For study resources and the English-language Chinese Perpetual (Lunar) Calendar, please visit ichingstream.com.
About "Principles and Odes of I Ching Divination" (Tong Xuan Miao Lun and Tian Xuan Fu) (English Edition)
Composed in the Song to Yuan period (960 to 1368), "Mysterious and Subtle Discourse" (Tong Xuan Miao Lun) and "Celestial Mysteries Ode" (Tian Xuan Fu) are cornerstone texts of I Ching Divination, Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao) within Wen Wang Gua and the Na Jia Method. Both works compress technical insight into poetic, memorable verses.
Tong Xuan Miao Lun lays out the theoretical framework that links rules to reasoning and judgment.
Tian Xuan Fu provides mnemonics on Six Gods, moving lines, voids, and elemental interactions logic.
Frequently cited in later classics such as The Complete Book of Divination (Bushi Quanshu/Bushi Daquan), I Ching Divination - Complete and Restored (Zengshan Buyi), and The Orthodox Method of I Ching Divination (Bushi Zhengzong), these texts continue to shape how Na Jia interpretation is taught and practiced today. Read them on their own, or pair them with Zengshan Buyi and Bushi Zhengzong for a coherent study path from principles to casework.
Who it helps
Beginners: a clear framework that unites rules, reasoning, and worked examples.
Intermediate and advanced practitioners: authoritative references for methods and terminology within Six Lines Divination.
English edition
This English edition (possibly the first) was translated by Xuan Wanyan, a Columbia University graduate from a family steeped in the I Ching tradition. The aim is to make a once esoteric system accessible to non-Chinese readers while preserving its original depth and technical precision.
Also cataloged or searched as
Tong Xuan Miao Lun English translation; Tian Xuan Fu English; Celestial Mysteries Ode English edition; Principles and Odes of I Ching Divination; Six Lines Divination (Liu Yao); Wen Wang Gua; Na Jia Method; I Ching English translation classic.
Edition details
Dual-text presentation: verse teachings with focused explanatory notes.
Core coverage: Six Gods, moving lines, voids, elemental interactions and judgment structure.
Recommended pairing: Zengshan Buyi and Bushi Zhengzong for comparative study.
Publisher'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 text
Author: Unknown. Traditional attribution places the work in the Song to Yuan era. Its enduring value comes from practical clarity, verse-based teaching, and sustained citation in later Six Lines literature.
About the translator: Xuan Wanyan
Columbia University graduate and licensed CPA from a family tradition of I Ching study. This edition aims to present a precise, teachable pathway into Six Lines Divination without sacrificing depth.
