Mei Hua Yi Shu: Plum Blossom Divination Explained

A question, a moment, a hexagram

Mei Hua Yi Shu (梅花易数), Plum Blossom Numerology, is a divination method for answering a single, specific question. Rather than reading a birth chart, it captures the energy of the moment the question is asked and expresses it as one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the Yi Jing (I Ching).

Tradition attributes the method to the Song-dynasty scholar Shao Yong. The founding story — that he read the fall of plum blossoms from observed signs — gives the method its name and its spirit: meaning can be read from the pattern of the present moment.

How a reading is cast

A Mei Hua reading derives two trigrams (three-line symbols) and stacks them into a six-line hexagram. The lower trigram often represents the situation itself, while the upper represents the conditions acting on it. Each line is either solid (yang) or broken (yin).

The casting can use numbers, the time of asking, or another observed value. From the inputs the method computes the primary hexagram, a changing line, and a transformed hexagram. The reading interprets the relationship between the situation trigram and the influence trigram using the five elements.

Ti and Yong: self and influence

Central to Mei Hua is the distinction between Ti (体, the body — the questioner or the core of the matter) and Yong (用, the function — the external conditions or action). The element of Ti compared to the element of Yong tells you whether the moment supports your aim.

When Ti's element generates Yong's, energy flows outward — effort is required but progress is possible. When Yong generates Ti, support comes to you. When they clash, there is friction to navigate. The reading turns these relationships into plain, actionable reflection.

Ask once, reflect honestly

Mei Hua works best for a clear, sincere question about a real choice you face — not a wish, not a repeated re-roll hoping for a better answer. The method respects the specificity of the moment you ask.

As with everything in this tradition, the hexagram offers perspective and framing, not a command. It is a tool for thinking about your situation from a fresh angle, never a substitute for your own judgment or for professional advice.

Frequently asked questions