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Plum Blossom I-Ching & Yi Jing Glossary

Concise definitions of 15 core terms in the Plum Blossom (Mai Hoa) I-Ching method and the broader Yi Jing tradition, cross-referenced with classical sources (Shao Yong, the Ten Wings).

I-Ching (Yi Jing)易經

Also known as: Book of Changes · Yi Jing · Kinh Dịch · Zhou Yi · 周易

The ancient Chinese philosophical classic systematizing 64 six-line hexagrams, dating from the early Western Zhou (~1000 BCE) and serving as the foundation of all subsequent divination methods.
The original text comprises the Judgment (Tuan) and Line (Yao) statements; the Ten Wings (Shi Yi 十翼) commentaries are traditionally attributed to Confucius and his school. Plum Blossom is one of several methods that apply the I-Ching to divination.

Plum Blossom Numerology梅花易數

Also known as: Mai Hoa Dich So · Mei Hua Yi Shu · Plum Blossom I-Ching

A divination method founded by Shao Yong (1011–1077) of the Song dynasty that derives hexagrams from numbers (date/time, character counts, phone numbers) instead of traditional yarrow stalks.
It uses the Body-Function (Ti-Yong) method, seasonal Five-Element strength, and trigram-symbol interpretation. The name "Plum Blossom" originates from a famous anecdote: Shao Yong observed birds on a plum branch and derived hexagram Ze Huo Ge.

Hexagram卦

Also known as: Gua · Que · Six-line figure

A figure of six stacked lines, each either Yin (broken) or Yang (solid), forming one of 64 unique configurations.
A hexagram is split into the upper trigram (top three lines) and lower trigram (bottom three lines), each a member of the Bagua. In Plum Blossom, the primary hexagram generates a mutual (互) and a changed (變) hexagram.

Bagua (Eight Trigrams)八卦

Also known as: Pa-kua · Bát quái · Trigram set · Eight Trigrams

The eight three-line figures formed by combinations of Yin and Yang: Qian ☰, Dui ☱, Li ☲, Zhen ☳, Xun ☴, Kan ☵, Gen ☶, Kun ☷.
Each trigram represents a natural element (heaven, lake, fire, thunder, wind, water, mountain, earth) and a family member. Combining two trigrams (upper + lower) produces the 64 hexagrams. In Plum Blossom, trigram symbolism interprets the concrete "person / object / event" in a situation.

Yin-Yang陰陽

Also known as: Âm Dương · Yin and Yang · Yin/Yang

Two complementary opposites underlying all phenomena: Yang (solid line —, bright, active, firm) and Yin (broken line --, dark, still, yielding).
In the I-Ching, each line of a hexagram is either Yin or Yang; six lines compose a hexagram. The principle "within Yin there is Yang, within Yang there is Yin" — nothing is purely one — is the philosophical foundation of all interpretation.

Line (Yao)爻

Also known as: Hào · Yao · Hexagram line

A single stroke in a hexagram — either Yang (solid) or Yin (broken). A hexagram has six lines, numbered 1–6 from bottom to top.
Lines 1–3 form the lower (inner) trigram; lines 4–6 form the upper (outer) trigram. Each line has its own "line statement" (爻辭) in the I-Ching. The moving line in Plum Blossom determines the changed hexagram.

Moving Line動爻

Also known as: Changing Line · Active Line · Hào động

The single "moving" (changing) line in a Plum Blossom reading, computed as (sum of input numbers) mod 6.
The moving line flips from Yin to Yang or vice versa, generating the changed hexagram (outcome). Its line statement is the interpretive key — the single point most worth noting in the situation.

Mutual Hexagram互卦

Also known as: Nuclear Hexagram · Ho Gua · Quẻ hỗ · Hu Gua

A secondary hexagram derived from lines 2-3-4 (lower mutual) and 3-4-5 (upper mutual) of the primary hexagram, revealing hidden inner dynamics and intermediate development.
The mutual hexagram does not appear in the original Yi Jing but was developed by Plum Blossom and several other schools. In interpretation: if it favors the Body (Ti) → hidden tailwind; if it opposes → hidden obstruction.

Changed Hexagram變卦

Also known as: Transformed Hexagram · Bian Gua · Quẻ biến

The hexagram that results after the moving line flips from Yin to Yang (or vice versa), representing the outcome or final tendency of the situation.
Together with the primary hexagram (present) and mutual hexagram (intermediate), the changed hexagram completes the core three-hexagram set of Plum Blossom. Changed generating the Body → favorable outcome; changed controlling the Body → unfavorable outcome.

Body-Function (Ti-Yong)體用

Also known as: Ti and Yong · Subject-Object · Thể-Dụng · Body and Use

The core analytical method of Plum Blossom: Ti (Body) = the trigram containing the moving line (representing the querent / situation), Yong (Function) = the other trigram (external context / object).
The Five-Element relationship between Ti and Yong determines the outcome: Yong generates Ti (favorable), Ti-Yong same-element (neutral), Ti controls Yong (small favor, costly), Ti generates Yong (drain, mildly unfavorable), Yong controls Ti (unfavorable).

Five Elements (Wuxing)五行

Also known as: Wu Xing · Five Phases · Ngũ hành

The five elements: Metal (金), Wood (木), Water (水), Fire (火), Earth (土) — representing the five operational phases of qi in the universe.
Generating cycle: Metal→Water→Wood→Fire→Earth→Metal. Controlling cycle: Metal⊥Wood, Wood⊥Earth, Earth⊥Water, Water⊥Fire, Fire⊥Metal. Each trigram belongs to one element; Plum Blossom analyzes Ti-Yong via these relationships.

Wang-Xiang-Xiu-Qiu-Si (Seasonal Strength)旺相休囚死

Also known as: Seasonal Element Strength · Wang Xiang Xiu Qiu Si · Vượng tướng hưu tù tử

Five tiers of an element's strength by season: Wang (in season, strongest), Xiang (rising), Xiu (resting), Qiu (constrained), Si (defeated).
Rule: the element of the current season = Wang (e.g., Wood is Wang in Spring); the element generated by the season = Xiang (Fire is Xiang in Spring since Wood generates Fire); the element that generates the season = Xiu; the element controlled by the season = Qiu; the element the season controls = Si. Plum Blossom adds these strengths to Ti-Yong to weigh dynamic force.

Shao Yong邵雍

Also known as: Shao Kangjie · Shao Yung · Thiệu Khang Tiết · Shao Po-wen

Northern Song-dynasty philosopher (1011–1077), courtesy name Yaofu, founder of Plum Blossom Numerology and author of Huangji Jingshi (皇極經世).
One of the "Five Masters of the Northern Song". His thinking on the I-Ching emphasized "number" (数) — every phenomenon is expressible through number and proportion — which is why his divination method takes numbers as input instead of yarrow stalks.

Judgment Text (Tuan Zhuan)彖辭

Also known as: Judgment · Hexagram Statement · Thoán từ · Tuan

The overall statement at the head of each hexagram in the I-Ching, giving a brief verdict on the hexagram's general character (e.g., Qian: "primal, pervading, beneficial, persevering").
Unlike "line statements" (爻辭) which apply only to specific moving lines, the judgment applies to the whole hexagram. In Plum Blossom, it is a baseline reference, but Ti-Yong and Five-Element analysis are the primary interpretive tools.

Image Text (Xiang Zhuan)象辭

Also known as: Image · Symbolic Statement · Tượng từ · Xiang

The symbolic interpretation of a hexagram in the Ten Wings, describing a natural scene that implies a lesson for the practitioner.
E.g., Qian — "Heaven's motion is vigorous; the noble person, accordingly, makes themselves strong without rest." The image text helps the interpreter relate the hexagram to real behavior.