How can we learn from others while keeping our own brand distinctive?

You can learn from others’ ideas, but building a brand also requires clarity about your own creation. Taking inspiration differs from making finished products too similar. Supporters who expected originality may reasonably feel disappointed on discovering extensive similarities. Choices carry responsibility.

I prefer developing my own things. For Sheng Zhen Men’s family crest, for example, we learned from the system of Japanese family crests and then created our own patterns and designs. Many divination methods share similarities. Choosing Chinese chess divination also differentiated the tool I used.

In discussing that clothing-brand dispute, I neither performed divination for those involved nor determined legal infringement. Similarity of style was my observation. The useful question is whether, after learning an idea, you can continue developing your own characteristics.

Choosing Chinese chess also reflected a wish for my work to be noticed, not merely to be different for its own sake. A different divination tool offers another chance for attention and understanding. Yet later books, divination cards, and program invitations still required continuing study and effort in the field. Distinctiveness cannot replace expertise.