The Orthodox Method of I Ching Divination (Bushi Zhengzong 卜筮正宗): Book 1 of 2 (Vols. 1 to 4): Principles & Refutations: Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao), ... Series of the Classical Texts 8)

For study resources and the English-language Chinese Perpetual (Lunar) Calendar, please visit ichingstream.com.About “The Orthodox Method of I Ching Divination” (“Bushi Zhengzong”) — English EditionFirst compiled around 1709 by Wang Weide (courtesy name Hongxu), “The Orthodox Method of I Ching Divination” (“Bushi Zhengzong”) is a foundational classic of Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao), closely connected to Wen Wang Gua and the Na Jia Method. Long regarded as essential reading for serious I Ching practitioners, it addresses key beginner questions, resolves textual disputes, and blends principle with technique into a rigorous, teachable system. In catalogs and discussions, it is also referenced as “Bushi Zhengzong English” (The Orthodox Method of I Ching Divination, English Edition).This English edition includes interpretations of the “Golden Strategy,” “Thousand Gold Ode,” “Tong Xuan Fu,” and “Sui Jin Fu (Fragmented Gold Ode),” core texts frequently cited across Six Lines Divination literature. It also addresses eighteen fundamental questions commonly asked by beginners and provides case-based explanations that demonstrate practical application.Who it helpsBeginners: clear framework uniting rules, reasoning, and worked examples.Intermediate and advanced practitioners: authoritative references for methods, terminology, and dispute resolution within Six Lines Divination.English editionThis Bushizhengzong English edition (possibly the first complete English edition) was translated by Xuan Wanyan, a Columbia University graduate from a family steeped in the I Ching tradition. It makes a once esoteric I Ching divination classic accessible while preserving its depth and rigor. To support study and teaching, it retains the full text, uses technical terminology consistent with her other Six Lines (Liu Yao / Na Jia) translations, and adds clearly marked [Annotation from the Translator] notes for key terms, basic concepts, idioms, and historical or cultural references. It also offers concise diagrams and tables that clarify line structure and Five Elements relationships, making it suitable for self-study, training, or reference.Also cataloged or searched as: Bushi Zhengzong English; Bushizhengzong English; The Orthodox Method of I Ching Divination English edition; Bushi Zheng Zong English translation; Orthodox Method of I Ching English; Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao); Wen Wang Gua; Na Jia Method.Edition detailsComplete Set: Book 1 (Volumes 1-4) and Book 2 (Volumes 5-7)Approximate length: 167,000 wordsPublisher’s notice (2025-09)The phrase “available in digital and print editions” refers to our catalog. For this title, the print edition is forthcoming; this release is digital-only.About the author: Wang Weide (1669–1749)Wang Weide, courtesy name Hongxu, also known as Linhong and Danran, wrote under the pen names Linwushanren and Dongtingshanren. He hailed from Xishan in Dongting, Wuxian, Jiangsu. Renowned as the founder of the Quansheng school in Chinese external medicine, Wang came from a family with a longstanding surgical tradition. His great-grandfather Ruogu specialized in treating ulcers and rejected location-only approaches, advocating diagnosis grounded in yin-yang and the balance of deficiency and excess. These effective treatments were recorded and passed down as family knowledge. Within this scholarly and medical lineage, Wang developed the methodological clarity and systematic thinking reflected in “Bushi Zhengzong.”About the translator: Xuan WanyanXuan Wanyan. Columbia University graduate, licensed CPA, from a family tradition of I Ching study. This edition makes a once esoteric system accessible without sacrificing depth. Read more