All Chinese numerology and astrology originated from the study of Taiji 太极 and Yijing 易经 (also known popularly as I-Ching).

The Taiji concept was written in the book Daodejing 道德经 (also written as Tao Te Ching) by Laozi 老子. The book was cleverly written in 81 Chapters. Cleverly, because 9 times 9 is 81. 9 is a magical number in Chinese numerology.

In Chapter 42, Laozi wrote:

道生一， 一生二， 二生三， 三生万物。万物负阴而抱阳， 冲气以为和。

Tao gave birth to the One; the One gave birth successively to two things, three things, up to ten thousand. These ten thousand creatures cannot turn their backs to the shade (yin) without having the sun (yang) on their bellies, and it is on this blending of the breaths that their harmony depends.

From the concept of Tao, we have the yin and yang. The yin-yang theory is the most fundamental knowledge that all Chinese astrology practitioners must know. Through balancing the yin and yang, we achieve harmony with the cosmos. The art of Chinese naming method that I practiced surely includes the concept of yin-yang, Tao, Yijing, Chinese numerology and more.

Let us look at the three main Chinese numerology methods. They are the methods to translate your names into numbers.

1. The elements flow in the orderly productive sequence, one producing the subsequent one - wood, fire, earth, metal and finally water.
2. The elements flow in alternate yang and yin sequence.

There are only 8 numbers in this Early Heaven Yijing Sequence. Total up the number of strokes in your Chinese name. Using the same example above, the total strokes for the name Guo Ziyi 郭子儀 is 33. The total of 33 now has to be divided by 8.

33 divided by 8 is 4 with the remainder of 1. Refer to the chart above and you will get Qian the yang metal. In the Chinese naming method, I will also look at other parts of the name and derive the Yijing number or trigram. Then, I will make a comparison of elements to see whether they are in agreement. If there is a harming relationship, then we must find a character that is suitable for the overall name numerology.

Using the Early Heaven Yijing Sequence numerology, we can also do forecasting. There is a method called the Plum Blossom Yijing Calculation. I have studied this method under a master and use it regularly in my life. It helps me to make better decisions in life, finding missing items, accurately forecasting the weather and so on. The Plum Blossom method is an old invention using Yijing. It is indeed a very ancient art of forecasting used throughout the Chinese history especially in ancient warfare.

There are more advanced techniques using this Sequence. Those advanced techniques, from the way my master demonstrated to me, can forecast things in more detailed. He is able to tell me my previous life or my next life. He is also able to tell me the exact date some event will happen. Or finding the cause of an illness and the remedy for the patient. Or looking at the precise location for a missing item. All these with just the Yijing trigrams. That's how powerful the Chinese numerology is.

Look at the chart above and you will see 6 is Qian, yang metal.

Each number or trigram (the 3 layered solid lines or broken lines) has many meanings attached to it. The ancient Chinese had used these simple 8 trigrams to represent everything in the cosmos.

Let's look at what each trigram represents. The list is just a brief one. There are many more things attached to each trigram. The meanings in the list below also applies to the Early Heaven Yijing Sequence.

• Kan - water, middle son, young man, thief, cunning, dangerous, medicine, poison, round, black, red, fish, blood, kidney, 11pm-1am, winter, north direction, salty, sour.
• Kun - earth, mother, queen, peasant, patient, sickly, cloth, square, yellow, black, silence, cow, stomach, field, village, small house, 1pm-4pm, late summer, southwest direction, cloudy, sweet.
• Zhen - thunder, eldest son, active, nervous, movement, green, wood, loud, dragon, foot, forest, tall building, 5am-9am, spring, east direction, fresh meat, salt.
• Xun - wind, eldest daughter, middle aged woman, widow, gentle, indecisive, blue, white, wood, snake, upper arm, market, garden, temple, 9am-11am, late spring, early summer, southeast direction, windy, chicken.
• Qian - heaven, father, Ruler, famous man, brave, creative, gold, round, dark red, white, metal, dog, head, lung, large city, public building, 7pm-11pm, late fall, northwest direction, clear sky, spicy.
• Dui - lake, youngest daughter, happy, joyous, decorative gold and metal, oval shape, white, purple, metal, chicken, mouth, tongue, small intestine, unsafe buildings, 4pm-7pm, fall, west direction, rain, drizzle, spicy.
• Gen - mountain, youngest son, young men, slow, quiet, earth, dark yellow, cow, hand, finger, bones, small and narrow passages, highland, storage buildings, 1am-5am, between spring and winter, northeast direction, cloudy, misty, sweet.
• Li - fire, middle daughter, middle aged woman, intellectual, beautiful, book, document, weapons, electricity, bright red, fire, horse, eye, heart, kitchen, empty building, 11am-1pm, summer, south direction, rainbow, sunny, bitter.

Find out the special connection of Chinese Zodiac Signs or Zodiac Animals with your names.