Zhouyi Six Yao: How Did Ancient People Predict Weather Without Forecasts?

Weather and Six Yao Symbolism

In modern times, science and technology provide fairly accurate weather forecasts to meet most daily and production needs. So why did ancient people study weather changes through Six Yao?

Actually, this was not to compete with modern science, but as a training and thinking method. The Six Yao system emphasizes meticulous grasp of 'symbols,' and weather, being a daily observable and rapidly feedback phenomenon, allows learners to quickly appreciate the subtle correspondences of various details in the Six Yao hexagrams.

By observing weather, one can not only train their understanding of Six Yao but also help beginners establish sensitivity between 'hexagrams and reality.'

Various Yao Symbols and Weather Indications

Parent Yao

In the Six Yao system, Parent Yao is mostly associated with weather phenomena like rain, snow, and hail, with different meanings depending on the season and state.

Basic Meaning

• Seasonal correspondence: Rain, snow, hail, etc.

• Strength differences: Strong → heavy rain; weak → light rain; very weak or restrained → mostly cloudy or no rain.

Common Situations

• Parent Yao moves / forms a triple combination

  → Rain.

  • Strong: heavy rain;

  • Weak: light rain.

• Parent Yao transforms into advancing spirit

  → Rain intensifies.

• Parent Yao transforms into retreating spirit

  → Rain diminishes.

• Parent Yao is weak, empty, broken, or static and restrained

  → No rain.

• Parent Yao moves and combines with the day

  → Rain occurs when the Parent Yao is unbound.

  • If combined by another moving Yao, rain falls when that combining Yao is unbound.

• Parent Yao moves and encounters monthly break

  → Rain timing can be judged by the 'monthly break response period.'

  • If the monthly break earthly branch matches the day, rain is likely that day.

• Parent Yao is hidden or empty, and also restrained

  → No rain.

  • To predict when rain will occur, judge by the 'hidden spirit response period.'

• Parent Yao shares the same earthly branch as the month, moves and transforms into advancing spirit

  → If the day is also the place of Parent's growth, it may indicate the start of rainy season or continuous overcast rain.

Offspring Yao and Weather ☀️

In Six Yao, Offspring Yao is mostly associated with the sun, moon, and stars, indicating clear weather.

Basic Meaning

• Offspring Yao → indicates clear weather.

• Symbolizes bright sky and clear light.

Common Situations

• Offspring moves / forms a triple combination

  → Clear weather.

• Offspring moves and transforms into advancing spirit

  → Sky is cloudless with abundant sunlight.

• Offspring moves and transforms into retreating spirit

  → Clear but soon changes.

• Parent moves and transforms into Offspring

  → Overcast turns clear, possibly with rainbow after rain or clouds parting to reveal the sun.

• Offspring moves and encounters monthly break or emptiness

  → Judged by the response period of monthly break or emptiness; clear weather is short-lived.

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Wealth Yao and Weather 🌤️

In Six Yao, Wealth Yao also indicates clear weather, but unlike Offspring Yao's 'scorching sun,' it often means clear with some clouds.

Basic Meaning

• Wealth Yao → indicates clear, but usually not a big clear day.

• Often represents partly cloudy or brief clear spells.

Common Situations

• Parent is weak, Wealth moves and forms a triple combination

  → Clear weather.

• Wealth moves and transforms into Offspring

  → Sky clear, no clouds.

• Wealth moves and transforms into advancing spirit

  → Clear.

• Wealth moves and transforms into retreating spirit

  → Clear first, then clouds gradually increase.

• Wealth moves and transforms into Sibling

  → Clear turns partly cloudy, or clear with wind.

• Wealth moves and transforms into Officer

  → Clear turns thick clouds, or overcast.

• Wealth moves itself indicates clear, but combined with the day

  → Clears when unbound.

• Wealth is hidden

  → Clears when flushed out or when the hiding Yao is unbound.

• Wealth encounters emptiness / monthly break

  → Clears when filled, broken, or combined break occurs.

Sibling Yao and Weather 🌬️☁️

In Six Yao, Sibling Yao is mostly associated with wind and clouds.

Basic Meaning

• Sibling Yao → indicates wind, also clouds.

Common Situations

• Sibling moves / forms a triple combination

  → Wind.

  • Strong → strong wind

  • Weak → light wind

• Sibling moves and transforms into advancing spirit

  → Wind strengthens, clouds increase.

• Sibling moves and transforms into retreating spirit

  → Wind weakens, clouds dissipate.

• Sibling Yao moves in Xun palace (strong)

  → Typhoon, strong wind.

  → If Parent Yao also moves → storm.

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Officer Yao and Weather ⚡🌫️

In Six Yao, Officer Yao is mostly associated with thunder, lightning, fog, and thick clouds.

Basic Meaning

• Officer Yao → indicates thunder, lightning, overcast, fog.

Common Situations

• Officer moves in Zhen palace

  → Likely thunder.

  • If Parent Yao also moves → thunderstorm.

• Officer Yao moves alone

  → Varies by season:

  • Sometimes rain

  • Sometimes thunder without rain

  • Sometimes overcast

• Officer and Wealth move simultaneously

  → Clear turns partly cloudy, or overcast.

• Officer moves and transforms into Parent

  → Overcast turns to rain.

• Officer moves and transforms into Offspring

  → Overcast turns clear.

🌦️ Summary of Six Yao and Weather

Six Yao can not only be used for human affairs but also to understand natural changes from hexagrams.

In weather applications, the five types of Yao each have their symbolism:

• Parent Yao → Rain, snow, overcast

• Offspring Yao → Clear

• Wealth Yao → Partly cloudy

• Sibling Yao → Wind and clouds

• Officer Yao → Thunder, lightning, fog, thick clouds

By observing movement, strength, and transformations, one can gain a more detailed understanding of local weather changes.

For learners, this is a quick way to train Six Yao comprehension and a method to connect with nature and appreciate the subtlety of hexagrams.

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📑 Six Yao Weather Quick Reference Table

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👉 In summary, Parent governs rain, Offspring governs clear, Wealth governs partly cloudy, Sibling governs wind, Officer governs thunder and thick clouds.

Using these symbolisms combined with movement in the hexagram, one can quickly grasp weather change patterns.