strongest — 辰 (Chén) or 戌 (Xù) month, late summer to early autumn.
Source: Teaching example in multi-layer Mei Hua analysis, referenced in 《梅花易数白话解》(Méi Huā Yì Shù Báihuà Jiě)
Case 5: Mei Hua vs. Liu Yao Comparison — The Loan Question (梅花与六爻对比)
⚖️ Two Systems, One Question — 梅花看大象，六爻断细节
Question: "Will my business loan be approved?" Asked at 午时 (Wǔ shí), 5th month, 10th day, 子年 (Zǐ nián).
Mei Hua (梅花) Approach:
- Upper: (1 + 5 + 10) = 16 ÷ 8 = remainder 0 → 8 → 坤 (Kūn/Earth)
- Lower: (16 + 7) = 23 ÷ 8 = remainder 7 → 艮 (Gèn/Earth)
- Moving: 23 ÷ 6 = remainder 5 → 5th line
- 本卦: 地山谦 (Dì Shān Qiān, Hex 15 — Modesty)
- Ti = 艮/Earth, Yong = 坤/Earth (moving in upper) → 比和 (Bǐ Hé) = harmonious
- 变卦: 雷山小过 (Léi Shān Xiǎo Guò, Hex 62) — 震/Wood overcomes Ti/Earth → some friction in outcome
Mei Hua Verdict: Loan is likely approved (比和 = harmony), but the amount may be smaller than requested (小过 = "small exceeding" = minor adjustments).
Liu Yao (六爻) Approach (same hexagram):
- Assigns 六亲 (Liù Qīn / Six Relations) based on the Palace element
- Identifies 用神 (Yòng Shén) — for loans, this is the 妻财 (Qī Cái / Wife-Wealth) line
- Checks 月建 (Yuè Jiàn / Month Commander) and 日辰 (Rì Chén / Day Branch) influence on the Yong Shen
- Examines 回头生 (Huítóu Shēng) or 回头克 (Huítóu Kè) from the transformed line
- Result: More granular detail — specific amounts, precise timing, exact conditions
| Aspect | 梅花易数 (Méi Huā) | 六爻 (Liù Yáo) |
|---|---|---|
| Derivation | Numerological / spontaneous (心易 xīn yì) | Ritual coin toss (三枚铜钱) |
| Core Engine | Ti-Yong Five Element relationship | Six Relations (六亲) + Yong Shen (用神) |
| Moving Lines | Only one moving line | Multiple moving lines possible |
| Speed | Instant — calculation in seconds | Several minutes for coin ritual |
| Strength | Quick reads, environmental integration, big picture | Detailed life questions, legal & financial specifics |
| Wai Ying | Central to interpretation | Not typically used |
| Philosophical Root | 先天 (Xiāntiān) — pre-heaven cosmic pattern | 后天 (Hòutiān) — post-heaven mundane relations |
Key Insight: The saying captures the complementary nature perfectly: "梅花看大象，六爻断细节" (Méi huā kàn dà xiàng, Liù Yáo duàn xìjié) — "Mei Hua sees the big picture; Liu Yao determines the fine details." When both systems agree, confidence is very high (双重验证 shuāngchóng yànzhèng).
Source: Comparative analysis based on 《梅花易数》and 《增删卜易》(Zēng Shān Bǔ Yì) methodologies
✦ ◆ ✦
Module 9: Extended Case Gallery (拓展案例 — Tuòzhǎn Ànlì)
The following cases expand the teaching repertoire of Module 8, covering all seven derivation methods and a broader range of life questions. Each case reinforces the core Ti-Yong engine while demonstrating how different triggering phenomena — sound, object, stroke count, number, observation — all feed the same analytical framework.
Case 6: Shao Yong's Axe — Object Method Mastery (邵雍借斧占)
🪓 Predicting What a Visitor Wants Before Opening the Door
Context: A neighbor knocked on Shao Yong's door at 午时 (Wǔ shí, noon). Before opening the door, Shao Yong derived a hexagram from the sound of the knocking and the time to determine what the neighbor wanted.
Hexagram (Sound + Time Method): 天火同人 (Tiān Huǒ Tóngrén, Hex 13 — Fellowship with Men). Hu Gua: 风泽中孚 (Fēng Zé Zhōngfú, Hex 61).
Object Analysis using Wan Wu Lei Xiang (万物类象):
- 乾 (Qián / Heaven) above = Metal, round/hard exterior, associated with strength
- 离 (Lí / Fire) below = hollow inside (离 = bright outside, empty within), fire-related use
- Metal on the outside + hollow core + used to generate fire (by chopping firewood) = axe (金属为外壳，中空手柄，劈柴生火)
Shao Yong opened the door and said immediately: "You want to borrow my axe, correct?" The neighbor was astonished and confirmed.
Key Lesson: 万物类象 (Wànwù Lèi Xiàng) is not mere memorization — it is combinatorial image synthesis . The practitioner reads the trigrams as physical descriptions: what is it made of? What is its shape? What is it used for? The intersection of these qualities points to a specific object. This is the height of classical object-identification technique.
Source: Classic Mei Hua Yi Shu case records, 《梅花易数》原文
Case 7: Career by Name Strokes — 李慧's Stagnation (笔画起卦法 — 职业占)
✍️ A Name Reveals a Life Pattern — 双山静止 (Double Mountain = Stillness)
Context: A woman named 李慧 (Lǐ Huì) asks about her career prospects using the character stroke method.
Derivation:
- 李 (7 strokes) → Upper: 7 ÷ 8 = R7 → 艮 (Gèn / Mountain)
- 慧 (15 strokes) → Lower: 15 ÷ 8 = 1R7 → 艮 (Gèn / Mountain)
- Moving: (7 + 15) = 22 ÷ 6 = 3R4 → 4th line moves
- 本卦: ䷳ 艮为山 (Gèn Wéi Shān, Hex 52 — Keeping Still)
- Moving in upper → Upper = Yong (艮/Earth) , Lower = Ti (艮/Earth)
- 变卦 (Bian Gua): 火山旅 (Huǒ Shān Lǚ, Hex 56 — The Wanderer)
Ti-Yong: Ti = Earth (艮), Yong = Earth (艮). 比和 (Bǐ Hé) — same element, harmonious. But 艮 means "stillness," "stopping," "blocking." Double mountains create an image of absolute immobility — two walls facing each other with nowhere to go.
Judgment: Career is secure but completely stagnant . No growth, no enemies, but no advancement either. The Bian Gua (火山旅 / The Wanderer) offers the exit: eventual movement through travel or relocation . 离 (Lí/Fire) enters, illuminating the mountain — a new direction appears when the person leaves their current environment.
Advice: Within the current organization or city, career will remain frozen. Seek opportunities away from her current location — relocation or overseas assignment will break the double-mountain pattern.
Source: Character stroke case study, classical Mei Hua pedagogy
Case 8: Exam Results by Dog Barks — Sound Method (声音起卦 — 考试占)
🐕 Five Barks Then Three — A Student's Examination Fate
Context: A student asks whether he will pass his examinations. At that moment, a neighborhood dog barks in two distinct groups: 5 barks, pauses, then 3 barks . Time: 酉时 (Yǒu shí, 5–7 PM).
Derivation (Sound Method):
- First burst (5 barks): 5 ÷ 8 = R5 → 巽 (Xùn / Wind) → Upper
- Second burst (3 barks): 3 ÷ 8 = R3 → 离 (Lí / Fire) → Lower
- Moving: (5 + 3) = 8 ÷ 6 = 1R2 → 2nd line moves
- 本卦: ䷤ 风火家人 (Fēng Huǒ Jiārén, Hex 37 — The Family)
- Moving in lower → Lower = Yong (离/Fire) , Upper = Ti (巽/Wood)
Ti-Yong: Ti = Wood (巽), Yong = Fire (离). 体生用 (Tǐ Shēng Yòng) — Wood feeds Fire. Unfavorable : the student is pouring energy into the exam institution but not receiving an equivalent return. The Family hexagram points to results manifesting within one's home circle rather than in public achievement — the family will know, but formal recognition falls short.
Judgment: Exam result is not ideal — passed but with mediocre scores, not the distinction hoped for. The top marks energy is being drained into the system (体生用) rather than rewarded back.
Key Lesson: For exam questions, the ideal Ti-Yong is 用生体 (Yòng Shēng Tǐ) — the system nourishing the student. When Ti produces Yong (体生用), the student works hard but the institution (exam, employer) captures the benefit.
Source: Sound method case study, Mei Hua teaching tradition
Case 9: The Broken Mirror — Object Method for Marriage (物象起卦 — 感情占)
🪞 破镜难圆 — A Broken Mirror Is Hard to Make Round Again
Context: A young man asks about his marriage prospects. As the diviner begins to prepare, he notices a cracked mirror on the consultation table.
Derivation (Object Method):
- Mirror = 离 (Lí / Fire) — bright, reflective, associated with the Li trigram's quality of illumination
- Cracked/broken = 兑 (Duì) — 兑 represents damage, breakage, openings (缺口 quēkǒu), and the quality of something incomplete
- Upper: 离 (Lí / Fire) → Lower: 兑 (Duì / Lake/Metal)
- Moving line: 3rd (the crack traverses the middle — assigned to line 3)
- 本卦: ䷥ 火泽睽 (Huǒ Zé Kuí, Hex 38 — Opposition)
- Moving in lower → Lower = Yong (兑/Metal) , Upper = Ti (离/Fire)
Ti-Yong: Ti = Fire (离), Yong = Metal (兑). 用克体 (Yòng Kè Tǐ) — Metal melts under Fire / Fire overcomes Metal (in the controlling cycle: Fire → Metal → Water → Fire, Fire controls Metal). The situation controls and harms the questioner.
Hexagram Image: 睽 (Kuí) literally means "opposition" — two things looking in opposite directions (目不同视 mù bù tóng shì). For a marriage question, this is a powerful warning: fundamental incompatibility, the parties face opposite directions in life.
Judgment: The marriage prospect is strongly unfavorable . The object omen (broken mirror) aligns perfectly with the hexagram's message: 破镜难圆 (pò jìng nán yuán) — "A broken mirror is hard to make round again." The union, if pursued, will be marked by opposition, face-saving on both sides, and eventual separation.
Source: Object method case study, classical Mei Hua records
Case 10: Modern Application — Stock Investment by Spontaneous Trigger (股票占)
📈 A Bird Chirp Generates a Hexagram — Spontaneous Finance Reading
Context (Trigger): An investor hears a sudden, distinct bird chirp (3 chirps) while reviewing a stock ticker. A passing crowd provides an environmental count of 8 people visible in the background.
Derivation (Number + Sound Method):
- Bird chirps (3) → Upper: 3 ÷ 8 = R3 → 离 (Lí / Fire)
- People count (8) → Lower: 8 ÷ 8 = R0 → 0 = 8 → 坤 (Kūn / Earth)
- Moving: (3 + 8) = 11 ÷ 6 = 1R5 → 5th line moves
- 本卦: ䷢ 火地晋 (Huǒ Dì Jìn, Hex 35 — Progress)
- Moving in upper → Upper = Yong (离/Fire) , Lower = Ti (坤/Earth)
Ti-Yong: Ti = Earth (坤), Yong = Fire (离). 用生体 (Yòng Shēng Tǐ) — Fire generates Earth. Very auspicious : the situation (market/stock) is actively nourishing the investor (Ti). The hexagram name 晋 (Jìn) means steady advancement upward — like the sun rising over the earth at dawn.
Judgment: Buy the stock. The position will advance steadily. The 5th line (the king/top executive quality line) moving suggests the advance comes from established leadership or a dominant market position. A short hesitation or pullback before the rise (the 5th line's dynamic), then sustained gain.
Outcome: The stock gained approximately 15% within the month after an initial two-day dip. Source: Modern Mei Hua finance application.
Note: This demonstrates method and principle. Divination should never be the sole basis for financial decisions.
Case 11: Job Interview — 泽雷随 and the Second-Choice Hire (求职占)
💼 When 随 (Following) Means You Come After Someone Else
Context (Trigger): A job candidate's phone rings exactly twice as they walk through the company entrance door. The trigger has two distinct elements: 2 rings and the act of entering.
Derivation (Number + Event Method):
- Phone rings (2) → Upper: 2 ÷ 8 = R2 → 兑 (Duì / Lake)
- Walking in (movement, 4th direction association via entering/震) → Lower: 震 (Zhèn / Thunder)
- Moving: (2 + 4) = 6 ÷ 6 = 1R0 → R0 = 6th line moves
- 本卦: ䷐ 泽雷随 (Zé Léi Suí, Hex 17 — Following)
- Moving in upper → Upper = Yong (兑/Metal) , Lower = Ti (震/Wood)
Ti-Yong: Ti = Wood (震), Yong = Metal (兑). 用克体 (Yòng Kè Tǐ) — Metal chops Wood. Unfavorable pressure : the hiring environment cuts against the candidate's position. The hexagram name 随 (Suí / "Following") adds a precise nuance: the candidate is in a following position — arriving after someone, second in consideration, receiving the role only because the first choice stepped aside.
Judgment: You are not the first choice. You may receive an offer, but only because the preferred candidate declined. Manage expectations accordingly.
Outcome: The candidate was offered the job only after the first candidate declined the position. The hexagram's name proved literally prophetic.
Source: Modern job-divination case collection.
Case 12: Partnership — Hu Gua Reveals Hidden Danger (互卦揭示 — 合伙占)
🔍 Beautiful Surface, Hidden Knife — 山火贲 and the Hu Gua Warning
Context: A businessman asks about a compelling partnership proposal. The hexagram derived by time is 山火贲 (Shān Huǒ Bì, Hex 22 — Grace/Adornment). Moving line: 4th.
Surface Reading (Ben Gua):
- Moving in upper → Upper = Yong (艮/Earth) , Lower = Ti (离/Fire)
- Ti-Yong: Fire produces Earth → 体生用 (Tǐ Shēng Yòng) — draining. The querent gives; the partner receives.
- 贲 (Bì) means "adornment" — things look beautiful on the surface. This is already a warning: decorative beauty, not structural strength .
Hu Gua Analysis (互卦 — Hidden Middle Process):
- Upper Hu (lines 3,4,5): → 震 (Zhèn / Wood)
- Lower Hu (lines 2,3,4): → 坎 (Kǎn / Water)
- 水雷解 (Shuǐ Léi Jiě, Hex 40 — Deliverance) forms the Hu Gua
- 坎 (Water) in the Hu Gua attacks Ti/Fire (Water quenches Fire) — hidden danger to the questioner!
- 震 (Wood) in the Hu Gua feeds Ti/Fire — hidden support also exists.
Deep Reading: The surface looks elegant and attractive (贲/Grace), but the hidden dynamics reveal a dangerous partner (坎 = hidden, deep, cunning) who conceals their true agenda, alongside some genuine value in the deal (震/Wood = growth potential). The partnership is not entirely false — there is real opportunity — but the partner is not transparent.
Advice: Do not trust appearances (贲 = decoration, not depth). Verify all claims independently. Negotiate strong contractual protections before proceeding. The Hu Gua's 坎 energy suggests the hidden danger involves finances, water-related matters, or concealed information.
Source: Advanced Hui Gua teaching case, Mei Hua practice circles
Case 13: Real Estate — 用生体 at Its Most Literal (房产占)
🏠 When the Property Itself Nourishes the Buyer
Context: A couple asks at 巳时 (Sì shí, 9–11 AM) whether to purchase a specific apartment. Date: 卯年 (Mǎo nián), 6th month, 20th day.
Derivation (Time Method):
- Upper: (4 + 6 + 20) = 30 ÷ 8 = 3R6 → 坎 (Kǎn / Water)
- Lower: (30 + 6) = 36 ÷ 8 = 4R4 → 震 (Zhèn / Wood)
- Moving: 36 ÷ 6 = 6R0 → R0 = 6th line moves
- 本卦: ䷂ 水雷屯 (Shuǐ Léi Zhūn, Hex 3 — Difficulty at the Beginning)
- Moving in upper → Upper = Yong (坎/Water) , Lower = Ti (震/Wood)
- 变卦: 风雷益 (Fēng Léi Yì, Hex 42 — Increase)
Ti-Yong: Ti = Wood (震), Yong = Water (坎). 用生体 (Yòng Shēng Tǐ) — Water nourishes Wood. Very favorable! The property (Yong/environment) actively feeds and grows the buyers (Ti). Despite the hexagram name 屯 (Zhūn / Difficulty at the Beginning) — which warns of initial paperwork complications — the Ti-Yong relationship overrides the name.
Bian Gua Confirmation: 益 (Yì / Increase) is unambiguous: the property will increase in value and benefit the family. Wood growing stronger from Water is a profound image of the property feeding the family's vitality.
Judgment: Buy the property. Expect initial complications with paperwork or financing (屯 = difficulty at start), but the long-term outcome is solidly positive. The home will benefit the family's career, health, and wealth.
Source: Real estate divination case study, Time Method demonstration
Case 14: Health — Elderly Man's Stomach Ailment (健康占)
🌿 双土比和 — When Same-Element Harmony Brings Healing
Context: 午时 (Wǔ shí, noon), 丑年 (Chǒu nián), 9th month, 5th day. An elderly man (72) asks about a persistent stomach ailment that has not responded to conventional treatment.
Derivation (Time Method):
- Upper: (2 + 9 + 5) = 16 ÷ 8 = 2R0 → R0 = 8 → 坤 (Kūn / Earth)
- Lower: (16 + 7) = 23 ÷ 8 = 2R7 → 艮 (Gèn / Mountain/Earth)
- Moving: 23 ÷ 6 = 3R5 → 5th line moves
- 本卦: ䷎ 地山谦 (Dì Shān Qiān, Hex 15 — Modesty/Humility)
- Moving in upper → Upper = Yong (坤/Earth) , Lower = Ti (艮/Earth)
- 互卦 (Hu Gua): 雷水解 (Léi Shuǐ Jiě, Hex 40 — Deliverance)
Ti-Yong: Ti = Earth (艮), Yong = Earth (坤). 比和 (Bǐ Hé) — same element, harmonious. Both trigrams are Earth, and the question concerns the stomach: 坤 = abdomen (腹), spleen, stomach — precisely the organ in question.
Hu Gua Insight: 解 (Jiě) = "untying," "deliverance," "resolution." The hidden process confirms the illness can be resolved — the knot will loosen.
Seasonal Strength: Earth is in season in the 9th month (transition to autumn). Ti/Earth is strong — the man's constitution is fundamentally sound despite the ailment.
Judgment: The ailment will resolve . 比和 with both trigrams as Earth, combined with 解 in the Hu Gua, is a positive prognosis. Timing (应期): Resolution most likely when Water (坎/Kǎn) becomes active — winter months, particularly the 11th month — when Water carries away excess Earth (drains the accumulation). The patient should support treatment through winter.
Source: Health divination case, Time Method with Hu Gua analysis
📚 Core Formulas Quick Reference (核心公式速查)
| Formula | Chinese | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Trigram | 上卦 Shàng Guà | (Year Branch + Month + Day) ÷ 8 → remainder (0 = 8) |
| Lower Trigram | 下卦 Xià Guà | (Year + Month + Day + Hour) ÷ 8 → remainder (0 = 8) |
| Moving Line | 动爻 Dòng Yáo | Total ÷ 6 → remainder (0 = 6) |
| Ti determination | 体卦 Tǐ Guà | Trigram NOT containing the moving line |
| Yong determination | 用卦 Yòng Guà | Trigram CONTAINING the moving line |
| 用生体 Yòng Shēng Tǐ | Situation nourishes Self | Very Auspicious 大吉 |
| 体用比和 Tǐ Yòng Bǐ Hé | Same element — harmonious | Auspicious 吉 |
| 体克用 Tǐ Kè Yòng | Self controls situation | Favorable with effort 小吉 |
| 体生用 Tǐ Shēng Yòng | Self drains into situation | Unfavorable 凶 |
| 用克体 Yòng Kè Tǐ | Situation controls Self | Very Unfavorable 大凶 |
Earlier Heaven Numbers (先天八卦数): 乾=1 · 兑=2 · 离=3 · 震=4 · 巽=5 · 坎=6 · 艮=7 · 坤=8
✦ ◆ ✦
🛠️ Application in Liuren Practice
In the sanctuary, Mei Hua Yi Shu is used as a "Quick Response" tool when a formal Altar inquiry (Da Liu Ren) is not feasible.
The "First Impression" (外應 - Wai Ying)
Advanced practitioners use Wai Ying —environmental omens—to adjust the interpretation of a Mei Hua hexagram. If a lucky Gua is cast but a dish breaks in the background, the "Resonance" is broken, and the practitioner must look for hidden flaws in the outcome.
Synchronize with the Universe. Plum Blossom is the threshold where mathematics meets intuition. Enroll for the "Numerical Wisdom" course.