First, Understand How the Ti Gua and Yong Gua Are Determined
When casting a Plum Blossom Numerology (Meihua Yishu) reading for a business opening, once you have the primary hexagram (ben gua) and the transformed hexagram (bian gua), the first step is to identify which is the Ti Gua (Host Trigram) and which is the Yong Gua (Guest Trigram). The rule is straightforward: whichever of the two single trigrams contains the moving line is the Yong Gua, and the other is the Ti Gua. More specifically, the primary hexagram is composed of an upper and a lower trigram (each with three lines). If the moving line falls in the upper trigram, the upper trigram is the Yong Gua and the lower is the Ti Gua; if the moving line falls in the lower trigram, the lower trigram is the Yong Gua and the upper is the Ti Gua.
If all six lines move or none move, different schools handle this slightly differently; the traditional approach generally uses the hu gua (nuclear hexagram) or the bian gua to assist in the reading, which will not be elaborated on here.
The Ti Gua represents the querent themselves — the state, resources, and foundation of the question as it relates to you as the subject. The Yong Gua represents the external conditions surrounding the matter in question: the market, the premises, the timing, potential partners, and so on. The Ti-Yong relationship examines who is nourishing whom, who is controlling whom, or whether the two sides are evenly matched.
What Is Ti-Yong Bi-He?
Ti-Yong Bi-He (ti-yong harmony) means the Ti Gua and Yong Gua share the same Five Elements (Wu Xing) attribute. For example, if the Ti Gua is Zhen (Wood) and the Yong Gua is also Zhen or Xun (likewise Wood), the two share the same qi and this is called "bi-he" (mutual harmony).
In traditional Plum Blossom Numerology (Meihua Yishu), bi-he is generally read as an outcome that can be achieved, with a steady process and no dramatic swings. Shao Yong's original text in the Meihua Yishu describes it as "the way of friends" (pengyou zhi dao), meaning both sides are evenly matched and support each other, with no intense generating or controlling conflict.
Applied to the specific question of opening a business, bi-he typically means your conditions and the external environment are reasonably compatible. There will be no major obstacles, but neither will there be unexpected explosive growth. The shop can be opened and sustained, but based on this reading alone, the situation is middling.
One point that is easy to overlook: bi-he is not entirely positive. If the Ti Gua's element is already excessively strong in the overall reading (for instance, if Earth energy is very heavy throughout), and the Yong Gua adds yet another Earth element, the doubling of Earth may indicate stagnation — the business stalls and capital flow tightens. So you cannot simply see "same element" and draw a conclusion; you must also consider the Ti Gua's strength and whether it is in season.
What Is Ti-Sheng-Yong?
Ti-Sheng-Yong means the Five Elements (Wu Xing) of the Ti Gua generate (sheng) those of the Yong Gua. For example, if the Ti Gua is Li (Fire) and the Yong Gua is Kun or Gen (Earth), Fire generates Earth — this is Ti-Sheng-Yong.
This configuration is broadly considered unfavorable for the querent, for a straightforward reason: you are the one nourishing the external conditions; energy flows outward from you. In the context of opening a business, this can be understood as high investment, heavy outflow, and returns that may not be commensurate.
Shao Yong's original text describes Ti-Sheng-Yong as "like a person who is fond of giving" — someone who enjoys bestowing gifts on others ends up depleting themselves. It is a fitting analogy: you are giving away what is good in you, and your own foundation is gradually hollowed out.
In folk practice, Ti-Sheng-Yong in a business-opening reading is generally read as: significant expenditures will arise in the near term — fit-out, stocking inventory, labor costs all pile up — while customer traffic and revenue take longer to follow. If the question is "is now a good time to open?" a Ti-Sheng-Yong reading basically suggests it is not wise to act hastily; it is better to wait until the external conditions represented by the Yong Gua have matured.
That said, I think one aspect is worth questioning: is Ti-Sheng-Yong necessarily a bad sign? Some industries inherently require sustained investment to build a reputation. In food and beverage, for instance, heavy spending in the early stage is unavoidable. Ti-Sheng-Yong may not be a fatal signal so much as a reminder to mentally prepare for a prolonged period of outflow. The key is whether the Ti Gua is strong — if it is in season and its element has force, even with Ti-Sheng-Yong the drain is manageable; if the Ti Gua is out of season and already weak, then Ti-Sheng-Yong is genuinely dangerous.
Common Points of Confusion When Casting Readings
Many people new to Plum Blossom Numerology (Meihua Yishu) readings for events confuse "Ti-Yong Bi-He" with "Yong-Sheng-Ti." Yong-Sheng-Ti is the reverse: the Yong Gua's element generates the Ti Gua's — external conditions are nourishing you. This is the most favorable configuration, signaling strong wealth flow and outside support. Ti-Yong Bi-He is an even draw; Yong-Sheng-Ti is incoming assistance.
Another common mistake is seeing Ti-Yong Bi-He and assuming everything is fine without examining the other yao (line) images. Bi-He is only one dimension of the reading. You still need to look at whether the element is prosperous or declining, at the fei-fu (flying and hidden) lines, and at whether the Ti-Yong relationship shifts after the transformation. A hexagram is three-dimensional; a single formula will not resolve it.
If the transformed hexagram changes the element of the Ti Gua, the Ti-Yong relationship must be reassessed from scratch. For instance, if the original reading showed bi-he but the transformation produces Ti-Ke-Yong or Yong-Ke-Ti, the trajectory of auspiciousness and inauspiciousness changes entirely; this is generally understood as a turning point emerging mid-development.
Furthermore, in Plum Blossom Numerology (Meihua Yishu) the time and method of casting inherently affect the vitality of the hexagram's qi. A Water trigram cast in winter and one cast in summer carry different levels of seasonal strength, and the reading should adjust accordingly. Many introductory tutorials do not cover this layer carefully, which tends to produce errors in practice.
Articles in this column are for cultural and educational purposes only and do not constitute life advice.