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Begin Your I Ching Journey

Congratulations on taking this meaningful step into the wisdom of the I Ching, an ancient art that empowers those who seek clarity and transformation.

Who I Am, and Why I Work with the I Ching

I graduated from Columbia University and trained in Artificial Intelligence and Accounting. I am a licensed CPA. I worked in financial management for Big Four firms and publicly listed companies.

Moreover, I am a descendant of the Wanyan family, the royal house of China’s Jin Dynasty. In my family, spiritual cultivation and I Ching divination have passed from generation to generation. One direct ancestor attained enlightenment. For us, I Ching divination is both a method for practice and a living family tradition.

Why Six Lines Divination and Wen Wang Gua (Na Jia Method) Matters

Many Western readers know the “Da Yan Method.” It uses yarrow stalks to cast a hexagram and interprets the hexagram and line texts. In practice, this method became secondary in China after the Han Dynasty, since it is complex and places high demands on the diviner.

By contrast, Na Jia Method (Six Lines Divination, Wen Wang Gua) analyzes Heavenly Stems, Earthly Branches, and Five Element interactions. It focuses on structure, timing, and real cases. Practitioners often combine it with Da Yan and Plum Blossom Numerology. As a result, Na Jia remains the mainstream and most precise method in China today for studying the I Ching through practice.

The Global Gap in I Ching Learning Resources

Outside the Chinese-speaking world, Na Jia is almost unknown. Existing books are mostly second-hand interpretations. A person who wants to learn systematically finds no reliable path, no source texts, and no clear sequence.

After extensive research, I found no complete, systematic English translation of Six Lines Divination and the Na Jia Method. Therefore, I decided to bring the original system to a global audience with fidelity and clarity. In particular, my goal is to provide a clear learning pathway for non-Chinese speakers.

What I Translated, and Why Translation Is Hard

I translated nearly all core classics for Six Lines Divination and the Na Jia Method. These texts are the foundation for learning the method. You can find them on ichingstream.com or on Amazon and other platforms.

Furthermore, few people have completed this task for two reasons. First, top practitioners in China rarely have the English skills or the resources to bring the full system overseas. Second, the Na Jia Method uses deeply localized concepts, including Heavenly Stems, Earthly Branches, Yin and Yang, Six Relationships, Monthly Branches, Daily Branches, and the Five Elements. These ideas have no direct English equivalents.

Consequently, a faithful I Ching translation needs someone fluent in both cultures. It also needs clear annotation and examples so non-Chinese speakers can truly learn. I committed years to this work.

A Notation System that Speeds Up Study

To lower the learning curve for Six Lines Divination, I designed a simple notation and translation system. I convert Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches into Roman numerals and Latin letters. The sequence remains intact, and learners can memorize it faster (you probably do not need to memorize it, since the English alphabet is basic knowledge for anyone who speaks English).

Additionally, I standardized technical terms across my translated classics, my own books, the Chinese perpetual calendar, and the site’s online casting tools and AI features. With rigorous translation and modern tools, learners worldwide can master this precise approach to the I Ching. Notably, many Chinese readers also find these English resources straightforward.

Why I Ching Practice Matters for Real Life

A classic saying advises, “To study the I Ching, begin with divination.” Many great scholars, such as Shao Yong, were master diviners. Through steady practice, one grasps the larger laws at work. Over time, the wise no longer need to cast. They foresee developments, avoid misfortune, and shape destiny with insight.

Therefore, through this website, my books, courses, tools, and our community, I hope you start this path. Ultimately, learn the I Ching so deeply that one day, you no longer need to divine.

Join the Community and Learn Together

Our community grows through personalized readings, workshops, and online webinars. Many meaningful connections form during these sessions. Participants share a deep interest in the I Ching and Six Lines Divination.

Meanwhile, the teachings offer guidance through life’s complexities, and our community provides support and shared growth. Many continue the conversation after class, trading experiences and resources. Together, we build skill, insight, and confidence in the practice.

If you would like to learn with a growing community, explore our membership plans, join a live webinar, and connect with readers through the I Ching Stream Substack. Schedules, resources, and membership details are at ichingstream.com.

Explore I Ching Books and Courses

For more books, courses, and case studies, please visit ichingstream.com to explore English translations of classical I Ching divination texts, including:

• I Ching Divination – Complete and Restored (增删卜易, Zengshan Buyi)
• The Orthodox Method of I Ching Divination (卜筮正宗, Bushi Zhengzong) – “Golden Strategy”
• Fire Pearl Forest – I Ching (Six Lines) Divination Classical Text (火珠林, Huo Zhu Lin)
• Undersea Eye – The Core Principles of I Ching (Six Lines) Divination (海底眼, Haidi Yan)
• Collected Insights on I Ching Divination (易洞林, Yi Donglin) – including Donglin Secret Manual 洞林秘诀, Guo Shi Donglin 郭氏洞林, and Zhouyi Donglin 周易洞林
• Hidden Principles Ode: A Classic of I Ching (Six Lines) Divination (阐奥歌章, Chan Ao Ge Zhang)
• Principles and Odes of I Ching Divination: Including Mysterious and Subtle Discourse and Celestial Mysteries Ode (通玄妙论, Tong Xuan Miao Lun and 天玄赋, Tian Xuan Fu)
• Studies on Ancient I Ching Divination Cases (周易古筮考, Zhouyi Gushi Kao)
• I Ching Divination Guide (卜筮元龟, Bushi Yuangui)
• The Complete Book of Divination (卜筮全书, Bushi Quanshu)
• Supplement to the I Ching Forest (易林补遗, Yi Lin Bu Yi)
• I Ching Forest (易林, Yi Lin)
• Unveiling Forces in I Ching Divination (易冒, Yi Mao)
• Celestial Secrets of I Ching Divination (断易天机, Duanyi Tianji)
• The Concealed Dimensions of I Ching Divination (易隐, Yi Yin)
• and more.

The site also offers comprehensive courses for deeper study, with all materials available in both digital and print formats (in the furture).

These classical texts are essential reading for anyone studying I Ching divination—especially Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao) and Wen Wang Gua with the Na Jia Method. Modern Six Lines practice consistently draws on these sources. Among them, Zengshan Buyi (I Ching Divination – Complete and Restored) by Wild Crane Elder (Yehe Elder) is the standout classic—All Levels (valuable to reread at any stage); every pass yields fresh insight into line dynamics, timing, and judgment.

Below, you’ll find a curated list of must-read classics. Some related works—such as Donglin Secret Manual (洞林秘诀) and other companion texts—have been edited, annotated, and thoughtfully integrated by Xuan Wanyan into the most suitable volumes for publication, so readers can study them in context without fragmentation. Put simply, serious study of I Ching divination cannot avoid the books listed here.

To make your path clearer, this article orders the titles from easier to harder—progressing from fundamentals to advanced research—and adds a difficulty label and target readership for each book (Beginner-Friendly, Intermediate, Advanced, Mastery, and All Levels). The ordering also reflects a composite frequency: how often each book is cited by other classics, how frequently it is discussed by today’s Six Lines learners online, and—where available—its relative sales ranking in China’s book market. This is an informed yet inevitably subjective roadmap designed to help you build mastery step by step.

I Ching Divination – Complete and Restored (增删卜易, Zengshan Buyi)

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The Orthodox Method of I Ching Divination (卜筮正宗, Bushi Zhengzong) – “Golden Strategy”

Author: Wang Hongxu – Qing Dynasty (circa 1709)
A rigorous system of Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao) and Wen Wang Gua, answering key questions, resolving textual debates, and integrating Golden Strategy and other classic odes. Esteemed as a central reference for Wen Wang Gua practice. Annotated English edition prepared by Xuan Wanyan.

Difficulty: All Levels (valuable to reread at any stage of learning)

🌟 Beginner-Friendly

🌟🌟 Intermediate

➡️ Read the full blog introduction to Bushi Zhengzong

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Fire Pearl Forest – I Ching (Six Lines) Divination Classical Text (火珠林, Huo Zhu Lin)

Author: Ma Yi Daoren – Tang to Five Dynasties (circa 900 CE)
One of the earliest systematic expositions of the Na Jia Method, shaping later Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao) and Wen Wang Gua practice. Revered for its structured logic and theoretical depth. English edition prepared by Xuan Wanyan.

Difficulty: All Levels (valuable to reread at any stage of learning)

🌟🌟 Intermediate

🌟🌟🌟 Advanced

➡️ Read the full blog introduction to Huo Zhu Lin

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Undersea Eye – The Core Principles of I Ching (Six Lines) Divination (海底眼, Haidi Yan)

Attributed to: Wang Zi, recompiled by He Shen, revised by Xu Dasheng – Southern Song (before 1244 CE)
A concise yet profound treatise on the foundations of Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao) and Wen Wang Gua. Covers five elements, six relationships, and line movement rules within the Na Jia framework. English edition prepared by Xuan Wanyan.

Difficulty: All Levels (valuable to reread at any stage of learning)

🌟🌟 Intermediate

➡️ Read the full blog introduction to Haidi Yan

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Collected Insights on I Ching Divination (易洞林, Yi Donglin) Includes Donglin Secret Manual 洞林秘诀, Guo Shi Donglin 郭氏洞林, Zhouyi Donglin 周易洞林

Attributed to: Guo Pu – Western Jin Dynasty (276–324 CE)
A reconstructed archive of early Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao) and Wen Wang Gua cases, preserving historical records of the Na Jia Method. Valued for tracing the roots of classical practice. English edition prepared by Xuan Wanyan.

Difficulty:

🌟🌟 Intermediate

🌟🌟🌟 Advanced

➡️ Read the full blog introduction to Yi Donglin

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Hidden Principles Ode: A Classic of I Ching (Six Lines) Divination (阐奥歌章, Chan Ao Ge Zhang)

Author: Unknown – Song to Yuan period (960–1368)
A poetic distillation of Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao) and Wen Wang Gua methods, containing twenty-five concise verses cited across major classics, such as Zengshan Buyi and Bushi Zhengzong. English edition prepared by Xuan Wanyan.

Difficulty: All Levels (valuable to reread at any stage of learning)

🌟 Beginner-Friendly

➡️ Read the full blog introduction to Chan Ao Ge Zhang

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Principles and Odes of I Ching Divination: Including Mysterious and Subtle Discourse and Celestial Mysteries Ode (通玄妙论, Tong Xuan Miao Lun and 天玄赋, Tian Xuan Fu)

Author: Unknown – Song to Yuan period (960–1368)
Influential odes offering mnemonic verses and theoretical guidance for Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao) and Wen Wang Gua within the Na Jia system. Covers six gods, line movements, voids, elemental interactions. Core learning aids widely cited in later classics. English edition prepared by Xuan Wanyan.

Difficulty: All Levels (valuable to reread at any stage of learning)

🌟 Beginner-Friendly

➡️ Read the full blog introduction to Tong Xuan Miao Lun & Tian Xuan Fu

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Studies on Ancient I Ching Divination Cases (周易古筮考, Zhouyi Gushi Kao)

Author: Shang Binghe – Late Qing Dynasty (circa 1880–1910)
Over 160 historical divinations from nearly 3,000 years of Chinese records, showing I Ching’s impact on China’s political history and the applied logic of Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao), Wen Wang Gua, and classical methods. Indispensable for advanced study. English edition prepared by Xuan Wanyan.

Difficulty: All Levels (valuable to reread at any stage of learning)

🌟🌟 Intermediate

🌟🌟🌟 Advanced

🌟🌟🌟🌟 Mastery

➡️ Read the full blog introduction to Zhouyi Gushi Kao

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The Complete Book of Divination (卜筮全书, Bushi Quanshu)

Author: Liu Bowen – Ming Dynasty (1311–1375)
A Ming-era compendium integrating primers, case rules, and core odes such as Golden Strategy and Celestial Mysteries. Essential for understanding Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao) and Wen Wang Gua in a structured sequence. English edition prepared by Xuan Wanyan.

Difficulty: All Levels (valuable to reread at any stage of learning)

🌟 Beginner-Friendly

🌟🌟 Intermediate

➡️ Read the full blog introduction to Bushi Quanshu

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Unveiling Forces in I Ching Divination (易冒, Yi Mao)

Author: Cheng Liangyu – Qing Dynasty (Kangxi Era, 17th century)
A detailed treatise on Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao) and Wen Wang Gua, expounding line dynamics, hidden lines, and kin relationships. Reflects the scholarly refinement of the Na Jia Method in Qing practice. English edition prepared by Xuan Wanyan.

Difficulty: All Levels (valuable to reread at any stage of learning)

🌟 Beginner-Friendly

🌟🌟 Intermediate

➡️ Read the full blog introduction to Yi Mao

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I Ching Forest (易林, Yi Lin)

Author: Jiao Gan – Western Han Dynasty (1st century BCE, attrib.)
Extends sixty-four hexagrams into 4,096 variations, each matched with poetic “forest verses.” Preserves symbolic imagery later absorbed into I Ching Diviantion practice. English edition prepared by Xuan Wanyan.

Difficulty: All Levels (valuable to reread at any stage of learning)

🌟🌟🌟 Advanced

🌟🌟🌟🌟 Mastery

Note：This work is better suited as a reference and tool book, and is not appropriate for beginners.

➡️ Read the full blog introduction to Yi Lin

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Supplement to the I Ching Forest (易林补遗, Yi Lin Bu Yi)

Author: Zhang Shibao – Ming Dynasty (16th century)
An expansion of Yi Lin, offering 145 entries across fields such as astronomy, politics, agriculture, and daily life. Applies symbolic methods within Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao) and Wen Wang Gua. English edition prepared by Xuan Wanyan.

Difficulty: All Levels (valuable to reread at any stage of learning)

🌟🌟🌟 Advanced

🌟🌟🌟🌟 Mastery

➡️ Read the full blog introduction to Yi Lin Bu Yi

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I Ching Divination Guide (卜筮元龟, Bushi Yuangui)

Author: Li Xiang – Yuan Dynasty (14th century)
A practical handbook for interpreting hexagrams and lines, with abundant examples. Influential in codifying Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao) and Wen Wang Gua within the Na Jia tradition. English edition prepared by Xuan Wanyan.

Difficulty: All Levels (valuable to reread at any stage of learning)

🌟 Beginner-Friendly

🌟🌟 Intermediate

➡️ Read the full blog introduction to Bushi Yuangui

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Celestial Secrets of I Ching Divination (断易天机, Duanyi Tianji)

Author: Shao Yong – Northern Song Dynasty (1011–1077)
Explains practical rules and case examples of Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao) and Wen Wang Gua, merging yin-yang and five elements with Na Jia allocation. A vital text in Song metaphysical learning. English edition prepared by Xuan Wanyan.

Difficulty:

🌟🌟🌟🌟 Mastery

Note：Without a solid foundation, it is easy to be misled by the book’s scattered content and lose focus. Not recommended for beginners.

➡️ Read the full blog introduction to Duanyi Tianji

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The Concealed Dimensions of I Ching Divination (易隐, Yi Yin)

Author: Cao Jiuxi – Qing Dynasty (18th century)
An advanced synthesis of Chen Tuan’s cosmology and later Na Jia refinements, expanding the system of Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao) and Wen Wang Gua. Explores long-term cycles and innovative techniques. English edition prepared by Xuan Wanyan. Integrates Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao), Purple Star Astrology (Zi Wei Dou Shu), Four Pillars of Destiny (Ba Zi), and other traditional Chinese metaphysical arts.

Difficulty:

🌟🌟🌟🌟 Mastery

Note：Without a solid foundation, it is easy to be misled by the book’s scattered content and lose focus. Not recommended for beginners.

➡️ Read the full blog introduction to Yi Yin

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The classics listed above form the backbone of I Ching divination, Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao), and Wen Wang Gua with the Na Jia Method. Each text represents a milestone in the transmission of Chinese metaphysical wisdom, from practical case collections to advanced theoretical odes. Together, they provide a roadmap for learners at every level—whether you are just beginning with Zengshan Buyi or advancing into the depths of Zhouyi Gushi Kao and Yi Yin.

For modern readers, these English editions prepared by Xuan Wanyan make it possible to engage with centuries of accumulated knowledge in an accessible way, while remaining faithful to the original depth.

📖 To deepen your journey:

• Explore the individual blog introductions linked above for each book.
• Visit our Books page and Divination Tools to connect theory with practice.
• Join our community at ichingstream.com to receive study resources, the Chinese Perpetual/Lunar Calendar, and updates on upcoming publications.

A complete quick reference for the 64 hexagrams and Eight Palaces, detailing every essential attribute: the Six Relationships, Five Elements, Earthly Branches, Heavenly Stems, Host/Corresponding Lines, Hidden Gods, Hexagram Body, Host Body, and more.

64 hexagrams and every line in one chart.

A fast, reliable quick-reference for I Ching Divination. Built for Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao, Wen Wang Gua) and classic Book of Changes (I Ching) study.

What is inside the chart:

1. Eight Palaces: Five element of each palace, structure
2. Hexagram: Hexagram name and number, original palace, Six Clashes hexagram, Six Compatibles hexagram, structure, hidden gods, host line, corresponding line, hexagram body, host body, single or split
3. Each line: Six Relationships, Heavenly Stem, Earthly Branch, and core Five Element for every line

Use it beside your readings, bookmark it for daily practice, and quiz yourself to build speed and accuracy.

The Complete 64-Hexagram and Lines Quick-Reference Chart ⬇️

Author’s Note: The complete chart of the 64 hexagrams is extremely important for Six Lines Divination. Each line is composed of three parts: Six Relationships, Earthly Branches, and the Five Elements of the Earthly Branches. For the sake of convenience in divination, the translator has simplified the Six Relationships to the first two letters of each and replaced the Earthly Branches with English letters (please refer to the following table of Earthly Branches). The host line is abbreviated as “ho,” and the corresponding line is abbreviated as “co.” The correspondence table for the Six Relationships is as follows:

Who Is This For?

This reference chart is designed for everyone. If you’re a beginner just starting your journey with the I Ching or I Ching Divination here, this “cheat sheet” will be your best friend. If you are an experienced practitioner focusing on the intricacies of Wen Wang Gua, this table will serve as a reliable and essential tool for your daily practice.

I truly hope everyone will save this chart and use it actively and flexibly in their studies. Keep it beside you during readings. Use it to quiz yourself. The more you immerse yourself in this map of cosmic archetypes, the more fluid and insightful your divination will become.

Bookmark this page now and make this foundational table an essential part of your toolkit. Happy divining!

How To Use

Keep the chart open during readings, and quiz yourself between sessions. The more you internalize these palaces, elements, Six Relationships, host and corresponding lines, Earthly Branches, and Five Elements, the more accurate your I Ching reading will become.

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Welcome, this is your home for mastering I Ching Divination. Choose the path that fits your journey.

Free Resources. Explore essential I Ching materials, foundational guides, and practical case studies at your own pace.

Paid Membership or Full Course. Go deeper with a complete, systematic program, including exclusive case analyses and the structured knowledge you need to read with true confidence.

Subscribe today to start your journey. See the complete chart above, then bookmark this page and make this foundational table part of your toolkit.

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