From imperial courts to scholarly pursuits, the Book of Changes was more than just a fortune-telling tool.

The Exalted Status of I Ching Divination

It was seen as the key to unlocking all wisdom. Consequently, I Ching divination held a profound threefold role in ancient Chinese society:

Institutionalizing the Dialogue with Heaven

To formalize and authorize this practice, successive dynasties established dedicated national institutions. These were not mere folk practices but core departments directly serving the imperial power.

• Dedicated Divinatory Officials: From the Zhou Dynasty (c. 1046–256 BCE) onwards, the position of Grand Diviner (太卜 — tàibǔ) existed within the Ministry of Rites. The Grand Diviner’s office had a clear division of labor, with specialists in tortoise-shell divination, I Ching divination, and even dream interpretation, making them the state’s “prediction experts.”

Illustrious Tales from History

Historical records like the Zuo Zhuan and Records of the Grand Historian abound with credible accounts of I Ching divination, vividly demonstrating its role at critical junctures in history.

1. King Wen and the Creation of the 64 Hexagrams

Perhaps the most foundational story in the history of the I Ching is that of King Wen of Zhou (周文王, circa 11th century BCE). Before he became king, he was known as Ji Chang, a virtuous feudal lord under the tyrannical rule of King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty. Fearing Ji Chang’s growing influence and virtue, the paranoid King Zhou had him imprisoned at Youli (now in Henan province).

It was during this period of immense personal suffering and uncertainty that Ji Chang is said to have undertaken his monumental intellectual and spiritual work. Confined and facing possible execution, he dedicated himself to studying the ancient Ba Gua (the Eight Trigrams), which were believed to have been created by the mythical sage Fuxi. Meditating deeply on their symbolism, he systematically combined each of the eight trigrams with one another, expanding them into the sixty-four hexagrams that form the core of the I Ching today.

But he did more than just create the structure. For each of the sixty-four hexagrams, King Wen wrote a judgment or statement (卦辞, guà cí) that captured its essential meaning and moral lesson. These texts, born from a crucible of suffering, are imbued with profound wisdom about change, adversity, and ethical conduct. This act transformed the I Ching from a simple set of symbols into a deep philosophical and divinatory text. Thus, the story of King Wen is a powerful testament to the idea that true wisdom is often forged in hardship, and it cemented the I Ching’s status as a book of sage wisdom for all subsequent generations.

2. Duke Mu of Qin’s Expedition Against Jin: The Gu Hexagram and a Contested Interpretation

In 627 BCE, Duke Mu of Qin planned a surprise attack on the state of Zheng. Before the campaign, he commanded a divination, yielding the Gu (蠱) hexagram. The court diviner interpreted this auspiciously: “‘Gu’ signifies action…This battle will surely be a great victory!”

However, the wise minister Jian Shu argued that a distant, tiring campaign would inevitably lead to defeat. Duke Mu, heedless of this counsel, pressed forward. The Qin army was ambushed and annihilated by Jin at the Xiaoshan Mountains. This story illustrates the complexity of divination.

3. The Unavoidable Prophecy: Empress Wu Zetian and the Emperor’s Dilemma

His immediate, ruthless impulse was to identify and eliminate the source of this danger.

History records a tragic episode born from this fear. The name sounded identical to “Wu Niangzi” (武娘子, Lady Wu). Seizing upon this coincidence, and desperate to fulfill the prophecy with a scapegoat, Taizong had the innocent General Li executed.

However, the prophecy did not fade. Li Chunfeng gave him a now-famous piece of counsel that perfectly illustrates the ancient view of destiny. He argued, “What is ordained by Heaven cannot be defied by human effort.”

He abandoned the idea of a wider purge. She was, at that moment, an insignificant figure, but she was the one whom fate had chosen. Decades later, she would rise to power, fulfilling the prophecy with astonishing accuracy.

This story powerfully demonstrates that divination in ancient China was not about changing fate, but about understanding and navigating it.

It was not merely a system of fatalism but a unique tool for informed decision-making and philosophical reflection.

A look at why algorithms may fall short in the realms of I Ching, Tarot, Astrology, and more.

The rise of “AI Esotericism” is upon us.

The Pitfalls of Data and the Limits of Logic

The very foundation of AI prediction — data — presents significant challenges in the realm of esoteric studies.

1. Scarcity and Inconsistent Standards of Data: High-quality, systematically organized data for many esoteric systems, especially across different languages and cultural contexts, is rare. While Chinese resources for I Ching or Ba Zi may be abundant, they often lack uniform, quantifiable standards. Every practitioner develops their own unique interpretive framework, a highly personalized experience that’s difficult to feed into a machine.
2. Logic Isn’t Everything: Consider Liu Yao (Six Lines Divination). While it involves logical deductions, it’s far from a closed, formulaic algorithm. Interpreting the hexagrams is nuanced, requiring the diviner’s subjective engagement within a specific context. AI can assist in analyzing the relationships between lines, but it cannot capture the unique, non-linear insights that arise during a reading.

Furthermore, even the initial step of “casting” in AI-driven divination raises concerns.We cannot definitively prove that these algorithms are equivalent to the genuine randomness inherent in traditional methods. Given the millennia of validation behind manual casting techniques, the relatively short history of computer-based methods leaves their efficacy unproven. Therefore, from a rigorous and cautious standpoint, adhering to time-tested manual methods remains the more reliable and trustworthy approach.

The Missing Core: The Inability to Connect with Higher Consciousness

• The Difference in Dimensions: We are products of the universe or higher dimensions, while AI is our creation. Dimensionally, AI exists on a lower plane than human consciousness, and there is currently no evidence to suggest it can directly access the information field that underpins destiny itself.
• Inspiration and Lineage: Ancient masters of esoteric arts didn’t have databases. Their accurate predictions relied on profound “spiritual energy.” Many esoteric systems originated from enlightened individuals receiving higher inspiration, which was then validated through practice. This mirrors how great scientists like Nikola Tesla or artists often gained creative insights through dreams or sudden inspiration. Inspiration, not algorithms, dictates the depth of understanding.

The Imperceptible “Outer Responses”

A skilled diviner must be highly attuned to their surroundings, intuitively integrating these fleeting signals into the overall reading. This capacity for immediate, holistic perception is entirely beyond the reach of AI’s sensory systems.

The Perils of AI Divination: Hype Over Substance

Given these significant limitations, why the burgeoning popularity of “AI Divination”? The fundamental reason lies in a crucial disparity: spirituality is a scarce resource, while AI is a readily available novelty.

It presents a seemingly low barrier to entry, appealing to the public’s curiosity and aligning with the capital-driven desire for scalable solutions. However, over-reliance on AI predictions carries serious risks. When AI generates inaccurate or ambiguous results, the tendency will be to doubt the validity of the esoteric system itself, rather than the limitations of the technology.

Over time, this pursuit of convenience could lead to a “bad money drives out good” scenario. Genuine, in-depth study of these traditions will be neglected, and the wisdom of these cultural treasures risks being obscured by the noise of algorithms and entertainment.

Conclusion: Returning AI to Its Role as a Tool

AI is not without its uses in the realm of esotericism. It can serve as a valuable auxiliary tool, automating tasks like chart generation, looking up historical calendars, and organizing basic symbolic information, freeing practitioners from tedious manual work.

However, we must be wary of the “feedback loop” where AI-generated interpretations, often based on rigid algorithms, create a “confirmation bias,” hindering the diviner’s own intuitive and nuanced understanding.

For those genuinely dedicated to studying these profound arts, to carrying forward cultural heritage, and to serving others with wisdom, the focus should remain on diligent study, seeking guidance from experienced teachers, and cultivating their own spiritual insight.

Until AI can demonstrably prove an ability to connect with higher consciousness and possess genuine self-awareness, it will remain a limited instrument in the intricate and deeply human endeavor of interpreting destiny. Preserving the essence of these ancient traditions requires human focus,传承, and reverence.

The same He Tu and Luo Shu diagrams featured in “Legend of ZangHai” are actually in the Luoyang Museum!

The same He Tu and Luo Shu diagrams featured in “Legend of ZangHai” are actually in the Luoyang Museum!

They embody profound cosmic principles and philosophical thought.

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

We warmly invite you to join our global community and take part in our online learning programs.

Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao, Wen Wang Gua) foundations, focusing on Earthly Branch peer harmony, Merge, Coincide and Align, and seasonal strength of the Five Elements.

I. Foundations

Part 2: Five Elements

2.2 In 2.1 we looked at the basic generation and overcoming cycle of the Five Elements. All three are core tools in I Ching (Liu Yao, Wen Wang Gua) divination.

2.2 Peer Harmony of the Five Elements

Peer harmony means two of the same element meeting.

In simple terms, two identical elements together form a peer relationship.
In I Ching divination and other Five Elements systems, this peer relationship often represents:

• Siblings, colleagues, peers and friends
• People in the same profession or on the same “side”
• Partners who share similar roles or resources
• Competition between equals, including “robbing wealth” when peers fight over the same pie

Sometimes two woods combine and support each other, like teammates working together. Other times they pull from the same limited resource, like two business partners splitting one profit source. The story of the question and the positions in the hexagram will show you which way it goes.

2.2.1 Earthly Branch peer harmony in Six Lines Divination

In Six Lines (Liu Yao) divination we often talk about peer harmony between Earthly Branches.
Using the branch codes in this series, some common peer harmonies look like this:

In readings this can show:

• Extra support from people like you, same profession or same camp
• Competition from colleagues or rivals chasing the same opportunity
• A feeling of this is my crowd or this is my opponent at my own level

From here we can extend a key concept in Six Lines analysis: Merge.

Merge refers to the situation in which the element of the line in the hexagram is the same as the element of the monthly or daily branch.

This is peer harmony between the hexagram and the calendar.

Merge can be divided into Coincide and Align.

1. Coincide (值, zhi)
   Coincide refers to the situation where the branch of the line in the hexagram is the same character as the monthly or daily branch.
   The same applies to the day.
2. Align (临, lin)
   Align is relative to coincide. It refers to the situation where the element of the line in the hexagram has the same Five Elements as the monthly or daily branch but with a different character.

The strength of coincidence and alignment differs.

In practice, this gives you a concrete rule for Six Lines divination:

• A line that merges with the month or day is backed by time
• Coincide is the strongest form of this backing
• Align is also support, but slightly weaker

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Further reading: English Editions of I Ching Divination Classics

• “I Ching Divination: Complete and Restored (Zengshan Buyi 增删卜易), Part 1 (Vols. 1 to 2)”
  Foundations for Six Lines (Liu Yao), Wen Wang Gua, and the Na Jia Method. 460+ case studies (Part 1 & 2)
  → Amazon US
• “I Ching Divination: Complete and Restored (Zengshan Buyi 增删卜易), Part 2 (Vols. 3 to 4)”
  Advanced rules with worked cases, practical checklists for real readings. 460+ case studies (Part 1 & 2)
  → Amazon US
• “The Orthodox Method of I Ching Divination (Bushi Zhengzong 卜筮正宗), Book 1 of 2 (Vols. 1 to 4)”
  Classic framework and methods, including the Golden Strategy and core disputes.
  → Amazon US
• “The Orthodox Method of I Ching Divination (Bushi Zhengzong 卜筮正宗), Book 2 of 2 (Vols. 5 to 7)”
  Eighteen key questions with case-based explanations for confident judgment.
  → Amazon US
• “Fire Pearl Forest (Huo Zhu Lin 火珠林): A Classical Text on Six Lines Divination”
  Technical essentials favored by practitioners, clear structure for application.
  → Amazon US
• “Undersea Eye (Haidi Yan 海底眼): The Core Principles of Six Lines Divination”
  Core principles that train pattern recognition and timing in real casts.
  → Amazon US
• “Collected Insights on I Ching Divination (Yi Donglin 易洞林)”
  Includes Donglin Secret Manual (洞林秘诀), Guo Shi Donglin (郭氏洞林), and Zhouyi Donglin (周易洞林).
  → Amazon US
• “Hidden Principles Ode: A Classic of I Ching (Six Lines) Divination (Chan Ao Ge Zhang 阐奥歌章)”
  A concise classic that clarifies core judgments and shows how to turn short verses into usable guidance.
  → Amazon US
• “Principles and Odes of I Ching Divination”
  Includes Mysterious and Subtle Discourse (Tong Xuan Miao Lun 通玄妙论) and Celestial Mysteries Ode (Tian Xuan Fu 天玄赋), organized for quick reference in real readings.
  → Amazon US

How Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water Shape Energy Flow in I Ching Divination

I. Foundations

Part 2: Five Elements

2.1 Interactions of the Five Elements (generation and overcoming)

The Five Elements are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Remember this order: in sequence they generate one another, and when separated by one position they overcome one another.

Generation: wood generates fire, fire generates earth, earth generates metal, metal generates water, and water generates wood.

To help you understand:

• Wood generates fire: wood and firewood can burn and give rise to flames.
• Fire generates earth: after fire burns, ashes are left behind, and in geology, volcanic eruptions can also form new land.
• Earth generates metal: mineral resources are excavated from layers of earth.
• Metal generates water: when the temperature drops, tiny droplets of water can appear on metal surfaces, and molten metal also appears in a liquid state.
• Water generates wood: plants need to draw water, and they grow when watered.

Overcoming: wood overcomes earth, fire overcomes metal, earth overcomes water, metal overcomes wood, and water overcomes fire.

To help you understand:

• Wood overcomes earth: as plants grow, their roots must break through the soil and keep extending downward.
• Fire overcomes metal: the high temperature of fire can melt metal.
• Earth overcomes water: as the saying goes, “when water comes, earth blocks it.”
• Metal overcomes wood: an axe made of metal can chop down trees.
• Water overcomes fire: water can extinguish fire.

(The “to help you understand” section is only meant to help you grasp generation and overcoming among the Five Elements. It is not a theoretical explanation of the actual mechanisms of generation and overcoming.)

Next in Foundations.
Part 2.2: Peer Harmony of the Five Elements

Part 2.3: Applications of the three (generation, overcoming, harmony)

---

Further reading: English Editions of I Ching Divination Classics

• “I Ching Divination: Complete and Restored (Zengshan Buyi 增删卜易), Part 1 (Vols. 1 to 2)”
  Foundations for Six Lines (Liu Yao), Wen Wang Gua, and the Na Jia Method. 460+ case studies (Part 1 & 2)
  → Amazon US
• “I Ching Divination: Complete and Restored (Zengshan Buyi 增删卜易), Part 2 (Vols. 3 to 4)”
  Advanced rules with worked cases, practical checklists for real readings. 460+ case studies (Part 1 & 2)
  → Amazon US
• “The Orthodox Method of I Ching Divination (Bushi Zhengzong 卜筮正宗), Book 1 of 2 (Vols. 1 to 4)”
  Classic framework and methods, including the Golden Strategy and core disputes.
  → Amazon US
• “The Orthodox Method of I Ching Divination (Bushi Zhengzong 卜筮正宗), Book 2 of 2 (Vols. 5 to 7)”
  Eighteen key questions with case-based explanations for confident judgment.
  → Amazon US
• “Fire Pearl Forest (Huo Zhu Lin 火珠林): A Classical Text on Six Lines Divination”
  Technical essentials favored by practitioners, clear structure for application.
  → Amazon US
• “Undersea Eye (Haidi Yan 海底眼): The Core Principles of Six Lines Divination”
  Core principles that train pattern recognition and timing in real casts.
  → Amazon US
• “Collected Insights on I Ching Divination (Yi Donglin 易洞林)”
  Includes Donglin Secret Manual (洞林秘诀), Guo Shi Donglin (郭氏洞林), and Zhouyi Donglin (周易洞林).
  → Amazon US
• “Hidden Principles Ode: A Classic of I Ching (Six Lines) Divination (Chan Ao Ge Zhang 阐奥歌章)”
  A concise classic that clarifies core judgments and shows how to turn short verses into usable guidance.
  → Amazon US
• “Principles and Odes of I Ching Divination”
  Includes Mysterious and Subtle Discourse (Tong Xuan Miao Lun 通玄妙论) and Celestial Mysteries Ode (Tian Xuan Fu 天玄赋), organized for quick reference in real readings.
  → Amazon US

Read the pair, sense the turn, act in balance. This mindful approach is at the heart of I Ching Divination.

I. Foundations

Part 1: Yin and Yang

Yin and yang describe a relationship, not two fixed substances. We read every phenomenon through paired qualities that only make sense in relation to each other: bright and dark, movement and rest, warmth and coolness. What counts as yin or yang depends on context.

Four core dynamics.

1. Mutual dependence. No day without night, no inside without outside.
2. Wax and wane.
3. Transformation. Cloudy becomes clear, illness becomes recovery.
4. Mutual containment. Yin holds a seed of yang and yang holds a seed of yin. Deep rest prepares action, excess activity creates the need for rest.

Yin and yang are the foundation of tai chi and the Eight Trigrams. Laozi writes, “The Dao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three, Three gives birth to the ten thousand things.” In the classical reading, “One” points to tai chi. Meanwhile, “Two” points to yin and yang. This provides the basic architecture of the Zhouyi symbol system and shows how the two qi of yin and yang unfold.

Read this ladder as a practical workflow for judgment. The Two Forms are the primary polarity signaled by yin and yang lines. Across the tradition, the Two Forms can be glossed as yin and yang or as Heaven and Earth. The Four Symbols can correlate with seasons, directions, or the Four Symbols in cosmology (Azure Loong, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, Black Tortoise).

Use the levels to guide timing and proportion. The skill is to see which side is primary now, supply what is lacking, and refrain from what is already in excess. Reading this way turns theory into action: you identify the current polarity, gauge its degree, place it in an image, and decide the smallest step that restores balance.

Read the pair, sense the direction of shift, and act to rebalance. Over time this turns knowledge of opposites into a practical art of timing.

Common mistakes to avoid.

• Forgetting context. Water is yin against fire, yet yang against stillness.
• Chasing absolutes. What matters is the current tilt and the next turn, not a permanent label.

Micro-exercise（2 minutes）.
Pick something around you and name its pair: sound and silence, motion and stillness, warmth and coolness. Ask which side dominates and what signs would show a turn. This builds the reflex you will use in real casts.

Key takeaways.

• Yin and yang are relational and situational.
• Extremes invite reversal, balance restores function.
• Good practice adds what is missing and avoids what is already excessive.

Next in Foundations.
Part 2.1: Interactions of the Five Elements (generation and overcoming)
Part 2.2: Peer Harmony of the Five Elements
Part 2.3: Applications of the three (generation, overcoming, harmony)

---

Further reading: English Editions of I Ching Divination Classics

• “I Ching Divination: Complete and Restored (Zengshan Buyi 增删卜易), Part 1 (Vols. 1 to 2)”
  Foundations for Six Lines (Liu Yao), Wen Wang Gua, and the Na Jia Method. 460+ case studies (Part 1 & 2)
  → Amazon US
• “I Ching Divination: Complete and Restored (Zengshan Buyi 增删卜易), Part 2 (Vols. 3 to 4)”
  Advanced rules with worked cases, practical checklists for real readings. 460+ case studies (Part 1 & 2)
  → Amazon US
• “The Orthodox Method of I Ching Divination (Bushi Zhengzong 卜筮正宗), Book 1 of 2 (Vols. 1 to 4)”
  → Amazon US
• “The Orthodox Method of I Ching Divination (Bushi Zhengzong 卜筮正宗), Book 2 of 2 (Vols. 5 to 7)”
  Eighteen key questions with case-based explanations for confident judgment.
  → Amazon US
• “Fire Pearl Forest (Huo Zhu Lin 火珠林): A Classical Text on Six Lines Divination”
  Technical essentials favored by practitioners, clear structure for application.
  → Amazon US
• “Undersea Eye (Haidi Yan 海底眼): The Core Principles of Six Lines Divination”
  Core principles that train pattern recognition and timing in real casts.
  → Amazon US
• “Collected Insights on I Ching Divination (Yi Donglin 易洞林)”
  Includes Donglin Secret Manual (洞林秘诀), Guo Shi Donglin (郭氏洞林), and Zhouyi Donglin (周易洞林).
  → Amazon US
• “Hidden Principles Ode: A Classic of I Ching (Six Lines) Divination (Chan Ao Ge Zhang 阐奥歌章)”
  A concise classic that clarifies core judgments and shows how to turn short verses into usable guidance.
  → Amazon US
• “Principles and Odes of I Ching Divination”
  Includes Mysterious and Subtle Discourse (Tong Xuan Miao Lun 通玄妙论) and Celestial Mysteries Ode (Tian Xuan Fu 天玄赋), organized for quick reference in real readings.
  → Amazon US

Six Lines Divination (Wen Wang Gua) for real life, the path to “the skilled need not divine.” — I Ching Stream

Series overview: This hub keeps the full table of contents for your Substack series. It links every chapter and quick‑reference post, and explains how to navigate. Chapters are published one‑by‑one; the directory below will be updated as new posts go live.

Case Studies are published separately and do not carry directory numbers. Each post includes clear subsections and ends with navigation.

Mini‑FAQ

• What is Six Lines Divination (Wen Wang Gua)?
  China’s mainstream I Ching divination method for 2,000+ years, noted for strong logical structure and the unique ability to predict timing.
• Where can I study in depth?
  Purchase the essential classics on ichingstream.com. See the “Essential Classics & Purchase Links” .“I Ching Divination – Complete and Restored” by Wild Crane Elder (Yehe Elder), 460+ real case studies. (Available starting October 1, 2025.)
• What tools can I use?
  Use the perpetual calendar and professional casting tools on ichingstream.com to support daily study and practice. (Available starting October 1, 2025.)
• What is free vs. paid content here?
  Free content includes the essential foundation charts and a small selection of cases. Paid content provides in‑depth explanations, full case analyses, and extended resources for systematic learning.

Explore next
• I Ching Divination — Series Hub (Advanced): overview and roadmap for the Advanced track. Read

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Start here：

I. Foundations
A. Yin–Yang
B. Five Elements
 1. Interactions of the Five Elements (generation and overcoming)
 2. Peer Harmony of the Five Elements
 3. Applications of the three (generation, overcoming, harmony)
 4. Prosperity and Decline of the Five Elements
 5. Physical Characteristics of the Five Elements
 6. Temperament and Traits of the Five Elements
C. Eight Trigrams
 1. Introduction to the Eight Trigrams
 2. Trigram Directions
 3. Trigram Numbers
 4. Lines
 5. The Sixty-Four Hexagrams
D. Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches
 1. Heavenly Stems
 2. Earthly Branches
 3. Relationships among the Earthly Branches
 4. The Sixty Jiazi Cycle
 5. Void in the Cycle
 6. Elemental Sounds (Na Yin)

II. Understanding Six Lines Divination
A. Reading the Chart Layout
B. Composition of Hexagram Symbols
C. Upper and Lower Trigrams
D. Primary Hexagram and Transformed Hexagram
E. Static Hexagram
F. Constancy and Regret

III. Casting in Six Lines Divination
A. Methods of Casting
B. Casting Hexagrams

IV. Six Lines Divination for Beginners
A. Relationships among Line Positions
 1. Proper Position and Improper Position
 2. Central and Correct
 3. Bearing from Below
 4. Adjacency (Peer Alignment)
 5. Correspondence
 6. Resting-upon (Support)
 7. Overriding
 8. Case Studies on Line-Position Relationships
B. Opposite and Reversed Hexagrams
 1. Reversed Hexagram
 2. Opposite Hexagram
 3. Case Studies on Opposite and Reversed Hexagrams
C. Additional Hexagram
D. Mutual Hexagram
 1. Four-Line Linked-Mutual
 2. Five-Line Linked-Mutual
 3. Case Studies on Mutual Hexagrams
E. Constants and Variables
 1. Constants
 2. Variables
 3. Case Studies on Constants and Variables
F. Half-Images
 1. Introduction to Half-Images
 2. Case Studies on Half-Images

V. On Prosperity and Decline
A. Seasonal Prosperity
 1. Prosperity and Decline of the Five Elements
 2. Appearances of prosperous, supportive, rest, constraint, and death
B. Trigram Prosperity and Rest
C. Prosperity and Decline of Hexagrams and Lines

VI. On Taking Symbols (Analogies)
A. Symbolic Analogies of the Five Elements
 1. Metal
 2. Wood
 3. Water
 4. Fire
 5. Earth
B. Symbolic Analogies of the Six Relationships
 1. Parents Line
 2. Officials and Ghosts Line
 3. Siblings Line
 4. Descendants Line
 5. Wife and Wealth Line
C. Symbolic Analogies of the Six Gods
 1. Azure Loong
 2. Vermilion Bird
 3. Hooked Snake
 4. Soaring Snake
 5. White Tiger
 6. Black Tortoise
D. Symbolic Analogies of Stems and Branches
 1. Meanings of the Heavenly Stems
 2. Meanings of the Earthly Branches

VII. Core Knowledge of Six Lines Divination
A. Host and Corresponding
 1. Host Line
 2. Corresponding Line
 3. Case Studies on Host and Corresponding

J. Hexagram Body and Host Body
 1. Hexagram Body
 2. Case Studies on Hexagram Body
 3. Host Body
 4. Case Studies on Host Body

VIII. Timing of Fulfillment
A. Determining Timing by Hexagram Symbols
B. Filling the Void as the Timing
C. Clash as the Timing
D. Tomb and Extinction for Timing
E. Line Positions for Timing
F. Methods for Timing by Line Positions
G. Determining Timing via Na Jia
H. Case Studies on Timing

IX. Thematic Divinations
A. Judging Auspicious and Ominous
 1. Core Principles
 2. Case Studies
B. Business Deals Divination
 1. Special Situations
 2. Case Studies
C. Portents Divination
 1. Concepts
 2. Case Studies
D. Lost-Item Divination
 1. Concepts
 2. Case Studies
E. Hidden-Object Divination
 1. Concepts
 2. Case Studies

X. Bonus Section
A. Seeking Wealth
B. Business Wealth
C. Seeking Employment
D. Illness
E. Relationships
F. Pregnancy and Childbirth
G. Examinations
H. Lost Items

………………

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FAQ: I Ching Divination Basics

Q1. What is Six Lines Divination (Wen Wang Gua)?
Six Lines Divination (Wen Wang Gua) has been the primary I Ching divination system in China for over two thousand years. It is grounded in the Na Jia Method and integrates insights from the Yarrow Stalk Method (Great Expansion Numbers) and Plum Blossom Numerology. Combining imagery-based practice (Xiang Fa) with principle-based analysis (Li Fa), it is uniquely effective at predicting timing.

Q2. How should I read Basics and Advanced?
Read them in parallel or sequentially. The two streams are complementary. Looking only from one perspective may be insufficient for a complete analysis.

Q3. Where can I find the case studies?
They are published in a separate stream called I Ching Divination Case Study Channel and are not numbered in this directory.

Q4. Will these materials be updated?
Yes. As new posts go live, the directory is updated here.

Unlock the secrets of ancient Chinese I Ching Divination by understanding its core principle: a dynamic system of universal energy.

Unlock the secrets of ancient Chinese I Ching Divination by understanding its core principle: a dynamic system of universal energy.

Have you ever cast an I-Ching reading and been left staring at a cryptic set of lines, wondering what it all means? While the I-Ching offers profound wisdom, a specific method known as Six Lines Divination (六爻, Liuyao) provides a remarkably precise and logical system for getting clear answers.

But to unlock its power, you must first understand its foundational language.

That language is the Five Elements (五行, Wuxing).

Forget everything you think you know about elements as static, physical things. In the Daoist framework that underpins this practice, the Five Elements are a dynamic map of energy in motion. Understanding this system is the single most important step to moving beyond confusion and toward true insight in your readings.

The Core Concept: Five Elements are Phases of Energy, Not Just Physical Objects

The first and most crucial shift in perspective is this: Wuxing is not about literal wood, fire, or metal. It describes five fundamental phases or qualities of energy (气, Qi) as it transforms and cycles through the universe.

Think of them as a cosmic process:

• Wood (木, mù): The energy of birth, growth, and outward expansion.
• Fire (火, huǒ): The energy of peaking, passion, radiance, and maximum expression.
• Earth (土, tǔ): The energy of stability, nourishment, and transformation.
• Metal (金, jīn): The energy of contraction, structure, harvesting, and decline.
• Water (水, shuǐ): The energy of stillness, storage, hibernation, and wisdom.

These five energy phases are in a perpetual dance, governed by two fundamental relationships.

The Two Cycles: Generation and Overcoming

Every interaction in a Six Lines Divination reading is dictated by these two cycles.

The Generation Cycle (相生, xiāng shēng)

This is the cycle of creation and support, where one phase generates and nurtures the next, like a mother and child.

Wood generates Fire → Fire generates Earth → Earth generates Metal → Metal generates Water → Water generates Wood

The Overcoming Cycle (相克, xiāng kè)

This is the cycle of control and balance, where one phase overcomes and restricts another. This isn’t necessarily “bad”; it’s a vital function that prevents any single energy from growing out of control.

Metal overcomes Wood → Wood overcomes Earth → Earth overcomes Water → Water overcomes Fire → Fire overcomes Metal

Putting It All Together: How Energy Interacts in a Reading

To determine the outcome of your question, you first identify the Significator God (用神, yòngshén) — the line that represents the subject of your inquiry.

The entire reading hinges on the answer to a single question:

Is the energy of the Significator God being generated or overcome?

Here are the key “Relatives” you’ll be working with:

• Parents Line (父母爻, fùmǔ yáo): Represents elders, protection, documents, or things that shelter you (like a house or car).
• Siblings Line (兄弟爻, xiōngdì yáo): Represents peers, competitors, partners, and the expenditure of wealth.
• Wife and Wealth Line (妻财爻, qīcái yáo): Represents one’s partner, wealth, and assets.
• Descendants Line (子孙爻, zǐsūn yáo): Represents children, happiness, creativity, and the force that overcomes anxiety.
• Officials and Ghosts Line (官鬼爻, guānguǐ yáo): Represents career and status, but also sickness, trouble, and anxiety.

Seeing the Theory in Action: Practical Examples

Good Omen: When the Significator’s Energy is Generated

Imagine you ask a question about your finances. Your Significator is the Wife and Wealth line. Let’s say its energy is Metal. In your hexagram, the Descendants line (representing joy and creativity) is activated, and its energy is Earth.

• The Rule: Earth generates Metal.
• The Reading: This is a fantastic sign. The energy of blessings and creativity is actively generating the energy of your wealth. It suggests that profit will come easily and your ventures will be fruitful.
• This would be a sign of “robbing wealth”, indicating that money will be lost or hard to get.

Bad Omen: When the Significator’s Energy is Overcome

Now, imagine you ask about your health. Your Significator is the Self line (世爻, shì yáo), which represents you. Its energy is Wood. In the hexagram, the Officials and Ghosts line (representing sickness) is activated, and its energy is Metal.

• The Rule: Metal overcomes Wood.
• The Reading: This is a clear warning. The energy of sickness and trouble is actively suppressing your personal life-force energy. It’s a signal that your health may be at risk or that a difficult situation could be taking a toll on your vitality.

Your Journey Starts Here

Six Lines Divination is not about memorizing mysterious meanings. It is a logical and elegant system of energy analysis. By seeing the Five Elements as dynamic forces and their interactions as the grammar of the universe, you can transform a set of cryptic lines into a living map of any situation.

Coming Up Next…

We’ve covered the Five Elements, but their strength fluctuates over time. In my next article, we’ll explore [Six Lines Divination Basics: The Heavenly Stems & Earthly Branches]. We’ll discuss how the specific date and time of your divination impact the power of the elements in your reading, adding a powerful layer of precision to your insights. Follow me to stay updated!

If you have any questions about the Liuyao method, please feel free to ask in the comments!

An I Ching Divination Series: This article explores the core conflict between digital tools and ancient coins, and reveals why your mindset…

If you’ve been seeking a genuine path to mastering I Ching divination, welcome — you’re in the right place.

Before we can explore the complexities of interpretation, we must first build a solid foundation.

While we will explore interpretation in great detail later, our journey must begin here, with the first pillar. Follow us as we build your practice from the ground up.

This article focuses on the first and most fundamental step: How do we obtain an accurate hexagram?

However, under this grand principle of sincerity, modern people face a new choice:

Is digital divination a shortcut to wisdom, or is it a soulless imitation?

The Tools of Inquiry: An Introduction to Divination Methods

To understand this debate, we first need to look at the main ways of casting a hexagram:

1. The Yarrow Stalk Method (大衍筮法, Dàyǎn Shìfǎ)

This is the most ancient and ritualistic method of casting.

2. The Three-Coin Method (六爻/纳甲法, Liù Yáo / Nàjiǎ Fǎ)

As the most mainstream traditional method today, this practice is also commonly known as Liu Yao (“Six Lines Divination”). It greatly simplifies the complex procedure of the yarrow stalk method.

Crucially, and in stark contrast to the older Yarrow Stalk method, time is of the essence in the Najia system.

3. The Time-Based Method (梅花易数, Méihuā Yìshù)

This information can then be converted into a hexagram through a numerical algorithm.

· Step 1: Obtain the Time-Based Numbers You need the details from the Chinese Lunar Calendar for the moment of your inquiry (the importance of time in the Liu Yao / Najia method will also be discussed in a future article), including the Earthly Branch of the year, the lunar month, the lunar day, and the Earthly Branch of the hour. You can find this using a perpetual calendar, for example, by visiting ichingstream.com.

o Earthly Branch Numbers: Zi=1, Chou=2, Yin=3, Mao=4, Chen=5, Si=6, Wu=7, Wei=8, Shen=9, You=10, Xu=11, Hai=12.

o Trigram Numbers (Later Heaven Bagua): Qian=1, Dui=2, Li=3, Zhen=4, Xun=5, Kan=6, Gen=7, Kun=8.

· Step 2: Calculate the Trigrams and the Acitve Line

o Upper Trigram: (Year Branch # + Lunar Month # + Lunar Day #) ÷ 8. The remainder is your upper trigram.

o Lower Trigram: (Year Branch # + Lunar Month # + Lunar Day # + Hour Branch #) ÷ 8. The remainder is your lower trigram.

o Active Line: (Year Branch # + Lunar Month # + Lunar Day # + Hour Branch #) ÷ 6. The remainder is the position of the moving line (from the bottom up).

o Important Rule: If the numbers divide evenly and the remainder is 0, you take the divisor itself as the result (i.e., 8 for a trigram, 6 for the active line).

4. The Computer/Smartphone App Method

This is a product of the digital age. On various apps and websites, a single tap is all it takes to instantly complete the complex casting process.

However, the core controversy of this convenient method lies in the nature of its “randomness.” Unlike the physical events of a coin toss or sorting yarrow stalks, a computer program cannot create true randomness.

The Heart of the Matter: It Works If You Believe It

Many people are skeptical of digital divination, and for good reason. Compared to traditional methods validated over millennia, computer programs are brand new. More importantly, their “randomness” is merely a pseudo-random result based on an algorithm. How can a program connect with the mysterious order of the universe?

Perhaps the key lies not in the tool itself, but in the inner state of the user.

“信则有，不信则无” (xìn zé yǒu, bù xìn zé wú) — “It exists if you believe in it; it does not exist if you do not.” This ancient saying reveals the secret.

Here, “belief” is not blind superstition, but a state of profound focus, sincerity, and complete trust.

From this perspective:

· The Logic of Digital Divination: Although a computer program is pre-determined, the universe we inhabit is itself a vast, interconnected whole. Every event — including your decision to click a button at a precise microsecond — can be understood as part of this grand cosmic arrangement. Therefore, the result that appears to be generated by a program can equally be the universe’s response to your query. Its accuracy depends on whether you believe this connection exists.

· The Logic of Traditional Divination: The same principle applies here.

The Echo of Doubt: Why the First Cast is Key

“To question repeatedly is to show disrespect.”

The core of the answer lies in “motive.”

This shift in mindset instantly shatters the states of “sincerity” and “stillness” required for divination. Every repetition reinforces your doubt, causing your thoughts and energy field to become more chaotic.

So, what should you do if you truly can’t let go of a question? The advice of the ancients is to “wait.” Because the time and space have changed, the corresponding “image” (the divination result) will naturally change as well.

The Pink Elephant in the Room: Battling the Subconscious

However, achieving a state of “true belief” is a process, and it is far more difficult than we imagine.

It’s like the famous psychological experiment: “Don’t think of a pink elephant.” The moment you are told not to think about it, a pink elephant immediately appears in your mind.

This internal conflict and struggle will continue to affect the quality of your connection with the I Ching.

Conclusion: Your Inner State is the Final Answer

So, let’s return to the original question: computer, time-based algorithm, or traditional coins — which is better?

The answer is: whichever tool best helps you enter a state of focus, sincerity, and trust is the best tool for you.

The tool, in the end, is just a raft. Its purpose is to carry us to the shores of wisdom.

I. Foundations

Part 2: Five Elements

2.4. Prosperity and Decline of the Five Elements in Liu Yao Readings

(seasonal strength and weakness)

In Chinese metaphysics, each season has a ruling element. One element is prosperous, one is supportive, and the others are increasingly weaker. If you ignore this, you may overestimate a weak line. Or, underestimate a strong one, which easily leads to inaccurate readings.

A classic summary looks like this:

• Spring: wood is prosperous, fire is supportive, water is in rest, metal is in constraint, earth is dead
• Summer: fire is prosperous, earth is supportive, wood is in rest, water is in constraint, metal is dead
• Autumn: metal is prosperous, water is supportive, earth is in rest, fire is in constraint, wood is dead
• Winter: water is prosperous, wood is supportive, metal is in rest, earth is in constraint, fire is dead

This matches the traditional states of the Five Elements. In the states of prosperous and supportive, an element has strong life force and influence; in the states of rest and constraint, it weakens. When it is “dead”, its influence is very low. This is the basic language we use to talk about the rise and fall of qi in a chart.

The strength of the hexagram follows the strength of its element. When you say a line is strong or weak, you are really saying the element behind that line is strong in the current time. A line with prosperous qi can move things in the real world. A line that is dead often struggles to help you or to harm you, even if the relationship looks intense.

Here are some simple examples:

• Asking about career in summer. If a strong fire line represents your job (Officials and ghosts line), that line is prosperous and has a lot of power over your situation.
• Asking about money in autumn. Metal wealth lines are prosperous, so money-related opportunities and pressures are at their peak influence.

A line that is dead and being overcome is weak and easily suppressed. A ghosts line in prosperous state can bring strong pressure or decisive action. A wealth line in dead state may show money that exists in theory but is hard to access in reality.

This is how the Five Elements stop being abstract theory and become a practical language for reading change. Seasonal prosperity and decline tell you who is loud and who is quiet inside the hexagram. When you combine this with generation, overcoming, and peer harmony, Liu Yao readings become much more precise and much more lifelike.

🎁 Bonus for readers: Month-by-month prosperity from “I Ching Divination – Complete and Restored (Zengshan Buyi)”

First Month (C): C Wood is prosperous, and D Wood is secondary.
Second Month (D): D Wood is prosperous, and C Wood is secondary.
• In the first and second months, Wood is prosperous and generates Fire. Fire is supportive. Meanwhile, Metal, Water, and Earth are in a state of rest and constraint.

Third Month (E): E Earth is prosperous, and B and H Earth are secondary.
• Earth generates Metal, which is supportive. Wood is not prosperous but retains some residual energy. Water and Fire are in a state of rest and constraint.

Fourth Month (F): F Fire is prosperous, and G Fire is secondary.
Fifth Month (G): G Fire is prosperous, and F Fire is secondary.
• In the fourth and fifth months, Fire is prosperous and generates Earth. Earth is supportive. However, Metal, Wood, and Water are in a state of rest and constraint.

Sixth Month (H): H Earth is prosperous, and E and L Earth are secondary.
• Earth generates Metal, which is supportive. Fire is in decline but retains some residual energy. Wood and Water are in a state of rest and constraint.

Seventh Month (J): J Metal is prosperous, and K Metal is secondary.
Eighth Month (K): K Metal is prosperous, and J Metal is secondary.
• In the seventh and eighth months, Metal is prosperous and generates Water. Water is supportive. Meanwhile, Wood, Fire, and Earth are in a state of rest and decline.

Ninth Month (L): L Earth is prosperous, and B and H Earth are secondary.
• Earth generates Metal, which is supportive. Wood, Fire, and Water are in a state of rest and constraint.

Tenth Month (M): M Water is prosperous, and A Water is secondary.
Eleventh Month (A): A Water is prosperous, and M Water is secondary.
• In the tenth and eleventh months, Water is prosperous and generates Wood. Wood is supportive. However, Metal, Earth, and Fire are in a state of rest and constraint.

Twelfth Month (B): B Earth is prosperous, and E and L Earth are secondary.
• Earth generates Metal, which is supportive. Water is in decline but retains some residual energy. Wood and Fire are in a state of rest and constraint.

You can use this month-by-month structure when you want very precise timing. Or, when you are reading charts that cover several lunar months.