It's more than ten years since starting this page. I'll re-new here in near future...

or
Mei Hua Xin Yi (Meihuaxinyi, MHXY) or Mei Hua Yi Shu (Meihuayishu, MHYS) is a different kind of Yi Jing. In
this way, we do not need any tools to cast hexagrams, and it takes extraordinary way for interpretation. This way is
also very simple to learn, but much useful for any cases people will face to.
News : I've joined Fivearts.net few days ago.

Contents of this page

Origin
System
Principles to interpret Hexagrams
Practical Examples of interpreting Hexagrams
Materials of Japanese/Chinese Books
Related page

1.Origin
I've heard it was invented by Shao Yong(1011-1077) in Song Dynasty of China, whom we call 'Shou You' or 'Shou
Kou Setsu' in Japan. There are some legends concerned with Shao Yong.

2.System
Its system is based on Wu-Hang-Yi. Therefore, it has many same features as Wu Hang Yi has.

2-1.Casting Hexagrams without any tools

We do not need any special tools to get Hexagrams. How can we get done it then?
At the beginning to talk about it, please remember what the Hexagram is. In Yi Jin, it is a symbol which represents
anything in universe. It contains Yin and/or Yang lines in itself, but its meanings are very flexible and dynamically
changeable. For Example, we can interpret Kun as it were Qian. And that means, we can take the way backward like,
1. Write down or put into mind the most impressive matter whatever we see, hear or feel when we have an intention
to divinate.
2. Consider which Trigrams does the matter belongs to.
3. Write it down as a lower Trigram when we decide.
4. Do the same way as 1. to get an upper Trigram.
5. Get an changing line by random number such as seconds of current time.
Yes!! We can get Trigrams from anything in this universe, as well as we can consider Trigrams as anything in this

univers. It makes us enable to cast a Hexagram freely by our most comfortable and convenient way.

2-2.Examples of getting Trigrams

what we put attention in our mind
anything circle, white, large, tall.
father, emperor, king, president, strong leader, tyrant.
anybody or anything coming from northwest.
person or organization of which name is related with metal such as Mr. Gold.
person or organization of which name is related with wind such as Mr. Skywaker.

Trigrams

anything white, anything related with metal, especially small and flexible.
anybody or anything coming from west.
person or organization of which name is related with metal such as Mr. Sword.
anything red, hot, changing, anything related with fire.
anybody or anything coming from south.
person or organization of which name is related with fire such as Mr. Burn.
anything green, blue, yielding like willow, anything related with wood.
anybody or anything coming from east.
person or organization of which name is related with wood such as Mr. Logging.
anything green, blue, tall, or anything related with wood.
anybody or anything coming from southeast.
person or organization of which name is related with wood such as Mr. Oak

pond, see, river and/or anything related with water

anything black, anything of which outside is soft and inside is hard.
anybody or anything coming from north.
middle aged man is also meaning of Kan.
lower, cleaner, waterworker, middle management worker.
person or organization of which name is related with water such as Mr. Pond.
anything yellow, huge like mountains. mountain, cliff, tower, and/or anything related with earth
anybody or anything coming from northeast.
person or organization of which name is related with earth such as Mr. Rock.

anything yellow, wide area. plain, country, desert, and/or anything related with earth
anybody or anything coming from southwest.
person or organization of which name is related with water such as Mr. Ground

2-3.Numerological ways to get Trigram and Hexagram

In the theory of Mei Hua Xin Yi or Mei Hua Xin Shu( "Plum Blossom Yi number" in English ), Gua is considered as a
representation of a number. This theory is a kind of numerology. Therefore, we can cast Trigrams or Hexagrams freely
using any kinds of numbers. These are examples :
No.

Material

Method
I use this method to analyse out looking personalities. Because name is used by others more
oftenly than the owner.
1.Convert name into number.
A=1, B=2, C=3,,,,Z=26
Example) Makoto Ogino is :
M
A
K
O
T
O
13 + 1 + 11 + 15 + 20 + 15
O
G
I
N
O
15 + 7 + 9 + 14 + 15
TOTAL

= 75

(1)

= 60

(2)

= 135

(3)

2.Get remainder of each number.

75 / 8 = 9 ... 3
60 / 8 = 7 ... 4
135 / 6 = 22 ... 3

Name

3.Convert (1) and (2)

and (3) is a number
(1) is a number for
(2) is a number for

(1)
(2)
(3)

3
4
3

into Trigram respectively,

of changing line.
Lower Trigram(first Name)
Upper Trigram(family Name or other parts of name)

4 is for Zhen (Upper Trigram)

3 is for Li
(Lower Trigram)
Hexagram is 55( Feng / Abundance )
with changing line 3.

This method is written in ancient Chinese books of numerology. But I do not think it is
convenient to use for any people, because people have to know the branches of dates before
calculating. And, I've read that using branches does not have any important meanings in a
book that I introduce on the last part of this page. Important point is that we can get a
specific number by using specific method of calculation.
To get a Hexagram from Date : 1998 October 19

20:08.

1. Get base numbers from Date like :

(1) 3
(2) 10
(3) 19
(4) 11

(1998 is the year of Yin, which is 3rd of the twelve branches)

(October)
(19th)
(20:08 is the hour of Xu, which is 11th of twelve branches)

2. Get Upper Trigram number by adding (1), (2) and (3).

Date-1

3 + 10 + 19 = 32. (this means Year + Month + Day)

32 / 8 = 3 ... 8
Kun is an Upper Trigram of 8.

3. Get Lower Trigram number by adding Upper Trigram number and (4)
32 + 11 = 43. ( Upper Trigram Number + Day )
43 / 8 = 5 ... 3
Sun is a Lower Trigram of 5.

4. Get changing line number by adding (1), (2), (3) and (4)
3 + 10 + 19 + 11 = 43. ( Year + Month + Day + Hour )
43 / 6 = 7 ... 1
line 1 is changing.
Therefore,
Kun
(Upper Trigram)
Sun
(Lower Trigram)
Hexagram 46 (Sheng / Pushing Upward)
with changing line 3 is generated.

This method is simple and easy to use, but not meaningless. I think, that year and month
represents energy of Heaven(revolution on orbit), and, day represents energy of Earth
(rotation on axis).
To get a Hexagram from Date : 1998 October 19. (without time)
1. Get Upper Trigram calculating Year and Month.
1998 + 10 = 2008.

2008 / 8 = 250 ... 8

Kun is Upper Trigram.

2. Get Lower Trigram from Day.

19 / 8 = 2 ... 3
Li is Lower Trigram

Date-2

3. Get Changing Line by adding Year, Month and Day.

(1998 + 10 + 19) / 6 = 2027.
2027 / 6 = 337 ... 5
Line 5 is changing.
Finally,
Kun
(Upper Trigram)
Li
(Lower Trigram)
Hexagram 36 (Ming I/Darkening of the Light)
with changing line 5 is generated.

This is the way I always use( because using Japanese era ). The text book of Mei Hua Xin Yi
says, people may use any kinds of era to determine year number if they always use the same
way. In another words, people may not use another ways even if the result cannot be satisfied
for them. The important thing is, that we should select one of several kinds of era, but once
we decided, we should not change it often.
When I use this or next method to get Birth Hexagram by Birth Date, I interpret the
Hexagram as inner(mental and/or spiritual) analysis of personality.
To get a Hexagram from Date : 1998 October 19. (without time)
1. Get Upper Trigram calculating Year and Month.
Using calendar's year, which is started in BC 660.

Date-3

(1998 + 660) + 10 = 2668.( Japanese era, which is started in BC 660 )

2668 / 8 = 333 ... 4
Zhen is Upper Trigram.

2. Get Lower Trigram from Day.

19 / 8 = 2 ... 3
Li is Lower Trigram

3. Get Changing Line by adding Year, Month and Day.

((1998 + 660) + 10 + 19) / 6 = 2687.
2687 / 6 = 447 ... 5
Line 5 is changing.
Now,
Zhen
(Upper Trigram)
Li
(Lower Trigram)
Hexagram 55 ( Feng / Abundance )
with changing line 5 is generated.

This method is used in He Luo Li Shu. And this is one of the most difficult method to get
understood. This is the reason why I do not prefer to use. This method is used for analysis of
personality and forcasting life like astrology.
1.Get eight letters from Birth Date.
(Eight letters means ten stems and twelve branches of
Year, Month, Day and Hour. We need Chinese calendar to pick up them.)

Example) 1998. October 20. 08:42

Hour Day Month Year --Stem
Branch
Yin male or Yin female ------ born in the year of Yin stems.
(Yi, Ding, Ji, Xin or Gui)
Yang male or Yang female ---- born in the year of Yang stems.
(Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng or Ren)
2.Get numbers of stems and branches.

Numbers of stems:
6

2 8

1 9 3

Numbers of branches:
1,6 5,10 3,8 3,8 5,10 2,7 2,7 5,10 4,9 4,9 5,10 1,6

Example)

Hour
Geng
3
Chen
5,10

Day
Geng
3
Zi
1,6

Month
Ren
6
Xu
5,10

Year
Wu
1
Yin
3,8

Stem
Branch

3. Calculate sum of Yang(odd) number to get Celestial number,

and calculate sum of Yin(even) number to get Earth number.
Celestial number(sum of odd number) : (Year)+(Month)+(Day)+(Hour)
= (1+3)+(5)+(3+1)+(3+5)
= 22
Earth number(sum of even number)
: (Year)+(Month)+(Day)+(Hour)
= (8)+(6+10)+(6)+(10)
= 38
= 38 - 30
= 8
The max of Celestial number is 25.
The max of Earth number is 30.
The result of Celestial number calculation is 22. This value
is less than max value of Celestial number. Therefore, 22 is
a Celestial number of this case.
When the result of calculation is greater than max value,
we need subtract the max value from the result value.
In this example case, Earth number is greater than the
max value of Earth number. Therefore, we substract 30 from 38.
Finally, 8 is an Earth number of this case.
4. Get Upper Trigram from Celestial number, and
get Lower Trigram from Earth
number.

Trigram Number is like followings:

There are several rules to get Trigram number from Celestial number
and Earth number. See some examples:

Examples of Celestial number - Trigram number conversion

Celestial
number
18
23
25
28
31
39
50

Trigram number
18 - 10 = 8
23 - 20 = 3
25 - 20 = 5
28 - 25 = 3
31 - 25 = 6
39 - 25 = 14.
14 - 10 = 4
50 - 25 = 25.
25 - 20 = 5

Date-4

Examples of Earth number - Trigram number conversion

Earth
number
14
25
29
30
42
50
56

Trigram number
14 - 10 = 4
25 - 20 = 5
29 - 20 = 9
3
42 - 30 = 12.
12 - 10 = 2
50 - 30 = 20.
2
56 - 30 = 26.
26 - 20 = 6

The Trigram numbers of this case:

Celestial number
Earth number

22

Upper Trigram

Kun

Lower Trigram

Gen

The Hexagram of this case:

15( Qian/Modesty )

This is a Birth Hexagram of earlier Heaven.

A Birth Hexagram of later Heaven is generated like following:
1)Exchange Upper and Lower Trigram of earlier Heaven Hexagram.
2)Reverse changing line's attribute of new Hexagram.

Earlier
--- ----- --*--- ----------- ----- ---

Later
--------- ----- ----- ----- --*-------

The later Heaven Hexagram of this example is : 27( Yi/Nourishment )

If we get number 5, we need to decide Trigram number by exceptional rule.

Example of the case of number 5
male ----- Gen
female --- Kun
Yang male or Yin female ----- Gen
1924 - 1983
Yin male or Yang female --- Kun
male ----- Li
1984 - 2043
female --- Du
1864 - 1923

5. Getting a changing line

We get a Changing line from Birth Hour Branch.
First, position the branches to lines of Birth Hexagram.
And, changing line is the line Birth Hour Branch is positioned.
The Birth Hour Branch of his example is Chen.
Positions of branches are like following:
If Birth Hour is Yin branch, start positioning at lower Yin line.
If Birth Hour is Yang branch, start positioning at lower Yang line.
The Birth Hour of example of this case is Chen(Yang branch).
Therefore, branch positioning starts at line 3(The 1st Yang line
of Birth Hexagram).
Hexagram 15(Qian)
(number) is order of branch positioning
--- --(6)Si
--- --(5)Chen --- --(1)Zi
-------Chou(2) <-- 2 branches are positioned on Yang line.
(4)Mao --- --(3)Yin --- --Therefore, the changing line of this example is 4th line.
6. Period of Life
We can calculate period of life using changing line.
Yin line rules 6 yeas. Yang line rules 9 years.
Because 6 represents Yin number, and 9 represents Yang number.
Example of this example:
Earlier Heaven

--- ----- --*--- ----------- ----- ---

Age
13 7 1 31 25 19 -

Later Heaven

18
12
6
39
30
24

--------- ----- ----- ----- --*-------

Age
73 67 61 55 49 40 -

81
72
66
60
54
48

I'll write more detailed articles of He Luo Li Shu in its own page.

This method is used in Huang Ji Jing Shi, which is used to analyse history by Hexagram.
We can cast Hexagrams on Hour, Day, Month, Year, 10 Years, Sei(30 Years), Un(360

Years), and Kai(10800 Years). The most largest unit of time is Gen(129600 Years). But the
book of Huang Ji Jing Shi tells nothing about Gua of it.

Year

Stems & Hexagram of Hexagram of Hexagram of Hexagram of Hexagram of

Branches
Un
Sei
Decade
Year
Two Months
13
Tong Ren

44
Gou
12
Bi
1997

44
Gou

50
Ting

56
Lu

33
Dun

53
Jian
56
Lu
31
Hsien

Age

49
Ge
28
Da Guo
45
Cui

1998

44
Gou

50
Ding

56
Lu

31
Xian

39
Jian
62
Xiao Guo
33
Dun

This table is a result of Huang Ji Jing Shi, which is other kind of Yi Jing numerological
method.
I will write more detailed article of it in another page.

2-4.Spirit
The most important spiritual point of Mei Hua Xin Yi is, it has two main aspects of Yi Jing, phylosophy and practice.
Lao Zi and Mo Zi are spiritual background of Mei Hua Xin Yi. The book I read says this "Lao Zi's Yi and Mo Zi's Yi".
Lao Zi's Yi means that we should pay attention to nature of the target at first step of interpretation.
Mo Zi's Yi means that we should use Mei Hua Xin Yi for only on good faith, and, try to think of Providence and
honesty rather than evil desire and selfish satisfaction.

3.Principles to interpret Hexagrams

At first, we need to get a Hexagram with one changing line in Mei Hua Xin Yi method, usually by using six coins. One
of them is marked, to indicate it must be a changing line. We put them after shuffling, and finally we can get a
Hexagram with one changing line. Now, we are ready to decide Ti and Yong.
The most important point of Mei Hua Xin Yi method is using two conceptions which always oppose against each other,
'Ti' and 'Yong'.

'Ti' means self. Nothing but 'Ti' can get the focus of interpreting
hexagrams in Mei Hua Xin Yi method. We must settle only one 'Ti' in
the oracle. 'Ti' can represents a person, a company, an event, some
status of things, a relationship between people, and other all things
in the universe. When we use Mei Hua Xin Yi method to solve problems,
it is serious and important question for us to consider what is the
most appropriate subject as 'Ti' in current problem.

'Yong' means everything but 'Ti'. All things but 'Ti' are included.
'Yong' is always the opposition against 'Ti'. When 'Ti' means a subject
'Yong' means an object. When 'Ti' represents self of the client being
consulted 'Yong' represents whole environment around 'Ti'. When 'Ti'
means a plan of the client company 'Yong' means the future results of
the plan and/or influence by competitors.

Two ways are available for us to determine Ti and Yong. One way is from line. Generation line can be Ti and
Opposition should be Yong. Other way is from Trigram in the Hexagram we got. Ti is a Trigram without changing line
in Hexagram, and You is another.
Only one rule to get Hexagram and one changing line, is that we should get Ti and Yong in rational way. In Mei Hua
Xin Yi method, we can cast a Hexagram freely. We can get it by coin thowing, random numbers, time watching, and
other all kinds of things in our world.

3-1.Relation between Ti and Yong

I usually use the latter way, and find status of relation between Ti and Yong to interpret Hexagram. If Ti is stronger or
powerful it means a good answer. How can we find whether Ti is stronger than Yo or not ? It is very simple.
In Mei Hua Xin Yi method, we compare Wu Hang( five elements ) of Ti and Yong at first. Wood helps Fire, Fire helps
Earth, Earth helps Metal, Metal helps Water, and Water helps Wood. For example, when we get Hexagram 6 with 2nd
line changing, Ti is upper Qian, Metal and You is lower Kan, Water. So, we consider about relationship between Metal
and Water. According to Wu Hang system Metal helps Water. It means You helps Ti. This represents that situation is
friendly for subject.
I made reference tables for guidance.

Wu Hang ( five elements ) of Trigrams

Metal Metal Fire Wood Wood Water Earth Earth

Simple guidance of Ti-Yong interpretation

Ti

Yong

Wood
Fire
Wood

Earth
Metal
Water
Fire
Earth

Fire

Metal
Water
Wood

relationship and
balance of power
between Ti and Yong
Ti and Yong help each
other.
Ti = Yong
Ti helps Yong.
Ti < Yong
Ti controls Yong.
Ti > Yong
Yong controls Ti.
Ti < Yong
Yong helps Ti.
Ti > Yong
Ti and Yong help each
other.
Ti = Yong
Ti helps Yong.
Ti < Yong
Ti controls Yong.
Ti > Yong
You controls Ti.
Ti < Yong
You helps Ti.
Ti > Yong

Ti and Yong help each

Earth other.
Ti = Yong
Ti helps Yong.
Metal
Ti < Yong
Earth
Ti controls Yong.
Water
Ti > Yong
Yong controls Ti.
Wood
Ti < Yong
Yong helps Ti.
Fire
Ti > Yong
Ti and Yong help each
Metal other.
Ti = Yong
Ti helps Yong.
Water
Ti < Yong
Metal
Ti controls Yong.
Wood
Ti > Yong
Yong controls Ti.
Fire
Ti < Yong
Yong helps Ti.
Earth
Ti > Yong
Ti and Yong help each
Water other.
Ti = Yong
Ti helps Yong.
Wood
Ti < Yong

interpretation

result

Situation is comfortable for

good fortune by all means.
Subject.
Subject gets success by hard finally good, only through hard working with
sincerity.
effort.
good, but easy to make enemy, carefulness is
Subject controls Situation.
needed.
hard to get success,but not impossible if with
Subject is influenced by
enough power and wisdom.
Situation.
Situation helps Subject.

if in good faith, good fortune.

Situation is comfortable for

good fortune by all means.
Subject.
Subject gets success by hard finally good, only through hard working with
sincerity.
effort.
good, but easy to make enemy, carefulness is
Subject controls Situation.
needed.
Subject is influenced by
hard to get success,but not impossible if with
Situation.
enough power and wisdom.
Situation helps Subject.

if in good faith, good fortune.

Situation is comfortable for

good fortune by all means.
Subject.
Subject gets success by hard finally good, only through hard working with
effort.
sincerity.
good, but easy to make enemy, carefulness is
Subject controls Situation.
needed.
Subject is influenced by
hard to get success,but not impossible if with
Situation.
enough power and wisdom.
Situation helps Subject.

if in good faith, good fortune.

Situation is comfortable for

good fortune by all means.
Subject.
Subject gets success by hard finally good, only through hard working with
sincerity.
effort.
good, but easy to make enemy, carefulness is
Subject controls Situation.
needed.
Subject is influenced by
hard to get success,but not impossible if with
Situation.
enough power and wisdom.
Situation helps Subject.

if in good faith, good fortune.

Situation is comfortable for

good fortune by all means.
Subject.
Subject gets success by hard finally good, only through hard working with
sincerity.
effort.

Ti controls Yong.
Ti > Yong
Yong controls Ti.
Water Earth
Ti < Yong
Yong helps Ti.
Metal
Ti > Yong
Fire

Subject is influenced by
Situation.

good, but easy to make enemy, carefulness is

needed.
hard to get success,but not impossible if with
enough power and wisdom.

Situation helps Subject.

if in good faith, good fortune.

Subject controls Situation.

3-2.For more practical interpretations

Of course, those are no more than principles for interpreting Hexagrams. They can not be always enough to get
solutions in any cases. Even getting a Hexagram of good fortune, some cases make us to consider it more severely.
Because, what a Hexagram represents is only symbolic interpretation of it, and it does not always equals to the fact in
presense.
In other words, we need careful observation of the real situation of what Ti represents and what Yong does. And
moreover, we should make better resonable prediction near future by using information from this obsevation.
I do not believe We need some kinds of psychic power or talents. It is more actual and realistic ability and sense of
observation to interpret Hexagrams in better way.And practical sense can be the most important helper for us. We
should not be confused by Hexagram's meanings.

Back to Contents

4.Practical Examples of interpreting Hexagrams

4-1.Gu Hun Gua
When we get Gu Hun Gua, we sometimes consider there are some cases that we should not agree with whatever the
client says explicitly.
I have experienced the case like this.
My client was troubled about her relationship with her sweetheart. She said me she wanted to end it. But I got one of
Gu Hun Gua then, and it was enough for me to make me feel it should not be interpreted with considering relation
between Ti and You as usual.
It seemed this Gu Hun Gua told me, that innermost part of her self, had been wishing different solution from what she
thought. Therefore, I advised her how she could make her situation better. And finally, She happily got married with her
partner after two years. Of course, I believe she could get her happiness by her own self, but, she told me what I told her
became a trigger for her to try changing herself.

4-2.No good case even with superior Ti

Basically it can be very good fortune when we get a Hexagram of which Ti is powerful, like Qian(Ti) and Gen(Earth),
Li(Ti) and Sun(Wood), and so on.
But when we find Subject(that Ti represents) in presense takes no practical action to make good results, we should think
it is not enough for Ti to get success. Because, even good or bad, everything is happen by its cause. No efforts to make
better, no good results are given.