Liu Yao Divination · User Guide
What is Liu Yao?
Liu Yao is a traditional divination method derived from the I Ching (Zhou Yi). You cast six lines (yin/yang) to form a hexagram, then judge fortune by the generating and overcoming relations of the Five Elements against the day and month branches. This system performs the technical analysis — stems and branches, Na Jia, the Six Relations, the Six Spirits, and moving-line detection — with a deterministic casting engine (Python), then applies AI for layered qualitative reasoning, so the same hexagram always yields the same reading with no randomness.
How to Cast
Option 1: Virtual Casting
- Quiet your mind and focus on your question
- Choose a divination category (this helps the AI pick the right Useful Spirit)
- Click Cast — the system simulates tossing three coins
- Repeat 6 times to get 6 lines (bottom to top)
- Once casting completes, the hexagram appears first, then the AI reading streams in
Option 2: Manual Entry (Recommended)
Use 3 real coins (any denomination works):
- Hold the 3 coins between your palms and silently focus on your question
- Toss the 3 coins and observe the heads/tails
- Enter the result of the 3 coins line by line (6 tosses in total)
Coin Rules
Yang side (heads) = the side of the coin with a portrait or figure | Yin side (tails) = the side with a number or denomination| Heads | Tails | Name | Line | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | Old Yang (老阳) | Moving yang 〇 | Extreme yang, about to turn yin |
| 2 | 1 | Young Yin (少阴) | Static yin ▅▅ ▅▅ | Stable yin |
| 1 | 2 | Young Yang (少阳) | Static yang ▅▅▅▅▅ | Stable yang |
| 0 | 3 | Old Yin (老阴) | Moving yin ✕ | Extreme yin, about to turn yang |
On overseas coins (e.g. NZ coins), the monarch side = yang, the value side = yin
Categories & the Useful Spirit
Each category maps to a different Useful Spirit (the Six Relation in the hexagram that represents your question). Choosing the right category makes the reading sharper:
| Category | Useful Spirit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Career & Jobs | Officials/Ghosts (官鬼) | Position, authority, competition |
| Wealth & Business | Spouse-Wealth (妻财) | Profit and income |
| Exams & Documents | Parents (父母) | Grades, contracts, diplomas |
| Love & Marriage | Spouse-Wealth (m) / Officials (f) | Represents your partner |
| Health & Illness | Officials (illness) + Offspring (cure) | Officials for the illness, Offspring for medicine |
| Children | Offspring (子孙) | Descendants and juniors |
| Travel & Finding People | Traveller class (行人) | Check the Response line or moving lines |
| General Reading | Synthesised judgement | No specific Useful Spirit |
How a Reading Works
- Charting(automatic): time stems & branches; lines hexagram, Na Jia, Six Relations, Six Spirits, Shen Sha spirits, Void
- Pre-analysis(automatic): moving-line usefulness, moving-to-changed qualification, strength lookup, special states
- Qualitative verdict(AI): judges the auspicious direction using the moving-line-first, sun-and-moon-assist framework
- Reality calibration(AI): maps hexagram signals to your concrete situation
- Action strategy(AI): practical advice you can act on
FAQ
Q: Can I ask the same question repeatedly?
A: Not recommended. Tradition holds that the first divination answers, while repeated asks receive no answer — the first cast is the most accurate. Unless the situation has materially changed, avoid repeating the same question.
A: Not recommended. Tradition holds that the first divination answers, while repeated asks receive no answer — the first cast is the most accurate. Unless the situation has materially changed, avoid repeating the same question.
Q: What does a moving line mean?
A: Old Yang (3 heads) and Old Yin (3 tails) are moving lines — the key points of change in the matter. Where they turn (yinyang or yangyin) sets the main direction of the outcome. A static hexagram (no moving lines) is read by comparing the strength of Self and Response.
A: Old Yang (3 heads) and Old Yin (3 tails) are moving lines — the key points of change in the matter. Where they turn (yinyang or yangyin) sets the main direction of the outcome. A static hexagram (no moving lines) is read by comparing the strength of Self and Response.
Q: Is the result always accurate?
A: Liu Yao is a probability-based divination system; results are for reference only. It reflects the current trend rather than absolute fate. Its value is offering a different perspective to think from — the final decision is yours.
A: Liu Yao is a probability-based divination system; results are for reference only. It reflects the current trend rather than absolute fate. Its value is offering a different perspective to think from — the final decision is yours.