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Meaning and Context
Time casting is a method from the Plum Blossom (Meihua) tradition that uses the current time to generate a hexagram. The underlying philosophy is that any moment contains the complete pattern of the cosmos.
- Origin: Developed by Shao Yong (邵雍) in the Song Dynasty
- Basis: Chinese calendar (Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches)
- Components: Year, month, day determine upper/lower trigrams; total sum determines moving line
- Philosophy: "The moment of asking already contains the answer"
Key advantage
No coins or stalks needed—the moment you ask is itself the divination. This makes the method extremely quick and portable.
Classical Roots
The Meihua Yishu establishes the principle:
From Meihua Yishu
「年月日时，皆可起卦。」
Plain translation
"Year, month, day, and hour can all be used to generate a hexagram."
The text further explains:
From Meihua Yishu
「先天之学，心法也，故图皆自中起。」
Plain translation
"The study of Earlier Heaven is a method of the heart-mind, thus all diagrams arise from the center." Time casting embodies this heart-centered approach.
The Method Step by Step
Basic time casting procedure:
- Note the current time in Chinese calendar terms (or convert from Western calendar)
- Add: Year number + Month number + Day number (lunar calendar)
- Divide by 8, take remainder → This determines the upper trigram (1-8 = Qian to Kun)
- Add: Year + Month + Day + Hour number
- Divide by 8, take remainder → This determines the lower trigram
- Add: Year + Month + Day + Hour
- Divide by 6, take remainder → This determines the moving line (1-6)
Note: Different practitioners may use slightly different formulas. The principle remains consistent.
How to Read It
Interpreting a time-cast hexagram:
- Identify the hexagram from the upper and lower trigrams
- Note which line is the moving line
- Read the hexagram judgment and the specific moving line text
- Determine the changed hexagram (after the moving line transforms)
- Apply Plum Blossom analysis if trained (body/function, five elements)
Interpretation note
Time casting typically produces exactly one moving line, simplifying interpretation compared to coin casting which may produce zero to six.
How It Shows Up in FateFolio
In FateFolio's I Ching tool:
- Time casting option available for instant readings
- Automatic conversion from current time to hexagram
- Moving line clearly identified
- Both primary and changed hexagram interpretations provided
Common Misconceptions
Common misunderstandings about time casting:
- Thinking it's less valid than coin or yarrow methods—it's a legitimate classical technique
- Using Western calendar directly without conversion
- Asking multiple questions at the same moment—one question per time
- Ignoring the moving line because "there's only one"—that line is the key focus
Sources and Quotes
FAQ
Can I ask multiple questions using time casting?
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Traditionally, each moment generates one hexagram suitable for one question. If you have multiple questions, you would ask them at different times.
Some practitioners use variations where different numerical inputs (like different question formulations) can generate different hexagrams at the same time.
Does time zone matter?
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Yes. Use your local time for the casting. The relevant moment is when and where you are asking the question.
The Chinese calendar system (Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches) can be calculated for any time zone, though traditionally it was developed for China time.