A Dialogue Across Millennia: The Origin and Historical Evolution of Divination (pua̍h-pue)

In traditional Chinese beliefs, "throwing divination blocks" (often called "pua̍h-pue" in Taiwanese) is the most common and direct way for humans to communicate with deities. Whether seeking peace, career advancement, or obtaining divination slips, the two crescent-shaped objects, as they flutter through the air and land, carry revelations from heaven and the gods. But where does this religious ritual, so deeply rooted in our daily lives, originate?

1. From "Clam" to "Wood and Bamboo": The Evolution of Materials for Divination Cups

As early as the Song Dynasty, scholars such as Zhu Xi and Zhou Mi recorded the tools used by the ancients to consult the gods for good or bad fortune. The earliest divination blocks were not the wooden or bamboo crescent shapes we commonly see today, but rather "clam shells" (called clam cups).

Because seashells are brittle and easily broken, they were later used to carve a crescent shape with one flat and one convex shape from bamboo roots or wooden blocks. The ancients took advantage of the toughness of bamboo roots to symbolize continuous life, and used the naturally curved surface to create the "Holy Grail" that has been passed down to this day.

2. The philosophical wisdom of "yin and yang complementing each other"

The seemingly random probability of tossing divination blocks actually contains profound Yin-Yang philosophy from the I Ching:

• Flat side (sunny side/convex side facing down) : Represents the sky, light, openness, and manifestation.

• The raised side (shaded side/convex side facing up) : represents earth, secrecy, restraint, and tranquility.

When one yin and one yang (sacred divination blocks) appear, it represents harmony between heaven and earth, and the correspondence between yin and yang, indicating that the gods have affirmed and approved of the problem. If two yang (laughing divination blocks) or two yin (yin divination blocks) appear, it symbolizes an imbalance of yin and yang, requiring a reorganization of thoughts, or that the time is not yet right.

3. A calming force for the soul that transcends millennia.

From divination rituals in grand imperial ceremonies to everyday life for ordinary people, the divination method of throwing divination blocks has evolved over thousands of years. Although its form has been simplified, its core cultural values of "seeking truth and peace of mind" have never changed. It is not only a symbol of folk beliefs, but also a spiritual companion passed down for thousands of years.