Plum Blossom

[seeker]

Does anyone know anything about this form of I Ching reading? I was at the bookstore tonight and saw a book by Lillian Too. Seemed a bit simplistic to me, but I was wondering if anyone else had an opinion and if the Plum Blossom was something this particular author cooked up or a legitimate technique.

I did pick up the only copy they had of Alfred Huang to add to my collection. I agree with the online review here that his interpretations are somewhat more positive. Even 29 doesn't sound so desolate. And I really like his interpretation of 25. Its the first one I've read that made any sense to me. I've gotten it a couple of times lately, but the most telling, especially for Mr Huangs interpretation was when I asked if I could trust X. That was prompted by a well-meaning friend who said she thought all the wonderful things he said to me were just lines and maybe he was just using me. I got 25.1.6, which Mr. Huang defines as without falsehood, wish all my readings were that clearhttp://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/happy.gif Line one also seems to support that, and line 6 I think either indicates it wasn't our time to be together, or X didn't think it was our time to be together. Either way, yeah Mr. Huanghttp://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/happy.gif

[bradford_h]

Hi Seeker
Go to Google Advanced Search and enter both "Shao Yong" and "Plum Blossom".
The system is about eight centuries old.

[mick]

Seeker,

I also like Alfred Huang.

Do you know his book, "Numerology of the I Ching"?

I really like that book and he gives a version of the Plum Blossom divination using the time of day and the date.

It involves a little bit of mental arithmetic but it's not too tricky and I use it every so often.

For example, if I'm out and there's something on my mind and I happen to notice a clock and then there's that little jump inside - do you know what I mean? Then I might use the Plum Blossom divination to work out an I Ching hexagram with one changing line. It often gives a judgement that makes you smile.

Would you like me to post a description of the method that I use?

Best wishes,

Mick

[yly2pg1]

Mike,

Please do so. I have been searching for one all the while ...

[yly2pg1]

in fact, i have been using a method to divine for people who have never come to know i-ching.

I happen to met a new colleague from US headquarter who has been transfered to his new Division after 4 years stuck at his old place (due to market plunge)in the same company. For a start, he was sent to the other part of world to visit the overseas plant in my place.

At first, he appeared to be depressed and uncertain. At one company function where i happen to sit beside him, he told me about his bad experience for the past 4 years and the reason he was transferred into his new place.

So I asked him to divine his new experience at his new place which he is happy to do so. Staying quiet and cool, i ask him to follow his "inner voice" to pick 6 numbers randomly out of 6,7,8,9.

He picks 8,6,6,7,8,9 - dawn of the day ...

[seeker]

I'd be interested in it too, always looking for further insight.

[mick]

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 http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/clipart/happy.gif

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

[yly2pg1]

Thanks Mike! I will try out this method and give some feedbacks ...