Qimen, Liu Yao and the I Ching
All three are traditional ways to ask a question, but they start from different places:
| Qi Men Dun Jia | Liu Yao | I Ching reading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it is cast | From the time: everyone in the same time zone gets the same chart for the same hour | Toss coins six times while holding the question | Coins, yarrow stalks or plum blossom numbers |
| What it reads | Stems, nine stars, eight doors, eight spirits and patterns across the nine palaces | Na Jia, Six Relations, Self/Other and the use god's strength | The judgement, line texts and images |
| Strength | Timing and direction: when and which way to act | Whether a concrete matter will work out | What a situation means and how to approach it |
| Best for | Choosing times and directions, planning action | Contracts, exams, job searches, lost items | Direction, mindset, how to face things |
Because a Qimen chart depends only on time, it is often used to pick a time: compare the charts of several hours and act when the use god looks best. Liu Yao and the I Ching cast once for a single question. See also I Ching reading vs Liu Yao.
This is fixed text compiled from general convention, not a reading of any individual and not a prediction. For important decisions, please consult qualified professionals.