Article Highlights
Liu Yao divination, also known as the Najia method, is one of the most practical and accurate methods in traditional Chinese fortune-telling. Originating from the I Ching (Book of Changes), it has been developed and refined by generations of Yi Jing masters into a complete theoretical system and practical method. Liu Yao divination is beloved by Yi Jing enthusiasts for its simplicity, high accuracy, and wide range of applications.
Historical Origins of Liu Yao Divination
The history of Liu Yao divination can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn period, with multiple records of divination found in the Zuo Zhuan (Commentary of Zuo). During the Han Dynasty, Jing Fang established the Najia method, incorporating heavenly stems and earthly branches into hexagram lines, laying the theoretical foundation for Liu Yao divination. During the Tang and Song periods, Yi Jing masters like Li Xuzhong and Shao Yong further perfected Liu Yao theory. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, works by Liu Bowen and Master Yehe brought Liu Yao divination to its theoretical and practical peak.
Basic Concepts of Liu Yao Divination
What are Six Lines (Liu Yao)
Liu Yao refers to the six line positions in a hexagram, called from bottom to top: first line, second line, third line, fourth line, fifth line, and top line. Each line position has yin and yang aspects, with yang lines represented by "—" and yin lines by "- -". The yin-yang combinations of six line positions form 64 different hexagrams.
Hexagram Composition
A complete Liu Yao hexagram contains the following elements:
- Original Hexagram: The initial hexagram obtained when casting
- Changed Hexagram: The new hexagram formed after moving lines change
- Moving Lines: Line positions that change during the casting process
- Static Lines: Line positions that remain unchanged during casting
Five Elements Najia System
The core of Liu Yao divination is the Five Elements Najia system, which incorporates heavenly stems, earthly branches, and five element attributes into hexagram lines. Each hexagram has fixed Najia patterns.
Methods of Casting Liu Yao Hexagrams
Traditional Coin Method
This is the most commonly used casting method, requiring three ancient coins (or modern coins):
Operating Steps:
- Cleanse and Focus: Wash hands clean, calm the mind, focus on the matter to be predicted
- Silently Recite Question: Mentally recite the specific question to be predicted, the more specific the better
- Shake Six Times: Place three coins in palm, shake with both hands closed, then cast out, recording heads and tails
- Record Results: Three heads = old yang (moving line), three tails = old yin (moving line), two heads one tail = young yang (static line), two tails one head = young yin (static line)
- Arrange Hexagram: Arrange six line positions from bottom to top, forming complete hexagram
Time-based Method
Cast hexagrams based on the year, month, day, and hour of casting time.
Number Method
Have the querent randomly provide two numbers, with the first number divided by 8 giving the remainder for the upper trigram, and the second number divided by 8 giving the remainder for the lower trigram.
Core Elements of Liu Yao Analysis
Determining the Spirit (Yong Shen)
The spirit is the core of Liu Yao analysis, representing the subject of the matter being predicted. Different prediction contents have different spirits:
- Seeking Wealth: Wife-wealth line as spirit
- Seeking Official Position: Official-ghost line as spirit
- Testing Illness: Official-ghost line as spirit (illness), world line as spirit (patient)
- Testing Marriage: Men test with wife-wealth line as spirit, women test with official-ghost line as spirit
World-Response Relationship
The world line represents the querent themselves, while the response line represents the other party or external environment of the matter being tested. The world-response relationship is an important basis for judging the fortune or misfortune of matters.
Basic Methods of Liu Yao Interpretation
Prosperity and Decline Judgment
Judging the prosperity and decline of the spirit is the first step in hexagram interpretation:
- Prosperous: Supported by monthly order or daily stem
- Declining: Suppressed by monthly order or daily stem
Generation and Restraint
Analyze the generation and restraint relationships between lines in the hexagram:
- Generation: Wood generates fire, fire generates earth, earth generates metal, metal generates water, water generates wood
- Restraint: Wood restrains earth, earth restrains water, water restrains fire, fire restrains metal, metal restrains wood
Liu Yao divination, as an important component of traditional Chinese culture, is not only a method of prediction but also a crystallization of philosophy and wisdom. Through learning Liu Yao divination, we can not only master predictive skills but also comprehend the profound principle of harmony between heaven and humanity.
