Divination-Based Decision Procedure

Overview

This procedure combines consultation with divination to resolve major doubts in governance and important decisions.

Prerequisites

• Establish trained diviners for turtle shell (卜) and milfoil (筮) methods
• Prepare seven types of signs: rain (雨), clearing (济), obscure (涕), cloudy (雾), overcoming (克), steadfast (贞), changing (悔)

Decision Process

Step 1: Identify the Doubt

• Clearly articulate the major question requiring resolution
• Ensure the matter is significant enough to warrant divination

Step 2: Multi-Source Consultation

Consult in order:

1. Your own heart/mind - Internal deliberation
2. Ministers/Officials (卿士) - Expert advisors
3. Common People (庶人) - Popular sentiment
4. Divination (卜筮) - Spiritual guidance

Step 3: Interpret Results

Great Harmony (大同) - All four sources agree:

• Outcome: Personal health and strength, descendants will prosper

Three Agree, One Disagrees:

• Ruler + Divination agree: Auspicious
• Ministers + Divination agree: Auspicious
• People + Divination agree: Auspicious

Divination Disagrees with Humans:

• Internal matters: Auspicious
• External matters: Inauspicious

Both Divination Methods Disagree with Humans:

• Inaction: Auspicious
• Action: Inauspicious

Decision Rules

• When in doubt, follow the majority opinion
• Divination carries special weight in spiritual matters
• Human consensus matters more for practical affairs

Expected Outcomes

• Clearer resolution of complex decisions
• Integration of multiple perspectives
• Legitimacy through comprehensive consultation process

Verification

1. Confirm that all four consultation sources (ruler's heart, ministers, common people, divination) were consulted in proper order.
2. Validate that the consensus level matches the correct interpretation rule (Great Harmony, three-agree, or divination-disagrees scenarios).
3. Check that the decision distinguishes between internal matters (where human consensus weighs more) and external matters (where divination carries special weight).