How to Cast a Plum Blossom (Mei Hua) Hexagram
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Quick answer: There are two common methods: use the numbers of the lunar year, month, day and hour, or ask someone to say two numbers. The first number divided by 8 gives the upper trigram, the second (or the sum with the hour) divided by 8 gives the lower trigram, and the total divided by 6 gives the moving line. A remainder of 0 counts as 8 or 6.
First, the Early Heaven trigram numbers
| Number | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trigram | Qian | Dui | Li | Zhen | Xun | Kan | Gen | Kun |
| Element | Metal | Metal | Fire | Wood | Wood | Water | Earth | Earth |
| Image | Heaven | Lake | Fire | Thunder | Wind | Water | Mountain | Earth |
Method 1: casting by time
- Upper trigram = (year branch + lunar month + lunar day) ÷ 8, take the remainder
- Lower trigram = (year branch + month + day + hour branch) ÷ 8, remainder
- Moving line = (year branch + month + day + hour branch) ÷ 6, remainder
Branches count Zi = 1, Chou = 2 … Hai = 12. Use this when something is on your mind and you have no other cue. Our "cast by time" option uses this method and converts to the lunar date for you.
Method 2: casting by number
Ask someone (or yourself) to say two numbers without thinking:
- First number ÷ 8 → upper trigram
- Second number ÷ 8 → lower trigram
- Sum ÷ 6 → moving line
Example: 5 and 3. Upper 5 is Xun, lower 3 is Li: hexagram 37, The Family (Wind over Fire). 5 + 3 = 8, and 8 ÷ 6 leaves 2, so line 2 moves. Line 2 is in the lower trigram, so Li is the use trigram and Xun the body. Line 2 of Li turns from yin to yang, making Qian, so the changed hexagram is 9, Small Taming (Wind over Heaven).
Other ways to cast
Classical practice also casts from objects (taking the trigram an object suggests), sounds (how many you hear) or character counts. Time and numbers are enough to start.
Before you cast
Write the question as one clear sentence, such as "Will next week's interview go well?" rather than "How is my luck lately?" A calm mind and one question per cast make the hexagram easier to read.
FAQ
Can I use the Gregorian date?
Traditional time casting uses the lunar date and branch numbers. On our site, just choose the time and we convert it.
Can the numbers be anything?
Yes, but say them on the spot without choosing. Picking numbers to get a nice hexagram defeats the purpose.
What if the remainder is 0?
A remainder of 0 after dividing by 8 means Kun (8); after dividing by 6, the top line (6).