六壬法教

Module 1: Overview — The Fastest Divination in Chinese Metaphysics

小六壬 (Xiǎo Liù Rén) is one of the most accessible and portable divination systems in the entire Chinese metaphysical tradition. Where methods like 大六壬 (Dà Liù Rén) , 奇门遁甲 (Qí Mén Dùn Jiǎ) , and 紫微斗数 (Zǐ Wēi Dǒu Shù) require years of study, astronomical tables, and complex calculations, Xiao Liu Ren distills the art of divination down to six positions counted on the fingers of one hand.

A practitioner can produce a reading in under thirty seconds — while walking, riding, sitting in a meeting, or standing in the street. No tools, no compass (罗盘 luópán), no reference texts, no calendar lookup. Just the mind and the hand. The beauty lies in its immediacy: the method can be performed covertly — 掐指一算 (qiā zhǐ yī suàn, "a pinch of the fingers to calculate") — making it the historical equivalent of checking your phone for a quick answer.

Xiao Liu Ren vs. Da Liu Ren — At a Glance

Module 2: Historical Origins — Legends, Attributions & Folk Transmission

The Li Chunfeng Attribution (李淳风传说)

Some traditions attribute the system to 李淳风 (Lǐ Chúnfēng, 602–670 CE) , the Tang dynasty astronomer-astrologer who co-authored the prophetic 推背图 (Tuī Bèi Tú) with 袁天罡 (Yuán Tiāngāng) . Li Chunfeng is historically documented as a genuine practitioner of 六壬 and other calculation arts, making this attribution slightly more plausible — though still lacking direct textual evidence. The connection likely arose because Li Chunfeng was known to have mastered quick mental calculation methods for astronomical and astrological purposes.

The Honest Assessment: Folk Origins

小六壬 emerged organically from folk divination practice (民间术数 mínjiān shùshù), probably crystallizing into its current form during the Song (宋) to Ming (明) dynasties (roughly 10th–16th century CE). During this period, literacy was expanding, commercial activity was increasing, and there was enormous demand for quick, practical fortune-telling methods accessible to merchants, travelers, farmers, and soldiers — people who needed answers but couldn't consult a professional astrologer or learn complex systems.

Modern Revival

In modern China and the Chinese diaspora, Xiao Liu Ren has experienced a remarkable revival through internet forums, short video platforms (Douyin/抖音, Bilibili/B站), and mobile apps. Its speed and simplicity make it ideal for the modern attention span, and it has become a gateway method — many people first encounter Chinese metaphysics through Xiao Liu Ren before progressing to more complex systems like Liu Yao (六爻), Mei Hua Yi Shu (梅花易数), or Da Liu Ren (大六壬).

Module 3: The Six Positions (六位详解 Liù Wèi Xiángjiě)

The six positions are arranged on the left hand , using the base segments of the index, middle, and ring fingers. The counting follows a cyclical path: ① → ② → ③ → ④ → ⑤ → ⑥ → ① (循环 xúnhuán).

        ┌──────────┐
        │  Middle   │
        │  Finger   │
  ┌─────┼──────────┼──────┐
  │Index│          │ Ring │
  │Fngr │          │ Fngr │
  ┌─────┼──────────┼──────┐
  │  ①  │    ②    │  ③  │  ← Base segments
  │ 大安 │  留连   │ 速喜 │
  ├─────┼──────────┼──────┤
  │  ⑥  │         │  ④  │  ← Tip segments
  │ 空亡 │         │ 赤口 │
  └─────┘         └──────┘
           ⑤ 小吉
      (between ring & middle)

More precisely, the standard finger layout maps:

• ① 大安 — base of index finger (食指根部 shízhǐ gēnbù)
• ② 留连 — base of middle finger (中指根部 zhōngzhǐ gēnbù)
• ③ 速喜 — base of ring finger (无名指根部 wúmíngzhǐ gēnbù)
• ④ 赤口 — tip-segment of ring finger (无名指尖 wúmíngzhǐ jiān)
• ⑤ 小吉 — tip-segment of middle finger (中指尖 zhōngzhǐ jiān)
• ⑥ 空亡 — tip-segment of index finger (食指尖 shízhǐ jiān)

Complete Reference Table

① 大安 Dà Ān — Great Peace

Divinatory meaning: Stability, safety, calm. Matters will resolve peacefully. The situation is fundamentally sound. The querent (问卦人 wèn guà rén) can relax — things are proceeding as they should.

Favorable for: Maintaining the status quo, staying put, defensive strategies, waiting patiently, academic study, health recovery, holding assets.

Unfavorable for: Aggressive action, rushing, forcing change, travel to distant places, confrontation.

② 留连 Liú Lián — Lingering

Divinatory meaning: Delay, dragging, entanglement. Matters are stuck or progressing very slowly. Nothing is clearly good or bad — it is murky and ambiguous. Hesitation, indecision, or obstruction.

Favorable for: Matters that benefit from patience and slow development, long-term investments, nurturing relationships.

Unfavorable for: Urgency, quick decisions, travel, seeking lost items (difficult to find), expecting visitors (they will be late).

③ 速喜 Sù Xǐ — Swift Joy

Divinatory meaning: Good news coming quickly. Joy, celebration, success arriving soon. The most auspicious position for matters requiring speed. Things are moving in your favor and will resolve positively in a short timeframe.

Favorable for: Starting new ventures, travel, seeking answers, expecting visitors (they will arrive), celebrations, romantic pursuits, job interviews, negotiations, competitions.

Unfavorable for: Very little — this is the most universally positive position. However, Fire energy burns hot and fast, so long-term sustainability may be questionable.

④ 赤口 Chì Kǒu — Red Mouth (Quarrel)

Divinatory meaning: Conflict, quarrels, arguments, slander, litigation, verbal attacks, misunderstandings. The "Red Mouth" evokes an open mouth speaking harmful words. This is the most inauspicious position for interpersonal matters. Metal's sharp, cutting quality manifests as sharp words and severed relationships.

Favorable for: Matters requiring cutting or severing (ending a bad relationship, surgery, decisive removal), metalwork, military/police matters.

Unfavorable for: Negotiations, signing contracts, starting partnerships, reconciliation, social gatherings, public speaking, court cases, travel.

⑤ 小吉 Xiǎo Jí — Small Fortune

Divinatory meaning: Moderately positive. Things will work out, but don't expect dramatic success. A "small blessing" — enough to get by, enough to be satisfied, but not enough to celebrate wildly. Suitable for modest endeavors.

Favorable for: Travel (safe journey), meeting people, modest business deals, everyday decisions, social visits.

Unfavorable for: Expectations of grand success will be disappointed. Not ideal for high-stakes gambles or major life decisions.

⑥ 空亡 Kōng Wáng — Void / Emptiness

Divinatory meaning: Emptiness, void, nothingness, futility. The matter asked about will come to nothing. Plans will not materialize. Lost items will not be found. The visitor will not come. The deal will fall through. This is not actively malicious like 赤口 — it is simply empty. The universe is saying "there is nothing here."

Favorable for: Renunciation, letting go, spiritual practice, recognizing that non-attachment is the answer, retreat, rest.

Unfavorable for: Almost everything practical — starting ventures, seeking wealth, expecting results, travel, finding lost items, business deals.

In Buddhist-influenced interpretation, 空亡 can itself be liberating — recognition of emptiness (空 kōng) may be the most honest and ultimately freeing answer: "this matter is empty; stop chasing it."

Module 4: The Counting Method (推算方法 Tuīsuàn Fāngfǎ)

The standard method is the Three-Count Method (三算法 Sān Suàn Fǎ) . It requires knowing three pieces of information:

1. The lunar month (农历月 nónglì yuè) — NOT the solar/Gregorian month
2. The lunar day (农历日 nónglì rì)
3. The Chinese hour (时辰 shíchen) — the traditional two-hour block

Step 1: Month Count (月算 Yuè Suàn)

Always start from 大安 (position ①). Count the lunar month number, with each count advancing one position:

Note the position where the month count lands. This is your month position (月宫 yuè gōng) .

Step 2: Day Count (日算 Rì Suàn)

Start from the month position determined in Step 1. Count the lunar day number forward from that position.

Example: If the month landed on 速喜 ③, and the day is the 5th — count: 速喜(1) → 赤口(2) → 小吉(3) → 空亡(4) → 大安(5) . The day position (日宫 rì gōng) is 大安 ①.

Step 3: Hour Count (时算 Shí Suàn)

Start from the day position determined in Step 2. Count the hour number forward, using the traditional Chinese hour numbering:

The final landing position is the answer — the 时宫 (shí gōng). This is the primary reading.

Complete Worked Example

Mathematical Shortcut (数学捷径)

Since the cycle is 6, you can use modular arithmetic :

Alternative Triggering Methods (其他起卦方法)

Beyond the standard time-based method, several alternative triggers are used by practitioners:

Module 5: Interpretation Framework (解卦原则 Jiě Guà Yuánzé)

Single-Position Reading (单宫法 Dān Gōng Fǎ)

The simplest approach: the final position (时宫 shí gōng) gives the direct answer. Adequate for quick yes/no questions:

• 大安 / 速喜 / 小吉 → Generally favorable (吉 jí)
• 赤口 → Unfavorable, especially for interpersonal matters (凶 xiōng)
• 留连 → Delayed, unclear, wait and see (平 píng)
• 空亡 → Nothing will come of it (空 kōng)

Three-Position Reading (三宫法 Sān Gōng Fǎ)

For deeper analysis, consider all three positions from the calculation. This transforms Xiao Liu Ren from a simple oracle into a mini-narrative with past/present/future structure:

Two-Palace Interaction (二宫互动法 Èr Gōng Hùdòng Fǎ)

Compare any two positions using Five Element (五行 Wǔxíng) relationships for deeper insight:

Example: Day = 速喜 (Fire) → Hour = 大安 (Wood). Wood generates Fire (木生火). The current conditions feed positive energy into the outcome — very favorable.

Contrasting example: Day = 赤口 (Metal) → Hour = 大安 (Wood). Metal controls Wood (金克木). The conflict energy of the present moment attacks the peaceful outcome. The querent must actively neutralize 赤口 energy (avoid arguments, guard speech) to preserve the positive result.

Question-Type Integration (分类断法 Fēnlèi Duàn Fǎ)

The meaning of each position shifts depending on the question category:

Module 6: Advanced Techniques (高级技法 Gāojí Jìfǎ)

Multi-Layer Analysis (多重起课法 Duōchóng Qǐ Kè Fǎ)

For complex questions, practitioners run multiple calculations to triangulate the answer:

When all three layers agree (e.g., all landing on 速喜 or all on auspicious positions), the answer is highly reliable. When they conflict, the practitioner must weigh which layer is dominant for the specific question type.

Timing Predictions (时间预测 Shíjiān Yùcè)

Each position carries implicit timing, which can be refined using the element's associated Earthly Branches:

Combining with Mei Hua Yi Shu (梅花易数配合法)

Some practitioners use the Xiao Liu Ren result as a trigger number for Mei Hua Yi Shu (Plum Blossom Numerology), creating a powerful hybrid method:

1. Perform the Xiao Liu Ren calculation to get the three positions
2. Use the position numbers (1–6) as upper trigram, lower trigram, and changing line
3. This generates a hexagram from the I Ching, providing a much deeper reading

This hybrid method combines the speed of Xiao Liu Ren with the depth of Yi Jing interpretation. The Xiao Liu Ren result gives the quick answer; the hexagram provides the nuanced explanation.

The Physical Practice (掐指法详解)

Module 7: Case Studies (案例分析 Ànlì Fēnxī)

The following cases demonstrate Xiao Liu Ren in practical application. Each includes the full calculation, three-position narrative, and interpretive reasoning.

Module 8: Why "Xiao Liu Ren" and "Da Liu Ren" Are Different Systems

The presence of 六壬 (Liù Rén) in both names has led to centuries of confusion. Many students assume 小六壬 is a "beginner's version" or "simplified subset" of 大六壬. This section explains why that assumption is incorrect.

What Da Liu Ren Actually Is

大六壬 (Dà Liù Rén) is one of the Three Great Divination Arts (三式 sān shì) , alongside 奇门遁甲 (Qí Mén Dùn Jiǎ) and 太乙神数 (Tài Yǐ Shén Shù). It is an astronomically sophisticated system built on:

• The 12 Earthly Branches (十二地支) as its structural foundation
• Heavenly Generals (十二天将) — twelve spirit-forces mapped to the sky
• The Four Courses (四课 sì kè) — a four-pillar relational structure
• The Three Transmissions (三传 sān chuán) — a dynamic unfolding sequence
• Over 720 possible cosmic board configurations (课式 kè shì)
• Integration with actual astronomical positions (太阳过宫 solar mansion transit)

What Xiao Liu Ren Does NOT Have

小六壬 shares none of this apparatus:

• No Earthly Branch mechanics
• No Heavenly Stem system
• No spirit-force (天将) assignments
• No cosmic board
• No astronomical reference
• No Four Courses or Three Transmissions

It has six fixed positions with mnemonic meanings, a simple counting procedure, and nothing more.

Why They Share the Name

Practical Distinction for Students

Module 9: Xiao Liu Ren vs. Liu Yao (六爻) — A Comparative Reading

One of the clearest ways to understand what Xiao Liu Ren is — and what it is not — is to apply both it and a deeper system to the same question, then compare the results. The following case illustrates this with Liu Yao (六爻) , the Six-Line hexagram divination derived from the Yi Jing.

Module 10: Recommended Study Path (学习路径建议 Xuéxí Lùjìng Jiànyì)

Xiao Liu Ren is learnable in an afternoon, but mastery of its interpretation requires sustained practice over months. The following path is structured to build genuine competence rather than superficial familiarity.

🛠️ Connection to the Liuren Tradition

Within the landscape of Chinese metaphysics, the word "六壬" (Liù Rén) carries deep and sometimes confusing associations. Understanding the relationship between the folk tradition of 小六壬 and the scholarly tradition of 大六壬 — and their respective connections to Liuren Fajiao (六壬法教) — is essential for the serious student.