Classic Destiny Theory Story: Blind Dragon Wang Long and Plum Blossom Divination

About Wang Long

During the Ming Dynasty, there was a blind fortune-teller in Anhui named Wang Long, known as "Blind Dragon." He was highly skilled in Plum Blossom Divination, renowned for his remarkably accurate predictions and held great fame locally.

The Handkerchief Inquiry

One day, a scholar came to inquire about his future prospects. Wang Long said, "Give me something you carry with you." The scholar handed over a handkerchief.

Wang Long felt the handkerchief and said: - "The handkerchief is made of silk; 'silk' sounds like 'thought,' indicating you are meticulous and good at thinking." - "The handkerchief is long and narrow, resembling the radical of the character '泮' (pàn). '泮' refers to the ancient school of Pan Palace." - "You will surely enter school this year and become a scholar."

Indeed, that autumn, the scholar passed the imperial examination and became a xiucai (a successful candidate).

The Porcelain Bowl Inquiry

Another person brought a porcelain bowl to inquire about his fortune. Wang Long took the bowl, felt it with his hands, and said: - "The bowl is cold, indicating a rough start." - "The rim is smooth and unbroken, suggesting a satisfactory outcome." - "The base has the character '福' (fortune), signifying deep blessings." - "The bowl is not heavy, meaning not great wealth but modest comfort."

Later, this person indeed experienced some setbacks but ultimately lived a peaceful old age.

Principles of Plum Blossom Divination

Plum Blossom Divination was created by Shao Yong of the Northern Song Dynasty. Its core idea is that "anything can be used for divination": - Time-based divination - Number-based divination - Character-based divination - Sound-based divination - Object-based divination

Wang Long used the object-based divination method, transforming the characteristics of physical objects into hexagrams for interpretation.

Insight

Destiny theory is not mere guesswork but a rigorous system of symbolic deduction. Wang Long's story teaches us that true masters skillfully integrate abstract principles of the I Ching with concrete objects, which is the essence of I Ching studies.