The Lost Method of Turtle-Spirit Divination

The oldest documented divination method in China is turtle divination. Along with yarrow-stalk divination, it ranks among the earliest forms in Chinese history. The earliest surviving records date to the Shang and Zhou dynasties, when inscriptions or symbols were carved on oracle bones. Before making major decisions, people heated turtle shells or cattle shoulder blades and interpreted the heat-formed cracks to predict the outcomes of human affairs. In antiquity, this practice was known as turtle divination.

The practice of turtle divination has largely been lost—due either to inauspicious interpretations or the scarcity of turtles in some regions—so only the techniques were preserved. Below is a brief overview of the turtle divination method:

1. Selecting the Turtle

The larger the turtle, the better; small ones are not used. Bright yellow or white shells are preferred; gray or dark turtles are unsuitable, as are old or decayed specimens.

2. Preparing the Turtle

"To prepare the turtle, remove the flesh but keep the shell intact." The turtle shell has a vertical line running from bottom to top, known as the "Thousand-Mile Road," with five horizontal lines crossing it. The spaces between the three central lines may be carved. The east side is labeled A and B, the west side C and D, and the two ridges connected to the center are referred to as the "First Waist Gold." The flat, even area below the vertical line and above the waist gold is called "Skyward," and only this area is used for divination.

3. Burning the Turtle

Mix one tael of carbon powder with three qian of lead powder, then combine it with jujube paste to form a stick the thickness of a tendon, about three to four inches long, called the "Three-One Pill." In burning the turtle, all five elements must be present. Put water in a bowl, place a coin in it, and lay a ruler across the top. Set the turtle shell on the ruler with the carved side facing down and the inner (flesh) side facing up, and heat it with the Three-One Pill.

4. Interpreting the Turtle

After heating, the shell will crack and make sounds, referred to as "turtle speech." Then sprinkle that water over the carved areas; cracks will inevitably appear. The orientation of the cracks—horizontal or vertical—determines auspiciousness. Next, tie a cord around the cracked areas and offer incense for three days. If the turtle shell continues to make sounds within those three days, it indicates that matters remain unresolved, and divination must be performed again.

5. Analyzing the Cracks

Once the turtle shell has been burned, the pattern of cracks divides it into three parts: the body, head, and feet. The body represents the main aspect of the matter; straight, strong, and clear cracks are auspicious. The head signifies the beginning of the matter; straight, elevated cracks are favorable. The feet represent the conclusion, indicating whether there is news, movement, or stillness, which will affect the outcome.

The above is a brief introduction to the turtle divination method; more detailed classifications and interpretations also exist. Since turtle divination is no longer practiced, further particulars are omitted here. Interested readers can refer to the "Records of the Grand Historian" in the "Turtle Strategy Biography" and Hu Xu's "Detailed Examination of Divination Methods" from the early Qing Dynasty.