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#I Ching #Dayan Method #Yarrow Stalk Divination #Yi Studies

On the Dayan Yarrow Stalk Method

Exploring the philosophical significance and operational principles of the Great Expansion divination method from the I Ching

Tianwen Editorial Team January 27, 2026 7 min read PDF Markdown
On the Dayan Yarrow Stalk Method

2. Why is "Forty-nine Used"$2

In actual practice, one stalk must be removed from the fifty and respectfully returned to the tube or placed in front, untouched for the remainder of the process. This single stalk holds supreme status.

  • The Dialectic of Essence and Function (Ti-Yong): This stalk represents "Taiji" (The Great Ultimate). Taiji is the source of the world; it is silent and motionless, yet it resonates and connects with everything. It is precisely because of the "stillness" of the Taiji that the "motion" of the remaining forty-nine stalks is possible.
  • The Interplay of Void and Reality: This is a profound philosophical metaphor—Truth (Dao) is often hidden and non-manifest. What we can operate and calculate is the "Function" (Yong) manifested by the Dao, not the "Essence" (Ti) itself.