I Ching Divination: Interpreting and Applying the Tai (Peace) Hexagram

3. Using the Changing Hexagram

Old Yang is counted as nine; old Yin is counted as six. Therefore, the total for Yang yao is 9 × 4 = 36, and for Yin yao is 6 × 4 = 24. Use the surplus to make up the deficit, and the deficit to complement the surplus; thus, one yao is taken as 30 counts, corresponding to one month.

The hexagram expresses matters; the yao express timing. The changing hexagram serves the role of the primary hexagram: the primary hexagram governs the first half of the year, and the changing hexagram governs the second half.

Using 2004 (Jia Shen) as an example, the arrangement is as follows:
Zelei Sui　　　　　Zhen represents thunder　
—　— Chou month　　　—　— Wei month
——— Zi month　　　—　— Wu month
——— Si month　→　——— Hai month
—　— Chen month　　　—　— Xu month
—　— Mao month　　　—　— You month
——— Yin month　　　——— Shen month

4. Simplified Use of Taiyi Numbers

Following the method of the I Ching, having the fifth and second yao centered is auspicious, while the initial and fourth yao are secondary. Avoid the inner extreme (third) and outer extreme (upper) yao.

Nonetheless, one should also consult the Taiyi format when judging auspiciousness and inauspiciousness.

5. Using the Six-Yao Hexagram

The primary and changing hexagrams, combined with the Earthly Branches and Heavenly Stems, as well as the six relatives and six beasts, can be used as a reference within the six-yao hexagram system.

When employing the six-yao method, base the calculation on the daily or hourly accumulation number.

This approach can directly address the core of the inquiry; when questions are complex or unclear, it serves as a useful reference method.

6. Notes on the Taiyi Number Charting Procedure

• When Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches are combined with the six relatives and six beasts, only time-based calculations apply.
• The four calculations for year, month, day, and hour are done independently. That is, the monthly hexagram is derived from the monthly accumulation number, not from the annual accumulation number.

7. Reference to Ancient Texts

Excerpted from “Taiyi Number General Compilation: Ming Taiyi Number Flow Year Tai Sui Value Hexagram Technique”

The text states: “To determine the Taiyi flow-year Tai Sui value hexagram, take the accumulated years counted from the Upper Yuan Jia Zi and divide by 64. If there is a remainder, start from the first hexagram, count one per remainder, and proceed one hexagram at a time. Calculate externally to obtain the hexagram valued by the flow-year Tai Sui. To determine the changing yao: for the year in question, if it is Yang, count the Yang yao from bottom to top; if it is Yin, count the Yin yao from top to bottom. To clarify matters by month, the obtained hexagram governs the first six months, and the changing yao governs the latter six months, thus presiding over the upper and lower halves of the year.

Command the changing yao beginning with Zi, which belongs to the first month. With Yang yao totaling thirty-six and Yin yao totaling twenty-four, use the surplus to fill the deficit, so each yao is counted as thirty, representing the months. Zi, Yin, Chen, Wu, Shen, Xu are Yang years: command the Yang yao from bottom to rise, cycling repeatedly, not taking Yin yao, counting to the yao number and stopping — this yields the changing yao. Chou, Mao, Si, Wei, You, Hai are Yin years: command the Yin yao from top to descend, cycling repeatedly, not taking Yang yao, counting to the year’s yao and stopping — this yields the changing yao.

If it is the year Bing Wu, divide by sixty-four to obtain the hexagram; if not exact, count thirty-one, thereby obtaining the flow-year hexagram. To know the changing yao: observe that the flow-year Bing Wu is Yang, so use the Yang yao from bottom to rise, starting at the nine in the third yao, commanding from Zi up to the nine in the fifth — thus encountering Yin. Again start from the nine in the third yao and command up to the nine in the fifth — thus encountering Si. Again return to the nine in the third yao and count to Wu, thereby linking to the Bing Wu flow-year obtained hexagram yao, and thus obtaining the hexagram of Xian’s Cui.

Use the hexagram to express matters and the yao to express timing. To clarify matters by month: take the nine in the third yao as the first month’s Zi, the nine in the fourth as the second month’s Chou, the nine in the fifth as the third month’s Yin, the upper six as the fourth month’s Mao, the initial six as the fifth month’s Chen, and the six in the second as the sixth month’s Si. This completes the period, using the hexagram of Xian.

Next, use the changing hexagram: take Cui’s six in the third as the seventh month’s Wu, the nine in the fourth as the eighth month’s Wei, the nine in the fifth as the ninth month’s Shen, the upper six as the tenth month’s You, the initial six as the eleventh month’s Xu, and the six in the second as the twelfth month’s Hai. This concludes the use of the changing hexagram, representing the affairs of the year; the rest follows this pattern. Having the fifth and second centered is considered auspicious, the initial and fourth are secondary; avoid the inner extreme and outer extreme yao to clarify the hexagram’s image and indicate the year’s auspicious and inauspicious matters.”