Interactive Calculator (掐指算卦)
Use the lunar/agricultural calendar month
The day number within the lunar month
The two-hour block you are in right now
小六壬 Xiao Liu Ren
Finger-Counting Divination · Zhuge's Horseback Method (诸葛马前课)
小六壬 (Xiǎo Liù Rén) — "Small Six Ren" — is the most accessible divination method in the Chinese metaphysical tradition. Six positions on the left hand. No tools. No calendar. No tables. Count the lunar month, day, and hour across the six positions — the final landing place gives your answer in under 30 seconds. Attributed to strategist 诸葛亮 (Zhuge Liang) performing quick readings on horseback during military campaigns.
The Six Positions (六位详解)
Each position is a fixed station on the left hand, carrying unchanging meanings regardless of the question asked. The same position means "delays" for travel as it does for business — the imagery is universal.
┌─────────────────────────────┐ │ Left Hand — Palm Up │ ├─────────────────────────────┤ │ ① 大安 ② 留连 ③ 速喜 │ ← Base segments (palm side) │ Great Linger Swift │ │ Peace Joy │ │ │ │ ⑥ 空亡 ④ 赤口 │ ← Tip segments (counting back) │ Void Red │ │ Mouth │ │ ⑤ 小吉 │ │ Small │ │ Fortune │ └─────────────────────────────┘ Counting direction: ①→②→③→④→⑤→⑥→① (cyclical)
①
大安 Dà Ān
Great Peace · 木 Wood · East · Spring
Core meaning: Stability, safety, calm. Matters will resolve peacefully. The situation is fundamentally sound — relax, things are proceeding as they should.
Good for: Maintaining status quo, defensive strategies, waiting patiently, academic study, health recovery, holding assets.
Poor for: Aggressive action, forcing change, travel to distant places.
Lost items: Nearby, likely still in the house, toward the east.
Illness: Not severe; recovery expected.
Timing: Slow, gradual — months.
大安事事昌，求谋在东方。失物去不远，宅舍保安康。
行人身未动，病者主无妨。
"Great Peace — all things prosper. Seek plans in the east. Lost things have not gone far."
行人身未动，病者主无妨。
"Great Peace — all things prosper. Seek plans in the east. Lost things have not gone far."
②
留连 Liú Lián
Lingering · 水 Water · North · Winter
Core meaning: Delay, dragging, entanglement — nothing resolving quickly. Murky and ambiguous. Not clearly good or bad.
Good for: Patience, long-term investments, letting situations mature naturally.
Poor for: Urgency, quick decisions, expecting visitors, finding lost items.
Lost items: Difficult to recover; hidden in dark or concealed place.
Illness: Chronic or slow to resolve.
Timing: Very slow, indefinite — unpredictable.
留连事难成，求谋日未明。官事只宜缓，去者未回程。
"Lingering — matters hard to complete. Plans not yet clear. Expect delays on all fronts."
"Lingering — matters hard to complete. Plans not yet clear. Expect delays on all fronts."
③
速喜 Sù Xǐ
Swift Joy · 火 Fire · South · Summer
Core meaning: Good news coming quickly. Joy, celebration, success arriving soon. The most universally auspicious position.
Good for: Starting ventures, travel, expecting visitors, celebrations, negotiations, competitions — nearly everything.
Lost items: Will be found — check south direction or afternoon hours.
Illness: Favorable; quick recovery.
Timing: Fast — within days, sometimes hours.
速喜喜来临，求财向南行。失物申午未，逢人路上寻。
"Swift Joy approaches. Seek wealth heading south. Lost items found during Shen-Wu-Wei hours."
"Swift Joy approaches. Seek wealth heading south. Lost items found during Shen-Wu-Wei hours."
④
赤口 Chì Kǒu
Red Mouth · 金 Metal · West · Autumn
Core meaning: Conflict, quarrels, arguments, litigation, slander. The "Red Mouth" evokes sharp words causing harm. Most inauspicious for interpersonal matters.
Caution for: Negotiations, signing contracts, court cases, social gatherings, public speaking, travel.
Lost items: Someone may have taken them; deception involved.
Illness: Check mouth, teeth, respiratory system.
Timing: Sudden, disruptive — unexpected.
赤口主口舌，官非切宜防。失物速速讨，行人有惊慌。
"Red Mouth governs quarrels. Guard against official disputes. Travelers face alarm."
"Red Mouth governs quarrels. Guard against official disputes. Travelers face alarm."
⑤
小吉 Xiǎo Jí
Small Fortune · 水/木 Water or Wood
Core meaning: Moderately positive. Things will work out — enough to be satisfied, not enough to celebrate wildly. A "small blessing" appropriate for modest endeavors.
Good for: Travel (safe journey), meeting people, modest business, everyday decisions, social visits.
Lost items: Check southwest (坤 Kūn) direction; a woman may have information.
Timing: Moderate — weeks.
小吉最吉昌，路上好商量。阴人来报喜，失物在坤方。
"Small Fortune is auspicious. On the road, good discussions arise. A woman brings good news."
"Small Fortune is auspicious. On the road, good discussions arise. A woman brings good news."
⑥
空亡 Kōng Wáng
Void / Emptiness · 土 Earth · Center
Core meaning: Emptiness, futility — the matter will come to nothing. Plans won't materialize. Not malicious like 赤口, simply empty . The universe says "nothing here."
The one exception: Spiritual practice, letting go, recognizing that non-attachment is the answer. Sometimes 空亡 is liberation.
Lost items: Give up the search — gone or destroyed.
Illness: Hidden causes; possibly spiritual. Conventional treatment insufficient.
Timing: Never, or the timeline itself is void.
空亡事不祥，阴人少乖张。求财无利益，行人有灾殃。
"Void — matters inauspicious. Seeking wealth brings no profit. Lost items cannot be found."
"Void — matters inauspicious. Seeking wealth brings no profit. Lost items cannot be found."
Calculation Method (推算方法)
Standard Three-Count Method (三算法)
The traditional finger-counting method. All three counts require knowing:
- Lunar month (农历月) — use the traditional Chinese lunar calendar month
- Lunar day (农历日) — the day number within that month
- Chinese hour (时辰) — the two-hour block you are in
Step-by-Step Process
- Month Count: Always start from 大安 (Position ①). Count the lunar month number. Where you land = Month Position (月宫).
- Day Count: Start from the Month Position. Count the lunar day number forward. Where you land = Day Position (日宫).
- Hour Count: Start from the Day Position. Count the Chinese hour number forward. This final position is your answer (时宫).
The counting cycle: ①大安 → ②留连 → ③速喜 → ④赤口 → ⑤小吉 → ⑥空亡 → ①大安 (repeats)
Mathematical Shortcut (数学捷径)
Since the cycle is 6, use modular arithmetic to skip finger counting entirely:
Final Position = (Month + Day + Hour − 3) mod 6
Map: 1=大安, 2=留连, 3=速喜, 4=赤口, 5=小吉, 0=空亡
Note: This gives the final Hour Position directly. To see all three positions, the traditional step-by-step method is required.
Worked Example (推算示例)
Date: Lunar 3rd month, 14th day, 午 (Wǔ) hour (11:00–13:00 = Hour #7)
- Month (3): Start at 大安①. Count 3: 大安(1)→留连(2)→ 速喜(3) . Month Position = 速喜 ③
- Day (14) from 速喜: Count 14 forward from ③. 14 mod 6 = 2 past 速喜 → 赤口 ④ . Day Position = 赤口 ④
- Hour (7) from 赤口: Count 7 forward from ④. 7 mod 6 = 1 past 赤口 → 赤口 ④ . Final Answer = 赤口 ④
Reading: 赤口 — beware of quarrels and disputes. Guard your words during the afternoon. The double 赤口 in Day and Hour positions intensifies the conflict warning.
Three-position narrative: Background (速喜 ③) = positive circumstances recently; Current situation (赤口 ④) = conflict point; Outcome (赤口 ④) = conflict persists. Advice: avoid confrontation today, wait for conditions to improve.
Interpretation Guide (解卦原则)
Three-Position Reading (三宫法)
| Position | Represents | Layer |
|---|---|---|
| 月宫 (Month Position) | Background conditions, environment, external factors | What has been developing; the context |
| 日宫 (Day Position) | Current situation, the querent's state | The immediate circumstances; where you are now |
| 时宫 (Hour Position) | Outcome, resolution, final answer | What is coming; the answer to the question |
Reading Example: Month=大安, Day=赤口, Hour=速喜
"The background conditions are stable (大安), but the current moment involves conflict or sharp words (赤口). However, the outcome will be joyful and swift (速喜). Advice: endure the present difficulty — good news is arriving soon."
Question-Type Guidance (分类断法)
| Question Type | 大安 | 留连 | 速喜 | 赤口 | 小吉 | 空亡 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost Items (失物) | Nearby, east | Hidden, dark | Recoverable, south | Stolen? | SW direction | Gone forever |
| Illness (疾病) | Not serious | Chronic, slow | Quick recovery | Check lungs/mouth | Manageable | Hidden cause |
| Travel (出行) | Safe, stay put | Postpone | Go now! | Danger on road | Safe, smooth | Pointless |
| Relationships (感情) | Stable, peaceful | Complicated | Joy, reunion | Quarrels, break | Harmonious | No connection |
| Wealth (求财) | Steady gains | Slow, unsure | Fast profit | Disputes, loss | Modest gain | Total loss |
| Legal/Official (官事) | Settled peaceful | Dragged out | Blessed outcome | Harsh judgment | Resolved OK | Punishment |
Timing Predictions (时间预测)
| Position | Speed | Element-Based Timing |
|---|---|---|
| 大安 | Slow, gradual — months | 寅/卯 days or months (spring) |
| 留连 | Very slow, indefinite | 亥/子 days or months (winter) |
| 速喜 | Fast — within days or hours | 巳/午 days or months (summer) |
| 赤口 | Sudden, disruptive — unexpected | 申/酉 days or months (autumn) |
| 小吉 | Moderate — weeks | 亥/子 days or months |
| 空亡 | Never — or the timeline is void | 辰/戌/丑/未 days (transitional) |
Case Studies (掌上算例)
Case 1: Should I Travel Tomorrow?
Setup: Lunar Month 8, Day 20, 辰 hour (7–9 AM, Hour #5)
Calculation:
- Month 8 → lands on 留连 ②
- Day 20 from 留连: 20 mod 6 = 2, so 2 steps past 留连 → 速喜 ③
- Hour 5 from 速喜: 5 steps forward → 大安 ①
Three-position narrative: 留连 (background: something uncertain/delayed) → 速喜 (current: positive momentum) → 大安 (outcome: peaceful). Proceed with confidence — the journey is safe.
Nuance: 大安 also says "staying put is better" — the trip will be pleasant but perhaps not urgently necessary. Travel safely either way.
Case 2: Where Is My Lost Wallet?
Setup: Lunar Month 5, Day 3, 申 hour (3–5 PM, Hour #9)
Calculation:
- Month 5 → 小吉 ⑤
- Day 3 from 小吉: 小吉(1)→空亡(2)→ 大安(3)
- Hour 9 from 大安: count 9 → 速喜 ③
Result: 速喜 — the wallet WILL be found quickly! Direction: south (速喜 = Fire = South). Day position 大安 confirms "lost things haven't gone far."
Outcome: Found wedged between the car seat and console — parked facing south. Found within the hour.
Case 3: Will the Business Deal Close?
Setup: Lunar Month 1, Day 15, 午 hour (11:00–13:00, Hour #7)
Calculation:
- Month 1 → 大安 ①
- Day 15 from 大安: 15 mod 6 = 3 → 3 steps past 大安 → 速喜 ③
- Hour 7 from 速喜: 7 mod 6 = 1 → 1 step past 速喜 → 速喜 ③ (returns to itself)
Result: Double 速喜 in Day and Hour positions — extraordinarily auspicious. Background 大安 = stable foundation. The deal will close, and will close quickly .
Outcome: Terms agreed upon in the afternoon meeting. Contract signed the following day.
Case 4: Will My Sick Parent Recover?
Setup: Lunar Month 7, Day 8, 亥 hour (21:00–23:00, Hour #12)
Calculation:
- Month 7 → 大安 ① (7 mod 6 = 1 → position 1)
- Day 8 from 大安: 8 mod 6 = 2 → 2 steps past 大安 → 速喜 ③
- Hour 12 from 速喜: 12 mod 6 = 0 → 0 extra steps → stays at 速喜 ③
Result: 速喜 — recovery is expected, and will come quickly. For illness questions, 速喜 specifically indicates favorable prognosis. Three-position reading: 大安 → 速喜 → 速喜 — stable foundation, positive development, positive outcome. Very reassuring.
Historical Context (历史渊源)
Despite the famous attribution to 诸葛亮 (Zhūgě Liàng, 181–234 CE), historical evidence for this is essentially nil. The attribution arose during the Ming or Qing dynasties when folk practitioners attached famous names to their methods for credibility. Some traditions attribute it to 李淳风 (Lǐ Chúnfēng, 602–670 CE) — a Tang Dynasty astronomer-astrologer who genuinely studied 六壬 — though this too lacks direct textual evidence.
The honest assessment: 小六壬 emerged organically from folk divination practice during the Song to Ming dynasties (10th–16th century CE), crystallizing as literacy expanded and commercial activity created demand for quick, practical methods accessible to merchants, travelers, farmers, and soldiers.
Why It Survived: Zero Barrier to Entry
- No literacy required — the positions can be memorized as a chant or song
- No tools required — just your left hand
- No calendar expertise — only the lunar month, day, and hour
- Covert practice possible — counting inside a sleeve (袖中掐指) attracted no attention
- The knowledge lived in fingers and memory — no books to confiscate, no tools to destroy
Xiao Liu Ren is not a simplified subset of 大六壬 (Dà Liù Rén / Great Six Ren). Despite sharing the name 六壬, they are entirely different systems — Da Liu Ren uses 720 cosmic boards, requires astronomical tables, and takes years to master. Xiao Liu Ren is a separate folk system that acquired the name through cultural association.