Introduction: Why do we still need to study Liu Yao in modern society?
In the 21st century, dominated by AI and Big Data, many consider divination to be an obsolete superstition. However, when we delve into Zeng Shan Bu Yi, a classic hailed as the "Crown of Liu Yao," you will find it to be an extremely rigorous system of logical deduction.
Liu Yao prediction, also known as "Zhou Yi Prediction" or the "Huo Zhu Lin Method," is the branch of traditional Chinese house-of-prediction with the highest practical value and the fastest feedback. Zeng Shan Bu Yi, written by the Wild Crane Elder (Ye He Lao Ren), serves as the "field manual" of this discipline. It discards mystical superstitions and focuses on the logic of the Five Elements' generation and restriction. Studying Liu Yao is not just about predicting the future; it is about learning the wisdom of capturing core variables and making decisions amidst chaotic information.
Section 1: The Historical Status of Zeng Shan Bu Yi and the Philosophy of "Addition and Deletion"
1. The Revolution of Wild Crane Elder: Practicality Over Dogma
Zeng Shan Bu Yi was compiled during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty by the Wild Crane Elder (rumored to be Li Wenhui). At that time, books on divination were voluminous but filled with complex, unreliable theories such as "Hexagram Bodies," "Life Fate," and "Noble Spirits," which caused beginners to sink into a quagmire of theory, leading to inconsistent accuracy.
Wild Crane Elder spent his life verifying tens of thousands of real cases, deleting theories that proved ineffective and adding essential insights that were consistently accurate. This is the origin of the words "Zeng Shan" (Addition and Deletion).
2. Deep Analysis: What is "Great Simplicity" in Prediction?
In modern data analysis, we speak of "Feature Engineering"—identifying the most influential indicators from thousands of variables. Wild Crane Elder completed this task centuries ago. He discovered that the core of a matter's fortune lies in: the strength of the Functional Spirit (Yong Shen), the influence of the Month and Day, and the changes in the Moving Lines.
Section 2: The Underlying Logic: Holographic Theory and the Cosmic Information Field
Many wonder: How can shaking three copper coins in the palm reflect career success or family health thousands of miles away?
1. The Principle of Synchronicity
Psychologist Carl Jung proposed the concept of "Synchronicity," suggesting a non-causal connection between mental states and external events. In Liu Yao, the moment you "activate a thought" to divine, your consciousness resonates with the cosmic information field. The fall of the coins is not random; it is a "snapshot" of the current distribution of cosmic energy.
2. The Cosmic Holographic Model
The ancients said: "A single falling leaf signals the arrival of autumn." A Liu Yao hexagram is like a miniature model capturing the embryonic form of an event's development. A hexagram position acts as a data interface connecting Time (Month/Day), Space (Five Elements/Directions), and Human Affairs (Six Relatives).
3. Deep Analysis: Precision Alignment of Intent and Information
In Zeng Shan Bu Yi, Wild Crane Elder repeatedly emphasizes "Sincerity brings spiritual efficacy." From a modern perspective, "Sincerity" represents the purity of information input. If your mind is cluttered with stray thoughts—thinking of career one moment and romance the next—it is equivalent to inputting "noisy" data into a computer. Therefore, the first step of Liu Yao is learning how to phrase the question precisely.
Section 3: Cosmic Elements: Yin-Yang, Five Elements, and Eight Trigrams
To read Liu Yao, one must master its basic language, composed of three levels:
1. Yin and Yang: The Binary Dynamics of All Things
The basic unit is the "Yao" (Line).
Yang Yao (—): Symbolizes progress, strength, light, and dynamics.
Yin Yao (--): Symbolizes retreat, softness, darkness, and statics. The changes in the world are essentially the waxing and waning of Yin and Yang energies.
2. Five Elements: Five States of Energy
The Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) represent energy trends:
Wood: Growth, development, upward force.
Fire: Expansion, heat, transformative force.
Earth: Carrying, nurturing, stabilizing force.
Metal: Contraction, reform, solidifying force.
Water: Descending, moisture, hidden flowing force. In Zeng Shan Bu Yi, the generation and restriction of these elements are the sole supreme criteria for judgment.
3. Eight Trigrams: The Architecture of Space and Symbolism
A trigram consists of three lines, representing eight basic aspects of the universe: Qian (Heaven), Kun (Earth), Zhen (Thunder), Xun (Wind), Kan (Water), Li (Fire), Gen (Mountain), and Dui (Marsh). In Liu Yao, trigrams are used to determine the "Hexagram Palace" and describe the "Image" (appearance, personality, environment).
Section 4: Structure: From Taiji to the Six Lines
A complete hexagram consists of two trigrams, totaling six lines.
1. Inner and Outer Hexagrams
Bottom three lines: Inner Hexagram (Zhen), representing the self, the internal, the near, and the present.
Top three lines: Outer Hexagram (Hui), representing the other party, the external, the distant, and the future.
2. Deep Analysis: Hierarchical Meaning of Line Positions
The six positions represent both the passage of time and social hierarchy:
1st Line: Grassroots, the sprout of an event, the feet.
2nd Line: The house, middle management, the legs.
3rd Line: The threshold, lower-level leaders, the waist.
4th Line: The gateway, high-level officials, the abdomen.
5th Line: The ruler/emperor position, the decision-maker, the chest.
6th Line: Retirees, the "retired emperor," the head. In career prediction, if the "Functional Spirit" is at the 5th line and is prosperous, it usually means support from the highest level. If at the 1st line, it represents a low position or an event just starting.
Section 5: Practical Heart-Method: Taboos and Mindfulness
Wild Crane Elder frequently mentions the seriousness of divination. To ensure accuracy, we must follow these principles:
1. One Matter, One Divination
This is the core rule. Asking "How is my luck for the next six months?" is too broad. The correct way is: "How will my performance at Company X be for the next six months?" Precision in the question leads to precision in information.
2. No Movement, No Divination; No Matter, No Divination
Divination is not a game; it is for seeking guidance on real-life confusion. If done out of playfulness or just to "test" the diviner, the information field becomes "blurred," leading to inaccuracy.
3. Deep Analysis: The Warning Against "Repeated Divination"
The ancients said: "The first divination provides the answer; repeated ones are an insult." Divining the same question repeatedly in a short time (usually due to dissatisfaction with the result) is called "Expectation Bias." Subsequent hexagrams are usually invalid or misleading. Respecting the first hexagram is the professional code of a diviner.
Section Ten: The Boundaries of Prediction—Knowledge without Fatalism
Liu Yao is a tool for seeking auspiciousness and avoiding harm, not a shackle of destiny. Wild Crane Elder recorded many cases of "turning misfortune into blessing." If a hexagram for a serious illness shows a "glimmer of life" (such as a strong Original Spirit), one can turn the tide through medicine or behavioral adjustments.
Summary and FAQ
Q1: Is Liu Yao accurate? Is it scientific? A1: It is an empirical science. It analyzes the "information model" of an event via a strict logic of the Five Elements. Its millennia of practical data verify its high reference value.
Q2: Is it hard for beginners? A2: No. Zeng Shan Bu Yi is known for being "Simple and Direct." Master the basic Five Elements rules, and you can start quickly.
Conclusion of Chapter 1
This chapter established the macro framework. Remember, Zeng Shan Bu Yi is about logic and law, not mysticism. In the next chapter, we will learn how to manually cast your first hexagram and "load" it.
