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Plum Blossom Numerology (梅花易数)

Casts an I Ching hexagram by the Plum Blossom (Meihua Yishu) method of Shao Yong from the lunar year, month, day and hour (年月日时起卦) or from two or three given numbers, then derives the moving line, changed hexagram (之卦), nuclear hexagram (互卦), the 体 (Ti, self) and 用 (Yong, matter) trigrams and their five-element relations.

When to use

You need a Plum Blossom hexagram cast for a moment or from numbers, with the upper/lower trigram arithmetic, the moving line and the 体/用 five-element reading laid out step by step.

Do not use when: You already have six lines from coins or yarrow (use liuyao for a 六爻 chart or hexagram-change for plain line changes), or you only want a hexagram's text and structure (use hexagram-lookup).

Formula

Time method: year = branch number of the lunar year (子 = 1 … 亥 = 12), month = lunar month, day = lunar day, hour = 时辰 number (子 = 1 … 亥 = 12); upper = (year + month + day) mod 8, lower = (year + month + day + hour) mod 8, moving line = (year + month + day + hour) mod 6 (remainder 0 → 8 or 6); trigram numbers in earlier-heaven order 乾1 兑2 离3 震4 巽5 坎6 艮7 坤8. Two numbers: upper = number_1 mod 8, lower = number_2 mod 8, moving = (number_1 + number_2 [+ hour]) mod 6. Three numbers: moving = number_3 mod 6. 体 = trigram without the moving line, 用 = trigram with it; relations by the five-element generating (木→火→土→金→水) and controlling (木→土→水→火→金) cycles.

Follows the 年月日时起卦 and number methods of 梅花易数 (attributed to Shao Yong, Song dynasty); the lunar calendar and 时辰 come from the shared astronomical calendar core (China Standard Time, 1900–2100), 23:00–23:59 counts as the 子 hour of the same civil date and a leap month keeps its month number. Traditional reference calculation from the Chinese divination and numerology literature: it reports what the tradition assigns to the cast or number, not a prediction and not medical, legal or financial advice.

Inputs

ParameterTypeUnitRequiredDescription
methodenum: time_method | two_numbers | three_numbersdefault time_methodHow the trigrams and the moving line are derived.
datedatedefault todayCivil date in China Standard Time (UTC+8), 1900–2100; defaults to today.
timestringdefault 12:00Clock time HH:MM (China Standard Time) that fixes the 时辰 (double hour) for the time method or the optional hour addition.
number_1integernoFirst number for the number methods; mod 8 gives the upper trigram (0 counts as 8). Range: ≥ 1, ≤ 1000000000
number_2integernoSecond number for the number methods; mod 8 gives the lower trigram. Range: ≥ 1, ≤ 1000000000
number_3integernoThird number for the three-number method; mod 6 gives the moving line (0 counts as 6). Range: ≥ 1, ≤ 1000000000
add_hour_to_moving_linebooleandefault falseTwo-number method only: some schools add the 时辰 number (子 = 1 … 亥 = 12) of the given time before taking mod 6.

Outputs

OutputTypeUnitDescription
method_usedstringCasting method applied.
lunar_datestringChinese lunar date of the given civil date with the sexagenary year.
upper_trigramstringCharacter, symbol, pinyin, nature and element.
lower_trigramstringCharacter, symbol, pinyin, nature and element.
original_hexagramstringKing Wen number, full Chinese name, symbol, pinyin and Wilhelm title.
original_linesstringSix digits bottom→top, 1 = yang, 0 = yin.
moving_lineintegerPosition of the moving line, 1 = bottom.
moving_line_namestringTraditional line name such as 初九 or 六二 with pinyin.
changed_hexagramstringHexagram obtained by changing the moving line.
nuclear_hexagramstringHexagram formed by lines 2–4 (lower) and 3–5 (upper).
ti_trigramstringThe trigram without the moving line, representing the querent.
yong_trigramstringThe trigram containing the moving line, representing the matter asked about.
ti_elementstringFive-element (五行) of the 体 trigram.
yong_elementstringFive-element of the 用 trigram.
yong_ti_relationstring生克 relation of 用 to 体: 用生体 favourable, 体生用 draining, 用克体 unfavourable, 体克用 favourable/minor gain, 比和 harmonious.
nuclear_relationsstring_listEach nuclear trigram treated as 用 against 体.
changed_relationstringThe changed hexagram's 用-side trigram against 体 (the tendency of the outcome).
ti_seasonal_strengthstring旺相休囚死 of the 体 element in the solar-term month of the date (spring Wood 旺, summer Fire 旺, autumn Metal 旺, winter Water 旺, 辰戌丑未 months Earth 旺).
calculation_tracestring_listEvery sum and remainder used.
reading_hintstringWhich classical texts to read for this cast.
disclaimerstringCultural framing of the result.

Example

Time method, 2026-09-24 14:30: {"method":"time_method","date":"2026-09-24","time":"14:30"} → {"upper_trigram":"巽 ☴ (Xun, Wind, Wood)","lower_trigram":"巽 ☴ (Xun, Wind, Wood)","original_hexagram":"57 巽为风 ䷸ (Xun, The Gentle)","moving_line":1,"changed_hexagram":"9 风天小畜 ䷈ (Xiao Xu, The Taming Power of the Small)","yong_ti_relation":"比和 (Bihe, same element: harmonious)","ti_seasonal_strength":"死 (Si, dead)"}

Two numbers 3 and 7 on 2026-09-24: {"method":"two_numbers","number_1":3,"number_2":7,"date":"2026-09-24","time":"12:00"} → {"upper_trigram":"离 ☲ (Li, Fire, Fire)","lower_trigram":"艮 ☶ (Gen, Mountain, Earth)","original_hexagram":"56 火山旅 ䷷ (Lü, The Wanderer)","moving_line":4,"changed_hexagram":"52 艮为山 ䷳ (Gen, Keeping Still)","nuclear_hexagram":"28 泽风大过 ䷛ (Da Guo, Preponderance of the Great)","ti_element":"土 Earth","yong_element":"火 Fire","yong_ti_relation":"用生体 (Yong generates Ti: favourable)","ti_seasonal_strength":"休 (Xiu, resting)"}

GET https://tttkmbb.com/api/v1/calculate/meihua-yishu?method=time_method&date=2026-09-24&time=14%3A30

Machine access

Sources

FAQ

Which year number is used?

The earthly-branch number of the lunar year (子 = 1 … 亥 = 12); a date before Chinese New Year belongs to the previous lunar year. Some schools count the year from 立春 instead, which can differ for dates between 立春 and New Year.

How are 体 and 用 chosen?

The trigram that contains the moving line is 用 (the matter); the other is 体 (the self). A moving line 1–3 makes the lower trigram 用 and the upper 体; 4–6 the reverse.

What does remainder 0 mean?

A sum divisible by 8 gives trigram 8 (坤) and a sum divisible by 6 gives moving line 6 (the top line), as in the classical rule.

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