What Is Mei Hua Yi Shu (Plum Blossom Numerology)?
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Quick answer: Mei Hua Yi Shu is a way to ask the I Ching's eight trigrams about a specific matter. It is traditionally credited to Shao Yong of the Northern Song dynasty. Instead of tossing coins, you cast a hexagram from the current time, a number someone says, or something you see, then read the five-element relationship between the "body" trigram and the "use" trigram.
Where does the name come from?
The story goes that Shao Yong, admiring plum blossoms, saw two sparrows fight over a branch and fall. He cast a hexagram from that moment and foresaw that a girl would come to pick blossoms the next day and get hurt. The story aside, it captures the method: you can cast at any time, for any matter, from anything.
How does a reading work?
- Cast: numbers give an upper trigram, a lower trigram and one moving line, forming the main hexagram.
- Split body and use: the trigram without the moving line is you (body); the one with it is the matter (use).
- Compare elements: does the use trigram support, control or match the body?
- Check the nuclear and changed hexagrams: the nuclear hexagram shows the process, the changed one the outcome.
How is it different from coin I Ching or tarot?
| Mei Hua | Coin method (Liu Yao) | Classic tarot | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you cast | Time, numbers, objects | Six tosses of three coins | Shuffle and draw |
| Core | Body/use element relationship | Six relatives, self and other lines | Card meanings and positions |
| Best for | A quick answer on one matter | Fine detail on a matter | Mindset and relationships |
| Learning | Few rules, quick start | Many rules | 78 cards to learn |
What questions suit Mei Hua?
Concrete ones with a clear direction: will this interview go well, can I find this item, is this deal worth pursuing. The more specific, the better, one question per cast. Casting the same question again and again in a short time adds little.
FAQ
Do I need to know the I Ching?
Not to start. Learn the eight trigrams and five elements and you can make basic body/use judgments. Read the hexagram texts later if you want to go deeper.
Is Mei Hua accurate?
It works best as a way to sort out a situation: where help is and where effort drains away. Use it as input before a decision, not as the decision.
How many readings can I do a day?
There is no hard limit, but cast once per matter. If you're upset and just want a "good answer," wait before casting.