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NINEHOUND九狗 · 东方观

NINEHOUND / 九狗万象

The stories behind the symbols.

Traditions, famous lives and ideas worth exploring. These articles are currently available in Chinese.

In focus · Read in Chinese

Golden Week travel: what does an auspicious day mean?

A Chinese-language guide to almanac conventions, divination questions and practical travel choices for Golden Week.

Essentials · Read in Chinese

What are the Eight Characters? Three places to start

A plain-language introduction to the Four Pillars, Day Master and seasonal context. Full article in Chinese.

Essentials · Read in Chinese

How to frame a useful I Ching question

Examples of focused questions about a decision, its context and a useful time horizon. Full article in Chinese.

Lives & charts · Read in Chinese

Zeng Guofan: a winter Fire chart and the work of discipline

A chart reading based on the birth date and Hai-hour entry in Zeng Guofan’s chronology, with its limits stated. Full article in Chinese.

Lives & charts · Read in Chinese

Qianlong: reading three pillars without inventing an hour

A reading of Qianlong’s first three pillars, keeping the unverified hour visibly open. Full article in Chinese.

Stories from history · Read in Chinese

The Han diviner who turned the question on his visitors

Sima Jizhu’s encounter with two officials in the Records of the Grand Historian. Full article in Chinese.

Stories from history · Read in Chinese

Confucius and the book he kept reading

The story of Confucius repeatedly reading the Changes, and a practical way to read beyond a lucky or unlucky label. Full article in Chinese.

Lives & charts · Read in Chinese

Taylor Swift: one birthday, conflicting rising signs

A Chinese-language celebrity chart study with attributed birth data and original commentary.

Lives & charts · Read in Chinese

Jackie Chan: three pillars, craft and disciplined practice

A Chinese-language celebrity chart study with attributed birth data and original commentary.

Lives & charts · Read in Chinese

Angelina Jolie: Sun, Moon and Ascendant in context

A Chinese-language celebrity chart study with attributed birth data and original commentary.

Lives & charts · Read in Chinese

Lady Gaga: Aries Sun and Scorpio Moon

A Chinese-language celebrity chart study with attributed birth data and original commentary.

Traditions · Read in Chinese

Qi Men Dun Jia: reading the nine-palace structure

An introductory Chinese-language guide to a divination tradition, with reading examples and sources.

Traditions · Read in Chinese

Da Liu Ren: four lessons and three transmissions

An introductory Chinese-language guide to a divination tradition, with reading examples and sources.

Traditions · Read in Chinese

Plum Blossom Divination: numbers, images and relationships

An introductory Chinese-language guide to a divination tradition, with reading examples and sources.

Traditions · Read in Chinese

Zi Wei Dou Shu: a first look at the twelve palaces

An introductory Chinese-language guide to a divination tradition, with reading examples and sources.

Traditions · Read in Chinese

Reading tarot: the card, its position and the question

An introductory Chinese-language guide to a divination tradition, with reading examples and sources.

Traditions · Read in Chinese

Western astrology: Sun, Moon and rising sign

An introductory Chinese-language guide to a divination tradition, with reading examples and sources.

Traditions · Read in Chinese

Traditional dream interpretation: start with the whole story

An introductory Chinese-language guide to a divination tradition, with reading examples and sources.

Traditions · Read in Chinese

Reading Takashima Ekidan: from a line to a situation

An introductory Chinese-language guide to a divination tradition, with reading examples and sources.