{"success":true,"version":"v1","request":{"tool":"get_calculator_schema","calculator_id":"meihua-yishu"},"result":{"entity_type":"calculator","id":"meihua-yishu","calculator_id":"meihua-yishu","canonical_url":"https://tttkmbb.com/yijing/meihua-yishu","name":"Plum Blossom Numerology (梅花易数)","title":"Plum Blossom Numerology (梅花易数) – Cast a Hexagram by Time or Numbers with 体/用 Analysis","category":"yijing","category_name":"I Ching & Five Elements","tool_name":"cast_plum_blossom_hexagram","featured_mcp_tool":true,"description":"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.","use_when":"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).","inputs":[{"name":"method","label":"Casting method","type":"enum","required":false,"default":"time_method","values":[{"value":"time_method","label":"Year, month, day and hour (年月日时起卦)","aliases":["time","datetime"]},{"value":"two_numbers","label":"Two numbers (upper, lower; moving line from their sum)","aliases":["two"]},{"value":"three_numbers","label":"Three numbers (upper, lower, moving line)","aliases":["three"]}],"description":"How the trigrams and the moving line are derived.","example":"time_method"},{"name":"date","label":"Date","type":"date","required":false,"default":"today","description":"Civil date in China Standard Time (UTC+8), 1900–2100; defaults to today.","example":"2026-09-24"},{"name":"time","label":"Time","type":"string","required":false,"default":"12:00","description":"Clock time HH:MM (China Standard Time) that fixes the 时辰 (double hour) for the time method or the optional hour addition.","example":"14:30"},{"name":"number_1","label":"Number 1 (upper trigram)","type":"integer","required":false,"min":1,"max":1000000000,"description":"First number for the number methods; mod 8 gives the upper trigram (0 counts as 8).","example":3},{"name":"number_2","label":"Number 2 (lower trigram)","type":"integer","required":false,"min":1,"max":1000000000,"description":"Second number for the number methods; mod 8 gives the lower trigram.","example":7},{"name":"number_3","label":"Number 3 (moving line)","type":"integer","required":false,"min":1,"max":1000000000,"description":"Third number for the three-number method; mod 6 gives the moving line (0 counts as 6).","example":4},{"name":"add_hour_to_moving_line","label":"Add the hour to the moving line","type":"boolean","required":false,"default":false,"description":"Two-number method only: some schools add the 时辰 number (子 = 1 … 亥 = 12) of the given time before taking mod 6.","example":false}],"outputs":[{"name":"method_used","label":"Method","type":"string","decimals":4,"description":"Casting method applied."},{"name":"lunar_date","label":"Lunar date","type":"string","decimals":4,"description":"Chinese lunar date of the given civil date with the sexagenary year."},{"name":"upper_trigram","label":"Upper trigram (上卦)","type":"string","decimals":4,"description":"Character, symbol, pinyin, nature and element."},{"name":"lower_trigram","label":"Lower trigram (下卦)","type":"string","decimals":4,"description":"Character, symbol, pinyin, nature and element."},{"name":"original_hexagram","label":"Original hexagram (本卦)","type":"string","decimals":4,"description":"King Wen number, full Chinese name, symbol, pinyin and Wilhelm title."},{"name":"original_lines","label":"Lines (bottom→top)","type":"string","decimals":4,"description":"Six digits bottom→top, 1 = yang, 0 = yin."},{"name":"moving_line","label":"Moving line (动爻)","type":"integer","decimals":4,"description":"Position of the moving line, 1 = bottom."},{"name":"moving_line_name","label":"Moving line name","type":"string","decimals":4,"description":"Traditional line name such as 初九 or 六二 with pinyin."},{"name":"changed_hexagram","label":"Changed hexagram (之卦/变卦)","type":"string","decimals":4,"description":"Hexagram obtained by changing the moving line."},{"name":"nuclear_hexagram","label":"Nuclear hexagram (互卦)","type":"string","decimals":4,"description":"Hexagram formed by lines 2–4 (lower) and 3–5 (upper)."},{"name":"ti_trigram","label":"体 (Ti, self)","type":"string","decimals":4,"description":"The trigram without the moving line, representing the querent."},{"name":"yong_trigram","label":"用 (Yong, matter)","type":"string","decimals":4,"description":"The trigram containing the moving line, representing the matter asked about."},{"name":"ti_element","label":"体 element","type":"string","decimals":4,"description":"Five-element (五行) of the 体 trigram."},{"name":"yong_element","label":"用 element","type":"string","decimals":4,"description":"Five-element of the 用 trigram."},{"name":"yong_ti_relation","label":"用/体 relation","type":"string","decimals":4,"description":"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."},{"name":"nuclear_relations","label":"互卦 relations","type":"string_list","decimals":4,"description":"Each nuclear trigram treated as 用 against 体."},{"name":"changed_relation","label":"变卦 relation","type":"string","decimals":4,"description":"The changed hexagram's 用-side trigram against 体 (the tendency of the outcome)."},{"name":"ti_seasonal_strength","label":"体 seasonal strength","type":"string","decimals":4,"description":"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)."},{"name":"calculation_trace","label":"Calculation trace","type":"string_list","decimals":4,"description":"Every sum and remainder used."},{"name":"reading_hint","label":"Reading hint","type":"string","decimals":4,"description":"Which classical texts to read for this cast."},{"name":"disclaimer","label":"Disclaimer","type":"string","decimals":4,"description":"Cultural framing of the result."}],"input_schema":{"type":"object","properties":{"method":{"description":"How the trigrams and the moving line are derived.","type":"string","enum":["time_method","two_numbers","three_numbers"],"default":"time_method","examples":["time_method"]},"date":{"description":"Civil date in China Standard Time (UTC+8), 1900–2100; defaults to today.","type":"string","format":"date","default":"today","examples":["2026-09-24"]},"time":{"description":"Clock time HH:MM (China Standard Time) that fixes the 时辰 (double hour) for the time method or the optional hour addition.","type":"string","default":"12:00","examples":["14:30"]},"number_1":{"description":"First number for the number methods; mod 8 gives the upper trigram (0 counts as 8).","type":"integer","minimum":1,"maximum":1000000000,"examples":[3]},"number_2":{"description":"Second number for the number methods; mod 8 gives the lower trigram.","type":"integer","minimum":1,"maximum":1000000000,"examples":[7]},"number_3":{"description":"Third number for the three-number method; mod 6 gives the moving line (0 counts as 6).","type":"integer","minimum":1,"maximum":1000000000,"examples":[4]},"add_hour_to_moving_line":{"description":"Two-number method only: some schools add the 时辰 number (子 = 1 … 亥 = 12) of the given time before taking mod 6.","type":"boolean","default":false,"examples":[false]}},"additionalProperties":false},"output_schema":{"type":"object","properties":{"method_used":{"description":"Casting method applied.","type":"string"},"lunar_date":{"description":"Chinese lunar date of the given civil date with the sexagenary year.","type":"string"},"upper_trigram":{"description":"Character, symbol, pinyin, nature and element.","type":"string"},"lower_trigram":{"description":"Character, symbol, pinyin, nature and element.","type":"string"},"original_hexagram":{"description":"King Wen number, full Chinese name, symbol, pinyin and Wilhelm title.","type":"string"},"original_lines":{"description":"Six digits bottom→top, 1 = yang, 0 = yin.","type":"string"},"moving_line":{"description":"Position of the moving line, 1 = bottom.","type":"integer"},"moving_line_name":{"description":"Traditional line name such as 初九 or 六二 with pinyin.","type":"string"},"changed_hexagram":{"description":"Hexagram obtained by changing the moving line.","type":"string"},"nuclear_hexagram":{"description":"Hexagram formed by lines 2–4 (lower) and 3–5 (upper).","type":"string"},"ti_trigram":{"description":"The trigram without the moving line, representing the querent.","type":"string"},"yong_trigram":{"description":"The trigram containing the moving line, representing the matter asked about.","type":"string"},"ti_element":{"description":"Five-element (五行) of the 体 trigram.","type":"string"},"yong_element":{"description":"Five-element of the 用 trigram.","type":"string"},"yong_ti_relation":{"description":"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.","type":"string"},"nuclear_relations":{"description":"Each nuclear trigram treated as 用 against 体.","type":"array","items":{"type":"string"}},"changed_relation":{"description":"The changed hexagram's 用-side trigram against 体 (the tendency of the outcome).","type":"string"},"ti_seasonal_strength":{"description":"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).","type":"string"},"calculation_trace":{"description":"Every sum and remainder used.","type":"array","items":{"type":"string"}},"reading_hint":{"description":"Which classical texts to read for this cast.","type":"string"},"disclaimer":{"description":"Cultural framing of the result.","type":"string"}}},"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.","method":"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.","sources":[{"name":"Wikipedia (zh) – 梅花易數 (Plum Blossom numerology)","url":"https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/梅花易數","type":"reference","retrieved_at":"2026-09-24"},{"name":"邵雍 (Shao Yong, attrib.), 梅花易数 – Song-dynasty textbook of the method (public domain); rules as summarized on Wikipedia (zh) 梅花易數","url":"https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/梅花易數","type":"textbook","retrieved_at":"2026-09-24"},{"name":"Wikipedia – I Ching divination","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ching_divination","type":"reference","retrieved_at":"2026-09-24"}],"freshness":{"type":"daily","max_age_seconds":86400,"note":"Depends on the current date."},"examples":[{"name":"Time method, 2026-09-24 14:30","inputs":{"method":"time_method","date":"2026-09-24","time":"14:30"},"expected":{"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)"},"url":"https://tttkmbb.com/api/v1/calculate/meihua-yishu?method=time_method&date=2026-09-24&time=14%3A30"},{"name":"Two numbers 3 and 7 on 2026-09-24","inputs":{"method":"two_numbers","number_1":3,"number_2":7,"date":"2026-09-24","time":"12:00"},"expected":{"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)"},"url":"https://tttkmbb.com/api/v1/calculate/meihua-yishu?method=two_numbers&number_1=3&number_2=7&date=2026-09-24&time=12%3A00"}],"faq":[{"q":"Which year number is used?","a":"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."},{"q":"How are 体 and 用 chosen?","a":"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."},{"q":"What does remainder 0 mean?","a":"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."}],"tags":["plum blossom numerology","meihua yishu","梅花易数","i ching hexagram cast","ti yong","shao yong"],"related":[{"calculator_id":"liuyao","reason":"Chart a hexagram cast with coins (六爻) with 纳甲, 六亲 and 六神."},{"calculator_id":"hexagram-lookup","reason":"Look up the structure and names of the resulting hexagram."},{"calculator_id":"lunar-calendar-converter","reason":"See the lunar date and 时辰 used by the time method."}],"links":{"html":"https://tttkmbb.com/yijing/meihua-yishu","markdown":"https://tttkmbb.com/yijing/meihua-yishu.md","json":"https://tttkmbb.com/yijing/meihua-yishu.json","api":"https://tttkmbb.com/api/v1/calculate/meihua-yishu","schema":"https://tttkmbb.com/api/v1/calculators/meihua-yishu","openapi":"https://tttkmbb.com/openapi.json","mcp":"https://tttkmbb.com/mcp"},"version":"v1","updated_at":"2026-09-24"},"timestamp":"2026-09-24T08:34:10Z"}