practice divination; cast lots
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to practice divination (specifically the method of 'qike' using time and finger counting)
technicalRefers to a specific method of Chinese divination, often associated with the Liuren (Six Ren) system, where practitioners use the current time to calculate positions on the palm to determine auspiciousness.
Dào道
shì士
zhèng正
zài在
zhān占
kè课
，
tuī推
suàn算
jīn今
rì日
de的
jí吉
xiōng凶
。
The Taoist priest is practicing divination to calculate today's fortune.
Gǔ古
rén人
yù遇
dào到
yí疑
nán难
zhī之
shì事
，
cháng常
cháng常
huì会
zhǎo找
rén人
qǐ起
kè课
zhān占
bǔ卜
。
When ancient people encountered difficult matters, they would often seek someone to perform divination.
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Zhè这
mén门
zhān占
kè课
zhī之
shù术
xū需
yào要
jīng精
tōng通
tiān天
gān干
dì地
zhī支
。
This divination art requires mastery of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.