Korean Yihak - Genius Young Master Cheongjae
Explore the principles of all things through 64 hexagrams
Quick fortune via 6 palaces
Xiao Liu Ren(小六壬) is a simple time-based divination from Chinese folk tradition, cycling through six palaces (Da An, Liu Lian, Su Xi, Chi Kou, Xiao Ji, Kong Wang) marked on the finger joints. The Six Spirits of Liu Ren (Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, Six Harmony, Hooked Chen) are assigned to each palace, and the result is derived by cycling from the month position through day and hour.
Xiao Liu Ren is a simplified folk divination handed down in China — literally 'the little Liu Ren.' Where the full Liu Ren method (大六壬) demands complex calculations on heaven and earth boards, Xiao Liu Ren assigns six palaces to the six knuckles of the left hand's fingers and reads fortune with the fingers alone.
In folk usage it is also called Liu Ren Shike (六壬時課), attributed to the Tang dynasty's Li Chunfeng or tied to Zhuge Liang's Ma Qian Ke ('divination before the horse' — named for casting in haste on horseback). Its method is recorded in the Qing Kangxi-era Zengbu Xuanze Tongshu Guangyuxia Ji, showing it was already a widespread quick divination by the Qing dynasty at latest.
Needing no tools and no preparation, it is a 'quick-verdict divination (速斷占)' cast on the spot — mid-journey or right before a decision — long beloved in Chinese folk culture.
The six palaces are Da'an (大安)·Liulian (留連)·Suxi (速喜)·Chikou (赤口)·Xiaoji (小吉)·Kongwang (空亡) — the order is fixed. Each palace is assigned one of the six spirits of Liu Ren — Azure Dragon (青龍), Xuanwu (玄武), Vermilion Bird (朱雀), White Tiger (白虎), Liuhe (六合), Gouchen (勾陳) — plus a five-element and a direction.
Da'an is Azure Dragon, wood, east — the finest palace: 'all affairs flourish, the household is at peace.' Liulian is Xuanwu, water, north — a flat palace of 'matters delayed and entangled.' Suxi is Vermilion Bird, fire, south — a highly auspicious palace: 'joy comes quickly.'
Chikou is White Tiger, metal, west — an inauspicious palace: 'beware quarrels and lawsuits.' Xiaoji is Liuhe, wood, east — a fortunate palace: 'all things harmonize, trade succeeds.' Kongwang is Gouchen, earth, center — the worst palace: 'matters dissolve into nothing.'
Open the left hand and assign the six palaces to the upper and lower knuckles of the index, middle, and ring fingers. The lower index knuckle is Da'an, the index tip is Liulian, the middle fingertip is Suxi, the ring fingertip is Chikou, the lower ring knuckle is Xiaoji, and the lower middle knuckle is Kongwang.
These six points form a circle on the fingers; to cast, the thumb walks the circle clockwise, tapping each point. The expression '掐指一算' — 'pinch the fingers and reckon' — comes from exactly this gesture.
You only need the lunar month, day, and hour of the moment in question. First set the first month at Da'an and count clockwise to find the palace where the asked month lands (大安起正月); then set the first day of the month at that palace and count to the asked day (月上起日); then set zi-hour (23–01) at that palace and count to the asked double-hour (日上起時).
The palace where the double-hour finally lands is the matter's fortune. For example, lunar June 5th at si-hour (09–11): June lands on Kongwang; counting five days from Kongwang lands on Chikou; counting to si-hour from Chikou lands on Suxi — the result is Suxi palace.
A double-hour (時辰) is the traditional division of a day into twelve parts, two hours each, from zi-hour 23–01 to hai-hour 21–23. This service computes the full three-step sequence — month → day → hour — exactly by the traditional formula.
Each palace carries an eight-line verdict verse (斷辭) singing the fortune of daily matters — wealth, lost items, the household, travelers, illness, lawsuits. Da'an's verse opens '大安事事昌 求財在坤方 失物去不遠 宅舍保安康'; Kongwang's opens '空亡事不祥 陰人多乖張.'
These verses appear on the result card together with the palace, along with the palace's fortune grade (six levels from great fortune to great misfortune), its element, direction, and spirit.
Xiao Liu Ren looks at 'at this very moment, in which palace does this matter's energy rest.' Chikou or Kongwang is no reason for despair — the traditional attitude reads it as a signal that the moment's energy does not fit the matter, so shift the timing or change the approach.
Kongwang in particular should be understood as a stop signal — 'halt now and look again' — not a permanent no. As a handy quick divination, please use it as one reference alongside other grounds for big decisions.
Xiao Liu Ren (小六壬) Six Palace system — order Da An, Liu Lian, Su Xi, Chi Kou, Xiao Ji, Kong Wang; Da An starts at first month, month→day→hour derivation (Qimenpai); six-palace five-element, six-spirit, and direction assignments; traditional Liuren Shike palace verses
Divine will via moon blocks
Draw one of 60 sacred lots
Zi Wei: 12 palaces, 14 stars
Hexagrams via time and numbers
Rokuyo: six days, hourly fortune
Xiao Liu Ren is a simplified folk divination handed down in China — literally 'the little Liu Ren.' Where the full Liu Ren method (大六壬) demands complex calculations on heaven and earth boards, Xiao Liu Ren assigns six palaces to the six knuckles of the left hand's fingers and reads fortune with the fingers alone.
The six palaces are **Da'an (大安)·Liulian (留連)·Suxi (速喜)·Chikou (赤口)·Xiaoji (小吉)·Kongwang (空亡)** — the order is fixed. Each palace is assigned one of the six spirits of Liu Ren — Azure Dragon (青龍), Xuanwu (玄武), Vermilion Bird (朱雀), White Tiger (白虎), Liuhe (六合), Gouchen (勾陳) — plus a five-element and a direction.
Open the left hand and assign the six palaces to the upper and lower knuckles of the index, middle, and ring fingers. The lower index knuckle is Da'an, the index tip is Liulian, the middle fingertip is Suxi, the ring fingertip is Chikou, the lower ring knuckle is Xiaoji, and the lower middle knuckle is Kongwang.
Xiao Liu Ren(小六壬), Korean Yihak - Genius Young Master Cheongjae, Jiaobei(擲筊), Liushijiazi(六十甲子籤), Ziwei Doushu, Meihua Yishu, Rokuyo