The Great Plan chapter of the Book of Documents advises a ruler facing a great doubt: “Consult your own heart. Consult the ministers. Consult the common people. Consult the tortoise and the milfoil.” If the ruler, the tortoise, the milfoil, the ministers and the people all agree, “this is called the great accord” (大同). “You will be strong and healthy, and your descendants will prosper.”
The chapter then goes through cases of disagreement. If the ruler, the tortoise and the milfoil agree but the ministers and the people oppose, the outcome is still “auspicious.”