From Symbols to Models - The Process of "Casting Hexagrams" in Divination

When you toss a coin six times and obtain a hexagram (for example: Water-Thunder Zhun), it is currently just a static symbol. To make it work, we must perform "hexagram arrangement," allowing each position (line) to acquire its representative attributes.

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1. Establishing Spatial Coordinates: Earthly Branches and Five Elements

In the field of mathematical logic, each line must be paired with an "Earthly Branch." The Earthly Branches inherently carry Five Element attributes, which form the basis of energy calculations.

• Spatial Pairing Rules: Based on the eight basic hexagrams (Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, Dui), each line has a fixed corresponding Earthly Branch.
  • For example: If it is a hexagram of the "Qian" attribute, the arrangement of Earthly Branches from bottom to top is usually "Zi, Yin, Chen, Wu, Shen, Xu."
• Five Element Transformations:
  • Hai, Zi belong to Water
  • Yin, Mao belong to Wood
  • Si, Wu belong to Fire
  • Shen, You belong to Metal
  • Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei belong to Earth

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2. Defining System Attributes: Finding "Eight Palaces" and "Five Element Attributes"

Before arranging the six relatives (relationship model), it is essential to know what the "overall attribute" of this hexagram is.

• Affiliation of Eight Palaces: The sixty-four hexagrams are divided into eight families, each with a leading hexagram (primary hexagram).
• Attribute Positioning: If a hexagram belongs to the "Wood" family, then the Five Element tone of this hexagram is "Wood." At this point, if the Earthly Branches appearing in the hexagram also belong to "Wood," then that is your "brother"; if it is "Fire," it is your "descendant" (because Wood generates Fire).

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3. Arranging Relationships: Deriving Six Relatives

Once the overall attribute of the hexagram is determined (assumed to be Wood), we can establish labels for the six line positions:

1. Find the Earthly Branch that "nurtures me": Mark it as Parents (e.g., Earthly Branches of Water).
2. Find the Earthly Branch that "I nurture": Mark it as Descendants (e.g., Earthly Branches of Fire).
3. Find the Earthly Branch that "overcomes me": Mark it as Officials (e.g., Earthly Branches of Metal).
4. Find the Earthly Branch that "I overcome": Mark it as Wealth (e.g., Earthly Branches of Earth).
5. Find the Earthly Branch that is "the same as me": Mark it as Brothers (e.g., Earthly Branches of Wood).

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4. Defining Core Positions: The Line of Self and the Line of Other (not necessarily required in divination, depending on your method)

In the model, it is necessary to define the "subject" and "object":

• Line of Self (Self): Represents yourself, your position, your current state.
• Line of Other (Other): Represents the other party, the target, the environment, or the thing you wish to predict. The relative relationship between these two positions (mutual generation or mutual overcoming) directly determines the difficulty of the situation.

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"Hexagram arrangement" is a key step in transforming ancient philosophical symbols into computable data. Although the process is tedious, the logic behind it is extremely rigorous. Mastering the reading method of hexagram arrangement is what truly allows you to step into the threshold of professional divination.