Introduction to Plum Blossom Numerology: An Easy Divination Method Anytime, Anywhere

In the vast traditional Chinese culture, the "I Ching" is known as the "head of all classics, the source of the Great Dao." However, its profound philosophy and complex divination methods often deter beginners. Fortunately, Shao Yong (Shao Kangjie), a wise man from the Northern Song Dynasty, created an extremely simple and flexible divination method - Plum Blossom Numerology. It does not require the use of yarrow stalks, copper coins, or other tools, truly achieving "anytime, anywhere, inspiration creates a hexagram." It is an excellent method for modern people to quickly enter the study of I Ching and gain insight into the world.

Plum Blossom Numerology, its name originates from Mr. Shao Kangjie observing plums, seeing two sparrows fighting over a branch and falling to the ground, which he found strange. He then used the year, month, day, and hour to create a hexagram, divining that the next day a neighboring girl would break a flower and injure her thigh. This matter spread, and later generations called this method "Plum Blossom Numerology."

I. Core Idea: All Things are Numbers, All Things Have Images

Plum Blossom Numerology is deeply rooted in the philosophical soil of the "I Ching." Its core concepts can be summarized in two points: "All things are numbers" and "All things have images."

All Things are Numbers: Refers to everything in the universe, from the macroscopic movement of celestial bodies to the microscopic activity of particles, which can be described and summarized by "numbers." Plum Blossom Numerology concretizes this idea, assigning a number to each of the eight congenital trigrams (Qian, Dui, Li, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Gen, Kun), namely the "congenital trigram numbers":

• Qian one (☰)
• Dui two (☱)
• Li three (☲)
• Zhen four (☳)
• Xun five (☴)
• Kan six (☵)
• Gen seven (☶)
• Kun eight (☷)

This numerical system is the basis for creating and interpreting hexagrams. Any number in our lives, such as time, house number, or phone number, can be transformed into a hexagram.

All Things Have Images: Refers to each hexagram representing a series of "images," that is, specific object images, human images, and event images. For example, the Qian hexagram represents heaven, father, head, gold, and jade; the Kun hexagram represents earth, mother, abdomen, and cloth. Through the hexagram, we can connect abstract divination results with specific things in real life, thereby interpreting and predicting.

II. Divination Method: Heart Moves, Intention Moves, Create From the Heart

The biggest feature of Plum Blossom Numerology is the flexibility of the divination method, which emphasizes "heart movement" - when your heart has a question or feeling about something, you can use the current space-time information to create a hexagram. Here are some of the most commonly used methods:

1. Divination by Time (Year, Month, Day, Hour Method)

This is the most common and convenient method. When you have something in mind that needs divination, directly use the current lunar calendar time.

• Find the Upper Trigram: Add the (lunar year number + lunar month number + lunar day number) together, divide the sum by 8, and take the remainder. The remainder is the congenital trigram number of the upper trigram. (If divisible by 8, take 8)
• Find the Lower Trigram: Add the (lunar year number + lunar month number + lunar day number + hour number) together, divide the sum by 8, and take the remainder. The remainder is the congenital trigram number of the lower trigram. (If divisible by 8, take 8)
• Find the Moving Line: Add the (lunar year number + lunar month number + lunar day number + hour number) together, divide the sum by 6, and take the remainder. The remainder is the position of the moving line. (If divisible by 6, take 6)

Note: The year number uses the earthly branch ordinal number (Zi 1, Chou 2, Yin 3...), and the hour number also uses the earthly branch ordinal number (Zi hour 1, Chou hour 2, Yin hour 3...).

2. Divination by Number

A set of numbers seen by chance, such as a license plate number, phone number, or time display, can be used to create a hexagram. The method is to divide the string of numbers into two parts. The sum of the first part of the numbers is the upper trigram, and the sum of the second part of the numbers is the lower trigram (divide by 8 and take the remainder). The total sum is the moving line (divide by 6 and take the remainder).

3. Divination by Sound

The number of bird calls or knocks can be used to create a hexagram. For example, if you hear five bird calls, you can use 5 as the upper trigram (Xun trigram); combine it with the current hour (such as Shen hour being 9), and divide (5+9) by 8 to get the remainder 6. 6 is the lower trigram (Kan trigram).

The method of creating hexagrams is ever-changing. The key lies in "taking images from the heart." As long as it is the first information that enters your mind or senses when asking a question, it can be used as the basis for creating a hexagram.

III. Basics of Interpretation: Body and Use, Generation and Control

After obtaining the hexagram, how to interpret it? Plum Blossom Numerology introduces the concepts of "Body, Use, Mutual, Change," among which the most important is the Body-Use relationship. In simple terms:

• Body Trigram: Represents the diviner or the subject of the question, and is the center of the entire hexagram. In the hexagram, the trigram without a moving line is the Body trigram.
• Use Trigram: Represents the person or thing being divined, and is the object that has a relationship with the subject. In the hexagram, the trigram with a moving line is the Use trigram.

The core of interpreting the hexagram is to analyze the five elements generation and control relationships between the Body and Use trigrams. We correspond the eight trigrams to the five elements:

• Qian and Dui belong to Metal
• Zhen and Xun belong to Wood
• Kan belongs to Water
• Li belongs to Fire
• Gen and Kun belong to Earth

The five elements generation and control relationships are: Metal generates Water, Water generates Wood, Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal; Metal controls Wood, Wood controls Earth, Earth controls Water, Water controls Fire, Fire controls Metal. Based on this, there are the following five types of auspicious and inauspicious judgments based on the Body-Use relationship:

1. Use Generates Body: Very auspicious. Represents that things are easy to succeed, and there is external help, such as help from noble people.
2. Body and Use are Harmonious: Secondary auspicious. Represents that things are smooth, the process is stable, and goals can be achieved.
3. Body Generates Use: Slightly inauspicious. Represents that you need to pay, consume, have losses, or things progress slowly.
4. Use Controls Body: Very inauspicious. Represents that things have great obstacles and difficulties, are prone to failure, and there is disaster.
5. Body Controls Use: Slightly auspicious. Represents that you can control the situation, but you need to work hard to strive for it, the process is hard, but it can eventually be achieved.

IV. A Simple Example

Suppose on the 15th day of the second lunar month in 2026, Chen hour (7-9 am), you suddenly have an idea and want to divine whether an important business negotiation today will go smoothly.

1. Time Conversion: 2026 is the Bingwu year, and the ordinal number of the Wu year is 7. The 15th day of the second lunar month, the ordinal number of the Chen hour is 5.
2. Creating the Hexagram:
   • Upper Trigram: (Year 7 + Month 2 + Day 15) = 24. 24 ÷ 8 = 3 ... 0. The remainder is 0, take 8, which is the Kun trigram (☷).
   • Lower Trigram: (Year 7 + Month 2 + Day 15 + Hour 5) = 29. 29 ÷ 8 = 3 ... 5. The remainder is 5, which is the Xun trigram (☴).
   • Moving Line: 29 ÷ 6 = 4 ... 5. The remainder is 5, so it is the fifth line moving.
3. Analyzing the Hexagram:
   • The original hexagram is the "Earth Wind Ascending" hexagram (䷭).
   • The fifth line is above the lower trigram, belonging to the upper trigram, so the upper Kun trigram is the Use trigram, and the lower Xun trigram is the Body trigram.
   • Body Trigram: Xun trigram, the five elements belong to Wood. Use Trigram: Kun trigram, the five elements belong to Earth.
   • Body-Use Relationship: The Body trigram (Xun Wood) controls the Use trigram (Kun Earth), which is "Body controls Use."
4. Divining the Hexagram:

   "Body controls Use" is slightly auspicious. This predicts that in today's business negotiation, our side (Body trigram) will be in a dominant position and can control the rhythm and direction of the negotiation. Although the process may require some talking and energy (the process of control is consumption), we can eventually overcome the resistance of the other party (Use trigram) and achieve a favorable outcome for ourselves. Therefore, it can be judged that the negotiation will be successful.

Plum Blossom Numerology, the Great Dao is simple. It integrates the wisdom of the I Ching into life, allowing us to resonate with the rhythm of the universe every time our hearts move. Through continuous practice and understanding, you can not only master a technique for predicting the future, but also cultivate a wisdom of observing details and discerning patterns. This is the fundamental reason why Plum Blossom Numerology has traversed thousands of years and still retains its charm.