Plum Blossom Numerology

Written by Huang Zongxi of the Qing dynasty. During the Qingli reign of the Song dynasty (1041–1048), Master Shao Kangjie lived in seclusion among the mountains and forests. In winter he used no brazier; in summer he used no fan—for his mind was so absorbed in the Yijing that he forgot the cold and heat entirely. Still feeling he had not reached full understanding, he pasted passages of the Yijing on his walls, contemplating them with devoted mind and studying them with tireless eyes. Though he had penetrated deeply into the principles of the Yijing, he wished to master its numerical system but had not yet found confirmation. One day, while napping at noon, a mouse ran before him. He hurled his ceramic pillow at it; the mouse fled, and the pillow shattered. He noticed there were characters inside. Taking them out to read, he found: 'This pillow is sold to the worthy Kangjie. On such-and-such a year, month, day, and hour, he will strike at a mouse and break the pillow.' Astonished, the Master inquired at the potter's shop. The potter said: 'Once there was an old man who sat resting with a copy of the Zhouyi in hand, using this pillow to prop up his book. It must be that elder. He has not come for a long time, but I know where he lived.' The Master went with the potter to visit the man's home, but upon arriving found that he had already passed away. He had, however, left behind a single volume, telling his family: 'On such-and-such a year, month, and hour, a gifted scholar will come to my house. You may give him this book, and he will be able to settle my affairs after death.' The family presented the book to the Master. Upon reading it, he found it to be a text on the Yijing, complete with formulas and methods. Applying the formulas and working out the numbers, he told the family: 'When your father was alive, he placed silver in a cellar northwest of his bed. You may use it to arrange his burial.' The divination proved true, and they did indeed find the silver. The Master took the book home. Later, while observing plum blossoms, he noticed sparrows fighting over a branch. He cast a calculation and knew that the following evening a neighbor's daughter would come to pick flowers and, falling, injure her thigh. This divination is said to be the origin of the method, and later generations passed it down under the name 'Observing the Plum Blossoms Numerology.' Afterward, he calculated the fate of fallen blossoms and knew they would be trampled by a horse at noon. He also calculated the inscription above the Western Grove Temple gate and knew it portended misfortune caused by a woman. All of these are what is called 'Prior Heaven numbers'—for the numbers are obtained before the hexagram. Since the hexagram arises from numbers, it is called Prior Heaven. As for seeing an old man with a worried expression and divining that he would suffer misfortune from eating fish; seeing a young man with a joyful expression and divining that he would receive a betrothal gift; hearing a rooster crow and knowing it would be slaughtered; hearing an ox low and knowing it would be killed—all of these are what is called 'Later Heaven numbers.' For the hexagram is obtained before the numbers. Since the numbers arise from the hexagram, it is called Later Heaven. One day, the Master placed a chair and, working out the numbers, wrote on its underside: 'On such-and-such a year, month, and day, this will be sat upon and broken by an immortal visitor.' When the appointed time came, a Daoist indeed arrived to visit and broke the chair by sitting on it. The immortal guest apologized in embarrassment. The Master said: 'The formation and destruction of things are governed by number—why should it trouble you? Besides, you are a divine immortal; please sit and bestow your teaching.' He then showed him the inscription beneath the chair as proof. The Daoist, astonished, leapt to his feet, went out, and suddenly vanished. From this we know the wonder of number: even ghosts and spirits cannot escape it—how much less can human beings? How much less can mere things?