I Ching Plum Blossom Method

September 16th, 2004, 10:09 PM

mick

Senior Member

Join Date: Jun 1970

Location: Greater Manchester

Posts: 304

Seeker/Yly2pg1,

This description of Shao Yong's Plum Blossom method comes from "The Numerology of the I

Ching" by Alfred Huang page 170.

Number the trigrams in King Wen's Ba Gua arrangement starting from Heaven in the North-

West like this:

Heaven = 1

Water = 2

Mountain = 3

Thunder = 4

Wind = 5

Fire = 6

Earth = 7

Lake = 8

Form a question in your mind and make a note of the time and date. In this case I asked , "What

is my fortune regarding posting this Plum Blossom method on the Clarity website?" at 20:35 on

16/09/2004.

To get the top trigram, you use just the date. Add the day, month and year together to get one

number. 16 + 9 + 2004 = 2029.

Work out what the remainder is when you divide this number by 8. If the remainder is 0 the

answer is 8. This is not too bad to do in your head because you only have to keep track of the

remainder:

8 into 20 leaves 4, carry the 4, 8 into 42 leaves 2, carry the 2, 8 into 29 leaves 5. So the top

trigram is 5 = Wind.

For the lower trigram add the hours and minutes to the big number, 2029 + 20 + 35 = 2084

Repeat the division by 8 to find the remainder for the lower trigram:

8 into 20 leaves 4, 8 into 48 leaves 0, 8 into 4 leaves 4. So the lower trigram is 4 = Thunder.

(I sometimes take the short-cut of recognising that you're adding 55 which has remainder 7 when

divided by 8, and then adding 7 to the previous remainder. 5 + 7 = 12 = 8 remainder 4, so the

lower trigram is number 4 Thunder.)

So the Hexagram is Wind over Thunder = Hx 42 Increasing. Very favourable!

Now for the moving line. Divide the date plus the time by 6 and the remainder is the moving

line. If the remainder is 0, the top line changes.

2084 divided by 6...

6 into 20 leaves 2, 6 into 28 leaves 4, 6 into 44 leaves 2. So, the answer to my question is Hx 42

with the 2nd line changing to give Hx 61 Innermost Sincerity.

Well that made me smile

Perhaps this post will help to Increase the Innermost Sincerity of people by showing you a

method of consulting the I Ching that you have with you at all times?

Alfred Huang translates 42,2 as

"Probably being increased,

A tortoise worth ten pairs of shells;

Cannot be refused.

Being perseveringly steadfast and upright:

Good fortune.

The king is engaged in presenting to the Lord of Heaven.

Good Fortune."

Best wishes,

Mick