Does Plum Blossom Numerology Require Qianlong Tongbao Coins? Can Modern Coins Be Used Instead?

在In circles of Chinese metaphysics enthusiasts, you often hear a saying: "Before casting a hexagram, first prepare three Qianlong Tongbao coins." As a result, many newcomers to Plum Blossom Numerology (Meihua Yishu) scour antique markets, worrying that without an old "blessed" copper coin in hand, the hexagram simply won't work. This saying is widely circulated, yet it carries no small amount of misunderstanding. What does Plum Blossom Numerology actually rely on for casting hexagrams? Is Qianlong Tongbao really a necessity? And can modern coins be used instead? Sorting out these questions will make the learning path much smoother.

The Core of Plum Blossom Numerology Is "Numbers," Not "Coins"

First, a fundamental point needs clarifying: Plum Blossom Numerology does not primarily rely on copper coins as its casting tool. This method is traditionally attributed to Shao Yong (Shao Kangjie) of the Song Dynasty, and its essence lies in the principle that "anything in the world can be used to cast a hexagram." Anything that can be converted into a number can be incorporated into the casting system.

The common methods of casting hexagrams in Plum Blossom Numerology can be roughly divided into several categories:

• Time-Based Casting: Adding the numerical values of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches for the year, month, day, and hour to derive the upper trigram, lower trigram, and moving line respectively.

• Number-Based Casting: Any number—a figure spoken at random, a book page number, a license plate number—can be used to form a hexagram.

• Object/Image-Based Casting: Observing external signs such as direction, sound, color, or the clothing of a visitor to derive an image and form a hexagram.

• Character-Based Casting: Breaking down the stroke count of a Chinese character to derive a hexagram.

The underlying logic is to condense complex external information into a single number, then match it against the "Xiantian Bagua (Early Heaven Eight Trigrams) numbers" to form the hexagram image, and finally use the remainder to determine the moving line. The entire process emphasizes observing objects to derive images, with the mind responding to the surrounding environment—copper coins are not at all a core element here.

The soul of Plum Blossom Numerology lies in the resonance between one's mind and the surrounding environment at the moment of casting, not in the blessing of any particular ritual object.

So the claim that "Plum Blossom Numerology must use Qianlong Tongbao coins" actually confuses it with an entirely different system.

Coin-Casting Actually Belongs More to the Liu Yao Tradition

The system that truly relies on copper coins as its main tool is Liu Yao Najia (also known as the Money Divination Method or the Huozhulin Method). This method involves tossing three copper coins together, and based on the combination of heads and tails that lands each time, determining whether the result is yin, yang, old, or young. Tossing six times in a row produces a six-line hexagram, which is then combined with Najia (the Stem-Branch matching system), the Six Relatives, and the Ruling/Responding lines to interpret matters.

The traditional preference for Qing Dynasty square-holed coins such as Qianlong Tongbao can be attributed to roughly three reasons:

1. Practical Shape: Round on the outside and square in the middle, with clearly distinguishable front and back sides, making them easy to handle and read when tossed. The ancients defined the side with characters as "back/yin" and the side without characters (or with an image) as "front/yang," and square-holed coins happened to fit this convention perfectly.

2. Symbolic Meaning: The round shape represents Heaven, while the square hole represents Earth—a single coin thus embodies the idea of "Heaven round, Earth square," which aligns with the aesthetic of Chinese metaphysics that "images are drawn from Heaven and Earth." The Qianlong reign was a period of great national strength, and its coins were minted in large numbers and have survived widely, gradually earning them a reputation among common people as "lucky coins."

3. Psychological Suggestion: Having weathered the passage of time, an antique coin held in the hand more easily inspires a sense of solemnity and focus. This sense of "ritual" in itself helps calm and center the mind.

It's clear, then, that the "authority" of Qianlong Tongbao coins comes half from their practical shape and half from accumulated cultural psychology—there is nothing mystically mandatory about them. Even within Liu Yao, there has never been an ironclad rule that only Qianlong coins will do; antique coins from other reigns such as Kangxi, Yongzheng, or Daoguang work equally well.

Can Modern Coins Be Used? The Answer Is Yes

Back to the most practical question: if only modern coins are on hand, can they be used to cast a hexagram? From the standpoint of the underlying principles of Chinese metaphysics, absolutely.

Whether in Liu Yao or in the occasional coin-based approach to Plum Blossom Numerology, casting a hexagram is meant to solve just one thing: generating random yet clear yin-yang information. Coins naturally have two sides, and a single toss lands either heads or tails—this is simply the most basic binary symbol. Whether the coin dates from the Qing Dynasty or is made of copper has no necessary bearing on whether the hexagram is valid.

When using modern coins, keep the following points in mind:

• Set the Rule Before Tossing: Before casting, clearly decide which side counts as yang and which as yin—for example, "the numeral side is yin, the emblem/floral side is yang." Once set, keep this rule consistent throughout the entire session to avoid hesitation midway.

• Use Three Matching Coins: Ideally, choose three coins of the same denomination and size so their weight is consistent, allowing them to land and roll more evenly and making the result easier to read quickly.

• Use a Flat Surface: Toss the coins on a table or in a tray to reduce interference from coins standing on edge or rolling too far.

• Keep the Mind Focused: Before casting, clearly settle the question you want to ask in your mind—one matter per divination. This matters far more than whether the coin is old or new.

In other words, antique coins are a "more convenient, more atmospheric" choice, while modern coins are a "perfectly adequate" substitute. What truly determines the accuracy of a hexagram has never been the age of the tool.

"Sincerity Brings Results" Is Not an Empty Phrase, But a Methodology

In the tradition of Chinese metaphysics, the phrase "sincerity brings results" is repeatedly emphasized. Many treat it as mere pleasantry, but it actually points to a concrete operational attitude.

Plum Blossom Numerology places particular emphasis on focus and sincerity in the single moment of casting. Only when you gather your full attention onto the matter at hand do the various details of the surrounding environment—a number, a bird's call, the heads or tails of a coin—become meaningful "external correspondences." Conversely, if your mind wanders, if you toss repeatedly, or if you pick and choose among results, then even the finest Qianlong Tongbao coin cannot produce a hexagram you can genuinely trust.

Therefore, rather than agonizing over whether to spend a high price hunting down an old coin, it is better to focus your energy on three things:

• Master the rules of hexagram casting thoroughly, understanding exactly how the upper trigram, lower trigram, and moving line are derived;

• Cultivate the habit of "one matter, one divination, with sincere focus";

• Practice observing objects and drawing images from everyday life often, so that resonance becomes natural.

The tools can be simple, but the skill must be solid. This is the true path that Plum Blossom Numerology has left for later generations.

Conclusion

Plum Blossom Numerology casts hexagrams through numbers and interprets matters through images—copper coins have never been a necessity for it. It is Liu Yao that relies on tossing coins, and even Liu Yao does not exclusively venerate Qianlong Tongbao. The fame of Qianlong Tongbao coins results from the combined effect of their shape, symbolism, and cultural psychology, not from some irreplaceable "magical power." As long as the rules are clear and the mind is focused, modern coins can fulfill the function of casting a hexagram just as well.

Once this relationship is clarified, you will find that the key to learning Chinese metaphysics always lies in understanding the underlying principles and mastering the mind. Tools serve a supporting role; the mental method is what matters most—this is both a respect for tradition and the single most important thing beginners should remember.