筮 (shì) - To divine using stalks — refers to the

筮Tone 4

shì ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

上姝

筮 · shì

To divine using stalks — refers to the ancient Chinese practice of divination using yarrow stalks or milfoil, often associated with the I Ching (Book of Changes).

To divine using stalks — refers to the

Usage highlights

Divination with stalksDivination processTo divineDivinerDivination resultDivination and tortoise shell

Synonyms

  • 占— to divine; to practice divination
  • 卜— to divine (originally using shells/bones)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Ancient rulers consulted the oracle by divining (筮).
  • The divination process (筮法) was complex.
  • He performed a divination (占筮) before the journey.
  • The diviner (筮人) interpreted the stalks.

Collocations

  • Divination with stalks(筮卜)
  • Divination process(筮法)
  • To divine(占筮)
  • Diviner(筮人)
  • Divination result(筮兆)
  • Divination and tortoise shell(龟筮)

Idioms

  • No need for divination(不待蓍龟)
  • To divine and then act(筮而后行)
  • The divination is auspicious(筮吉)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 筮 was a form of divination using yarrow stalks, central to decision-making in ancient China, especially during the Zhou dynasty.
  • It is closely associated with the I Ching (Yijing), where specific procedures for manipulating stalks generate hexagrams for interpretation.
  • Often contrasted with 卜 (bǔ), which used turtle shells or animal bones; 筮 was considered a more advanced, systematic method.

FAQ