The First Chapter of the Book of Changes: The Principles of Symbolic Numbers
The six characters constitute the six lines of the hexagram. Dividing them evenly into upper and lower parts forms the hexagram
Wood fuels fire
Those who come to inquire shall have their intentions expressed in writing. If they write their intentions, then their words shall be interpreted accordingly
Kan Liu Shui
Any text consisting of more than eleven characters and up to one hundred characters can be used to generate a hexagram. However, for texts exceeding eleven characters, the tonal patterns of the characters do not need to be considered; only the number of characters is relevant. If the number of characters is even, the first half will represent the upper hexagram and the second half will represent the lower hexagram. Additionally, the total number of the two hexagrams will be used to determine the lines.
Water extinguishes fire
Whenever a sound is heard, count a few numbers to form the upper hexagram, and then add the counted numbers to create the lower hexagram. Additionally, sounds such as the calls of animals or the sounds of people striking can also be counted to generate hexagrams.
Sound occupies an example
The secrets of the universe are easily understood, yet the mysteries of creation remain to be revealed.
Those who take from their own bodies, such as when the head moves it represents Qian, when the feet move it represents Zhen, and when the eyes move it represents Li, among others
Year, month, day, hour, as observed in the case of plum blossoms and similar matters
Wood in the East: Jia and Yi. Fire in the South: Bing and Ding. Earth in the Center: Wu and Ji. Metal in the West: Geng and Xin. Water in the North: Ren and Gui
One may initiate a divination by using the year, month, day, and hour, or by hearing a sound, or by observing an external object that is touched at that moment. The above three examples are similar to the methods of divination for others mentioned in the previous chapter
The three characters represent the three talents. The first character, m.hetushu.com, serves as the upper trigram, while the second character represents the lower trigram
Occupy animals
When activating a line, divide the total number of hexagrams by 6, and use the remainder as the active line. If the result is less than 6, simply use this number as the active line without further division. If encountering a result of 6, subtract 6, and continue dividing by 2, 3, and so on, until fully divided, using the remainder as the active line. If one line is activated, observe this line; if it is a yang line, it changes to a yin line, and if it is a yin line, it changes to a yang line. The line should be taken in accordance with the time.
Example of object number accounting
The Zhen and Xun elements are strong in spring. The Li element is strong in summer. The Qian and Dui elements are strong in autumn. The Kan element is strong in winter. The Kun and Gen elements are strong during the months of Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei.
A single character represents the undifferentiated state of Tai Chi. In cursive script, it is chaotic and unclear, making it impossible to derive a hexagram. In regular script, one takes the strokes of the character, with the left side representing the Yang strokes and the right side representing the Yin strokes. The left side indicates the lower hexagram based on its numerical value, while the right side indicates the lower hexagram based on its numerical value as well. Additionally, the Yin and Yang of a single character are used to derive the lines. "彳" and "/" represent the left side; "一", "乙", and "" represent the right side.
Gen Seven Earth
Fire conquers Metal
The Twelve Earthly Branches
One character occupies up to ten characters
The Zhou and the Book of Changes (I Ching) numbers, and the Five Elements associated with the Eight Palaces
Gameplay
When divining based on the movements of animals, one must not cast a hexagram. If an object is observed, it should be taken as the upper hexagram, while the direction from which the object comes serves as the lower hexagram. Combine the numerical values of the object and the directional hexagrams, and add the time value to derive the lines, using this total to interpret the object, similar to later divinations concerning the crowing of roosters or the mooing of cows. Furthermore, for animals such as cattle, horses, dogs, and pigs that are newly born, one should use the year, month, day, and hour of their birth for divination. Additionally, one may also consider the time of purchase of the object for divination.
Those who take from others, like the blue-clad person representing Zhen, and the red-clad person representing Li, among others
Measuring tape
Every entity possesses its own essence, and within that essence lies a vast universe
Examples of interhexagrams
Fire generates earth
The measurement of the zhang and chi is represented with the zhang as the upper trigram and the chi as the lower trigram. The combination of the zhang and chi is used to derive the hexagram, while the cun is not utilized
The two characters represent the division of the two instruments. One character serves as the upper trigrams, while the other character serves as the lower trigrams
Xun Five Wood
The interhexagrams only use the eight trigrams, and there is no need to take the names of the sixty-four hexagrams. The interhexagrams are formed by removing the first and sixth lines from the double hexagram, dividing the four middle lines into two hexagrams, and observing which hexagram is obtained
Horse of Fire in the afternoon, Sheep of Earth in the evening, Monkey of Metal in the hour of Shen, Rooster of Metal in the hour of You, Dog of Earth in the hour of Xu, Pig of Water in the hour of Hai
When casting a hexagram, regardless of the number, it is associated with the diagram and the text, using eight as the hexagram number. If the number exceeds eight, it is divided by eight. If the result is not an integer, it is further divided by two, three, and so on, until it is completely divided, using the remainder to form the hexagram. If the result is exactly eight, it corresponds to the Kun hexagram, and there is no need for further division.
The character "九" signifies the meaning of "nine categories." The upper trigrams consist of four characters, while the lower trigrams consist of five characters
占法
Gold generates water
As for inanimate objects, they are akin to rivers and mountains, and should not be used for divination. However, for matters such as houses and trees, divination can be performed at the time of the house's initial construction or the tree's initial planting. Regarding utensils, divination can be conducted at the time they are made, such as for pillows and chairs. Otherwise, divination should not be performed without reason. When observing plum blossoms, one may see birds fighting over branches and then proceed to divine. For peonies, one may divine upon inquiry. In the case of lush trees, divination is conducted only after branches have withered and fallen.
The seven characters represent the unity of the seven governing principles. The three characters form the upper trigrams, while the four characters constitute the lower trigrams
The earth produces metal
Aquatic plants
Kun Eight Earth
The eight characters serve as the positioning of the eight trigrams. Dividing them into upper and lower halves forms the trigrams
Within it, deities govern fortune and misfortune; one must never take lightly the act of transmission.
I can comprehend all things prepared for me, and I am willing to establish the roots of the three talents separately
When the number of characters is even, divide it equally into the upper and lower trigrams. If the number of characters is odd, take one less character for the upper trigram and the text, reflecting the light and clear meaning of heaven, while taking one more character for the lower trigram, reflecting the heavy and turbid meaning of earth
Still life
Character占
Whenever there are countable objects, the number of these objects is used to form the upper trigrams, while the time count is used to form the lower trigrams. The total of the trigram number and the time count is then divided by six to determine the moving line.
The divination is initiated based on the year, month, day, and hour
The hexagram signifies entry and removal
The hexagram's energy is waning
When one touches external objects, at the time of divination, if one sees water, it is the Kan hexagram; if one sees fire, it is the Li hexagram, among others
Rat of Water, Ox of Earth, Tiger of Wood, Rabbit of Wood, Dragon of Earth, Snake of Fire
Turquoise water
The Ten Heavenly Stems
The Five Elements generate and restrain each other
When listening to the voice of the words, if there is one sentence, it corresponds to the number of characters in the hexagram. If there are two sentences, the first sentence is used as the upper trigram and the second as the lower trigram. If there are many sentences, only the first heard sentence or the last heard sentence is used. The remaining sentences are not utilized.
Jin Kemu
The hexagram is divided by six
Four characters represent the four symbols. Dividing them into upper and lower parts forms the hexagram. Furthermore, for characters exceeding four, there is no need to count strokes; one only considers the tonal patterns. Level tone counts as one, rising tone as two, departing tone as three, and entering tone as four.
Spring: Kun, Summer: Qian, Autumn: Zhen, Winter: Li. The Earthly Branches: Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei, Kan.
Dry one gold
Exchange for two gold coins
Those who observe a person's character, such as the elder representing Qian and the young girl representing Dui, etc.
The cross represents a whole number. Dividing it evenly into upper and lower parts forms a hexagram
Even immortals have their own words; the Dao is not passed on in vain, but relies on individuals.
To occupy a position
Mu Ke Tu
Away from the three fires
Occupy oneself
The year, month, and day constitute the upper hexagram. The total sum of the year, month, day, and hour forms the lower hexagram. Additionally, the total derived from the year, month, day, and hour is used to determine the lines. For instance, the year of the Rat counts as 1, the year of the Ox as 2, and so forth up to the year of the Pig, which counts as 12. The months are counted similarly, with the first month as 1 and the twelfth month also as 12. The days are counted from the first day as 1 up to the thirtieth day as 30. The total count of the year, month, and day is divided by 8, and the remainder determines the hexagram. For the hours, the first hour of the Rat counts as 1 up to the twelfth hour of the Pig as 12. The total of the year, month, day, and hour is summed, divided by 8, and the remainder determines the lower hexagram; it is also divided by 6, and the remainder determines the moving line. The total count of the year, month, and day is divided by 8, and the remainder determines the hexagram. For the hours, the first hour of the Rat counts as 1 up to the twelfth hour of the Pig as 12. The total of the year, month, day, and hour is summed, divided by 8, and the remainder determines the lower hexagram; it is also divided by 6, and the remainder determines the moving line
Heaven divides the creation into two, while in the heart of man arises the governance of affairs
In all matters concerning divination, the methods are not uniform. Some may listen to the voice to generate the hexagram, some may observe the character of the individual, some may draw from the body, some may take from objects, some may consider the colors of clothing, touch external items, some may use the year, month, day, and hour, or may interpret the written intent.
It is also said: The universe is without mutuality, yet it transforms through its changes.
Five characters represent the five elements. The two characters form the upper trigrams, while the three characters form the lower trigrams
Earthquake magnitude 4
The auspicious energy is strong