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Chapter 1 of 14
Meihua Yishu — Plum Blossom Divination
During the Qingli era of the Song Dynasty, Master Shao Yong (courtesy name Kangjie) lived in seclusion in the mountains. ❄️ In winter, he did not warm himself by a stove; 🔥 in summer, he did not use a fan. He devoted himself entirely to studying the Book of Changes, even forgetting the changes of cold and heat. Feeling that his understanding was still insufficient, he pasted the Book of Changes on the wall, contemplating it day and night, deeply delving into its principles. He wished to explore the numerology of the Book of Changes but struggled due to the lack of empirical evidence.
One day, while taking a nap, a mouse ran past. He threw the ceramic pillow he was using at the mouse. The mouse escaped, but the pillow broke. Inside, he found a note that read: "This pillow is sold to the virtuous Kangjie. On a certain year, month, day, and hour, it will break due to striking a mouse." Shao Yong found this strange and went to inquire with the potter who made the pillow. The potter said, "There was once an old man who carried the Book of Changes with him and used this pillow while resting. He wrote those words—it must have been him. He has long passed away, but I still remember where he lived."
Shao Yong followed the potter to visit the old man’s home. When they arrived at the door, they found that the old man was no longer there. Only a book remained. The family said, "On a certain year, month, day, and hour, a scholar will come to our home. You may give this book to him, as he will be able to handle our affairs after the old man’s passing." The family handed the book to Shao Yong. Upon reading it, he found it contained the text of the Book of Changes, along with divination formulas and case studies. Following the examples, he calculated and told the family, "Your father hid silver during his lifetime, stored in a cellar at the northwest corner of his sleeping bed. It can be used to handle his affairs." The family followed his advice and indeed found the silver.
Shao Yong took the book home. Later, while observing plum blossoms, he saw sparrows fighting and calculated that a neighbor’s girl would pick a flower the next night and injure her leg. This marked the beginning of Plum Blossom Divination, later passed down as the Observation of Plum Blossoms Numerology. He also predicted the day falling blossoms would be trampled by a horse at noon and foretold a misfortune for a woman based on the inscription of a temple plaque. These are examples of "Innate Numerology"—obtaining the number before the hexagram, using the number to derive the hexagram, hence the term "innate."
Conversely, seeing an old man’s worried expression, he divined a disaster related to eating fish; observing a young man’s joyful demeanor, he predicted a celebration involving betrothal gifts; hearing a chicken crow, he knew the chicken would be cooked; hearing an ox low, he knew the ox would be slaughtered. These are examples of "Acquired Numerology"—obtaining the hexagram before the number, using the hexagram to derive the number, hence the term "acquired."
One day, Shao Yong placed a chair and calculated, writing on the bottom: "On a certain year, month, and day, an immortal guest will sit and break this chair." When the day arrived, a Taoist priest indeed visited and broke the chair while sitting on it. The priest apologized in embarrassment, but Shao Yong said, "The success or failure of objects is predetermined. There is no need to worry. You, sir, are an immortal, and I am fortunate that you sat on this chair to impart your teachings." He showed the note on the bottom of the chair as proof. The priest was astonished, quickly stood up, and left, suddenly vanishing. Only then did Shao Yong realize the profoundness of numerical principles—even spirits and deities cannot escape them, let alone humans and objects! 🔮