Shi and Ying, the Self Line and the Other Line
In a Nutshell
The Shi line stands for the querent's side; the Ying line stands for the other party — the main axis for reading relationships in a hexagram.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Branch | Six-Line Divination · basic concepts |
| Shi (the Self line) | Represents the querent's own side |
| Ying (the Other line) | Represents the other party, or the other face of the matter |
| The rest | The remaining four lines are the "between" lines |
What are Shi and Ying?
Shi and Ying are a paired concept in Six-Line Divination. Once a hexagram is cast and assembled, two of its six positions are special: one is called the Shi line, the other the Ying line, and the remaining four are the "between" lines. Shi stands for the querent's own side; Ying stands for the other party — the counterpart in a negotiation, the other side of the question. Facing each other across the hexagram, they form the main axis for reading any relationship.
Their positions follow the assembly rules of the Jing Fang Na Jia system: Shi climbs line by line — first-generation, second-generation, third-generation hexagrams and so on — while Ying always sits two positions above Shi. If line 1 holds Shi, line 4 is Ying; if line 2 holds Shi, line 5 is Ying. Diviners have used this rule for centuries, and spotting Shi and Ying is the first thing you do when you open a chart.
In reading, the Shi line's condition is used to observe the querent's side — which relation sits on it, how its element fares in generation and control, whether it is strong or weak — while Ying mirrors the other side, and the clashes, combinations, and generation-control ties between the two describe how the parties interact. The between lines sit in the middle, traditionally linked to the intermediate stages of how things unfold. Shi and Ying are analytical tools, not verdicts: they must be read together with the Useful Line, the Six Relations, and the day and month — never alone.
Classical sources
"Shi is oneself; Ying is the other person."
Plain words: The Shi line represents the querent's own side and the Ying line the party facing them — use the pair to tell the two sides apart when reading.
Source: Zeng Shan Bu Yi (Additions and Deletions to the Changes), chapter on Shi and Ying [to be verified]
*For entertainment purposes only.*