Overview
Liuyao (六爻), meaning 'Six Lines', is the most widely practised form of I Ching divination in the Chinese world. Unlike the philosophical I Ching reading of the Confucian tradition, Liuyao is a highly systematic predictive method that assigns the five elements, the twelve earthly branches, and the six relatives to each line of a hexagram, enabling precise forecasting of specific life events with remarkable accuracy.
Origin
Liuyao divination evolved from the ancient I Ching (易經), which dates to at least 1000 BCE and possibly earlier. The specific Liuyao methodology — assigning earthly branches and six relatives to hexagram lines — was systematised during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) and attributed to the scholar Jing Fang (京房, 77–37 BCE), who developed the 'Jing Fang Hexagram Method' (京房六爻). This transformed the I Ching from a philosophical text into a precise predictive instrument.
History
After Jing Fang's systematisation, Liuyao was refined through successive dynasties. The Tang Dynasty produced important commentaries, and the Song Dynasty saw the publication of foundational texts like 'Zengshan Bu Tianji' (增刪卜天機). The Ming Dynasty master Liu Bowen further popularised Liuyao among the general population. During the Qing Dynasty, the method was extensively documented and spread throughout East Asia, reaching Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. In the 20th century, Taiwanese masters like Wang Ting-zhi and mainland scholars like Deng Weizhen (鄧偉真) produced comprehensive modern textbooks that made Liuyao accessible to contemporary practitioners.
How It Works
A Liuyao reading begins by casting three coins six times to generate a hexagram of six lines, each either yin (broken) or yang (solid), with changing lines possible. Each line is then assigned an earthly branch (地支) and a 'six relative' (六親) — representing Self, Siblings, Offspring, Wealth, Officials, or Parents. The practitioner analyses the elemental relationships between lines, the activity of the 'World Line' (世爻) and 'Application Line' (應爻), the influence of the day's stem and branch, and the presence of changing lines to derive a precise answer to the question posed.
Good For
Use Cases
Lost Item Recovery
One of Liuyao's most celebrated applications is locating lost items. The practitioner analyses the 'Wealth Line' (財爻) position and elemental state to determine the direction and location of a missing object with surprising precision.
Business Partnership Assessment
Before entering a business partnership, practitioners cast a Liuyao hexagram to assess the partner's intentions (Officials Line), the financial outcome (Wealth Line), and whether the venture will succeed (World Line vs Application Line relationship).
Medical Prognosis
Traditional Chinese doctors used Liuyao to supplement clinical diagnosis. The 'Offspring Line' (子孫爻) represents the patient's vitality and recovery potential, while the 'Officials Line' (官鬼爻) represents the illness or pathogen.
Legal Case Outcomes
Liuyao has a long history of use in legal contexts. The Officials Line represents authority and legal power, while its relationship to the World Line (representing the querent) reveals whether the legal outcome will be favourable.
Famous Examples
Han Dynasty Scholar and DivinerJing Fang (77–37 BCE) was the Han Dynasty's most celebrated I Ching scholar and the father of systematic Liuyao divination. His 'Jing Fang Hexagram Method' assigned the sixty-four hexagrams to specific time periods and introduced the system of earthly branch assignments that remains the foundation of Liuyao practice today. He served as an imperial advisor but was eventually executed for his political predictions.
Qing Dynasty PhysicianThe legendary Qing Dynasty physician Ye Tianshi (1666–1745), one of the Four Great Masters of Chinese Medicine, was known to use Liuyao divination to supplement his medical diagnoses. His case records describe instances where hexagram readings guided his treatment decisions, particularly in complex or ambiguous cases.
Key Terms
Six Relatives (六親)The six relational categories assigned to hexagram lines: Self (世), Siblings (兄弟), Offspring (子孫), Wealth (妻財), Officials (官鬼), and Parents (父母).World Line (世爻)The line representing the querent or the subject of the question. Its elemental state and relationships determine the querent's position and power.Application Line (應爻)The line representing the other party, the outcome, or the object of inquiry. Its relationship to the World Line reveals the dynamic between querent and subject.Changing Lines (動爻)Lines that are in transition — either old yang changing to yin or old yin changing to yang. Changing lines carry special significance and generate a second hexagram.Flying and Hiding Gods (飛伏)The interplay between the visible hexagram lines (flying gods) and the hidden lines from the original trigrams (hiding gods), adding depth to the analysis.