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

Description

A Must-Read Classical Text on Systematic I Ching Divination, Hexagram and Line Texts, Symbolic Imagery, and the Na Jia Method (Wen Wang Gua) (English Edition)

Written by Shang Binghe (compiled circa 1880 to 1910 CE)

Translated by Xuan Wanyan

For study resources and the English-language Chinese Perpetual (Lunar) Calendar, please visit ichingstream.com.

About “Studies on Ancient I Ching Divination Cases” (“Zhouyi Gushi Kao”) English Edition

This Studies on Ancient I Ching Divination Cases English edition presents a rigorous, case-based classic of Zhouyi divination. Shang Binghe compiled the work circa 1880 to 1910 CE. He aimed to show how diviners applied the Yi in real situations. He drew heavily from major Chinese historical sources, including classic records in the Zuo Commentary and the Discourses of the States.

The book offers 170 case analyses. Most come from historical writing, not later folklore. The cases cover court politics, military campaigns, assessments of national fortune, personal fate, illness, travel, omens, and urgent decisions. You will meet well-known figures in high-stakes moments. Confucius casts divinations for himself and for his disciples. The book also includes a substantial cluster tied to Guo Pu of the Jin era, often regarded as an early major figure in fengshui and kanyu. These cases range from seeking refuge in turmoil to diagnosing illness and judging outcomes.

Hidden Object Divination (shefu)

The collection includes extensive Hidden Object Divination (shefu) cases. People practiced shefu across social classes. The diviner applies image-reading principles and infers what object lies under a cover. Students use these cases as training, not as curiosities. Plum Blossom Numerology (Meihua Yishu) also uses this practice widely. It treats rapid image-based inference as a core skill.

Who this book helps

• Readers who want historical practice: you get a concentrated body of cases that show how divination shaped concrete choices. You also see how readers framed judgments through text, images, and method.
• Students of method, not just lore: you learn how hexagram and line texts work with symbolic imagery and Na Jia (Wen Wang Gua) reasoning in real interpretation.
• Practitioners training image-based inference: you get structured shefu material. It supports repeatable practice and verification. It also connects to skills emphasized in Meihua Yishu.

Method and technical scope

This volume does more than collect cases. It opens with a clear, step-by-step presentation of yarrow-stalk divination. It explains the operating procedure and the underlying logic. This English edition adds translator-prepared diagrams. The diagrams help you see how a cast forms and why each step matters.

The book then tackles major interpretive controversies, starting with detailed explanations of Use-Nine and Use-Six. It further shows how to read images alongside the received text, so you can apply imagery as a disciplined method rather than as loose metaphor. In this way, the volume connects technical procedure with interpretive practice.

The book includes dedicated sections on the Na Jia method (Wen Wang Gua). The case analyses then put everything together. They integrate hexagram texts, line statements, image-reading methods, and Na Jia reasoning in one framework.

What readers will gain

• A concrete reading workflow: move from a cast to judgments grounded in texts, lines, images, and technical method.
• A practical foundation in core procedures and classic controversies: yarrow-stalk casting, plus why Use-Nine and Use-Six matter in interpretation.
• Stronger image literacy through repetition: case-based training, including shefu practice that develops fast and checkable image-based inference.

English Edition

Xuan Wanyan translated and annotated this Studies on Ancient I Ching Divination Cases (Zhouyi Gushi Kao) English edition. Xuan Wanyan is a Columbia University graduate and a licensed CPA. The translator comes from a family tradition of I Ching study. This edition aims to make a historically specialized technical tradition accessible, without sacrificing depth.

The translation keeps the original case structure. It uses consistent technical terminology throughout. It also adds substantial contextual support. Readers new to I Ching divination or Chinese culture will find added explanations of terms, history, customs, and relevant scholarly interpretations.

Also cataloged or searched as

Zhouyi Gushi Kao; Studies on Ancient I Ching Divination Cases English edition; yarrow-stalk divination method; Use-Nine Use-Six; I Ching image reading; Wen Wang Gua; Na Jia method; Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao) history; Hidden Object Divination; shefu; Plum Blossom Numerology; Meihua Yishu; Confucius divination cases; Guo Pu divination.

Notes

✅ Digital products are non-refundable. Please review the description and sample pages before purchase.
✅ Case counts, page numbers, and chapter structure are approximate and may vary by edition and format.
✅ All rights reserved. Content is for educational and research purposes only. It does not replace professional medical, legal, financial, or psychological advice.

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Delivery and Access Instructions

Publisher’s notice (2025-09): The phrase “available in digital and print editions” refers to our overall catalog. This purchase includes the digital edition for online reading on ichingstream.com only. The print edition is forthcoming. This release does not include a downloadable file.

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