The I Ching supposedly represents the 64 archetypes around which all events in time are created. Thus by consulting it, it will reflect the conditions of the moment in which it is being consulted. In a nutshell: since the universe is a series of random probabilities, performing a random action (like flipping a coin) will result in a pattern (hexagram) that reflects reality enough to provide insight.
It works by dividing piles of yarrow stalks (traditional technique) or flipping three coins (modern technique) six times in a row while reflecting and meditating on your question. Depending on how the stalks/coins come up, you draw a yin line (broken), a yang line (unbroken), or a "moving" yin or yang line. If tossing coins, the head is yang and counts as three points, while tails is yin and counts as two points. Adding up all three coins yields a moving yin line (six points), a yang line (seven), a yin line (eight), or a moving yang line (nine).
The resulting six lines represent two trigrams which are combined into one of sixty-four hexagrams. Each trigram represents one of the following:
Since the hexagrams can be quickly determined from random coin tosses, it's been popular for some time to use software to generate I Ching divinations. The Everything I-Ching is just one such example.
The I Ching (pronounced "Je Jeng", meaning "Book of Changes") is a 5000 year old Chinese book of divinations regarding future events. As the causal events leading up to the future develop, the I Ching is supposed to be able to "pick up" on the ebb and flow of the Tao as it expresses itself. By meditating on the question to be asked, calculating the lines and then following the advice of the result the I Ching gives the best route to take to get the best outcome (or avoid the worst).
These divinations are constructed using hexagrams which are each made up by combining two of a possible eight trigrams. These are calculated line by line either by flipping coins or the more traditional drawing yarrow sticks. There is an oracle on Everything2 if you want a computerised version.
The most basic component of a hexagram are the lines, either a full line (===) for Yang or a broken line(= =) for Yin. These are grouped into groups of three, and produce 8 possible trigrams.
------ -- -- Ch'ien ------ K'un -- -- ------ -- -- -- -- ------ Chên -- -- Sun ------ ------ -- -- -- -- ------ K'an ------ Li -- -- -- -- ------ ------ -- -- Kên -- -- Tui ------ -- -- ------
These were given the following meanings:
The trigrams are then combined one on top of the other, and form a particular order, called the King Wen sequence. King Wen lived around 1150 B.C. The meaning of this sequence has been commented on by many, but non so "creatively" as Terrence McKenna and his Time Wave theory...
To construct the lines, flip a coin 3 times. A heads is 2 (earth) and a tails is 3 (heaven). The total will be 6, 7, 8 or 9. The lines are constructed bottom to top. 6 and 8 are broken lines (= =), 7 and 9 full lines(===). 6 and 9 are "changing lines", so once you've made your first hexagram, make a second using the first, but any changing lines become their opposite. If there are changing lines, you'll need to read the corresponding latter part of divination result.
Use Everything I Ching if you want a quick way of doing it, although personally I like constructing the lines.
The following is a handy look-up table for the order of the 64 trigrams.
----> C C K K K S L T Upper h h a e u u i u i e n n n n i Lower n e n || n \/ Ch'ien 1 34 5 26 11 9 14 43 Chen 25 51 3 27 24 42 21 17 K'an 6 40 29 4 7 59 64 47 Ken 33 62 39 52 15 53 56 31 K'un 12 16 8 23 2 20 35 45 Sun 44 32 48 18 46 57 50 28 Li 13 55 63 22 36 37 30 49 Tui 10 54 60 41 19 61 38 58
The following is the in-order sequence of hexagrams that make up the King Wen Sequence of the I Ching.
I Ching Hexagram Name Translations Pinyin Wade-Giles (Wilhelm/Baynes) -------------------------------------------------------- 1. Qian Ch'ien, The Creative 2. Kun K'un, The Receptive 3. Zhun Chun, Difficulty at the Beginning 4. Meng Mêng, Youthful Folly 5. Xu Hsü, Waiting 6. Song Sung, Conflict 7. Shi Shih, The Army 8. Bi Pi, Holding Together 9. Xiaoxu Hsiao Ch'u, The Taming Power of the Small 10. Lü Lü, Treading 11. Tai T'ai, Peace 12. Pi P'i, Standstill 13. Tongren T'ung Jên, Fellowship with Men 14. Dayou Ta Yu, Possession in Great Measure 15. Qian Ch'ien, Modesty 16. Yu Yü, Enthusiasm 17. Sui Sui, Following 18. Gu Ku, Work on What Has Been Spoiled 19. Lin Lin, Approach 20. Guan Kuan, Contemplation 21. Shike Shih Ho, Biting Through 22. Bi Pi, Grace 23. Bo Po, Splitting Apart 24. Fu Fu, Return 25. Wuwang Wu Wang, Innocence 26. Daxu Ta Ch'u, The Taming Power of the Great 27. Yi I, The Corners of the Mouth 28. Daguo Ta Kuo, Preponderance of the Great 29. Kan K'an, The Abysmal 30. Li Li, The Clinging 31. Xian Hsien, Influence 32. Heng Hêng, Duration 33. Dun Tun, Retreat 34. Dazhuang Ta Chuang, The Power of the Great 35. Jin Chin, Progress 36. Mingyi Ming I, Darkening of the Light 37. Jiaren Chia Jên, The Family 38. Kui K'uei, Opposition 39. Jian Chien, Obstruction 40. Xie Hsieh, Deliverance 41. Sun Sun, Decrease 42. Yi I, Increase 43. Guai Kuai, Break-through 44. Gou Kou, Coming to Meet 45. Cui Ts'ui, Gathering Together 46. Sheng Shêng, Pushing Upward 47. Kun K'un, Oppression 48. Jing Ching, The Well 49. Ge Ko, Revolution 50. Ding Ting, The Caldron 51. Zhen Chên, The Arousing 52. Gen Kên, Keeping Still 53. Jian Chien, Development 54. Guimei Kuei Mei, The Marrying Maiden 55. Feng Fêng, Abundance 56. Lü Lü, The Wanderer 57. Xun Sun, The Gentle 58. Dui Tui, The Joyous 59. Huan Huan, Dispersion 60. Jie Chieh, Limitation 61. Zhongfu Chung Fu, Inner Truth 62. Xiaoguo Hsiao Kuo, Preponderance of the Small 63. Jiji Chi Chi, After Completion 64. Weiji Wei Chi, Before Completion
I Ching Trigram Name Translations Pinyin Wade-Giles (Wilhelm/Baynes) -------------------------------------------------------- 1. Qian Ch'ien 2. Kun K'un 3. Zhen Chên 4. Kan K'an 5. Gen Kên 6. Xun Sun 7. Li Li 8. Dui Tui
printable version chaos
Everything2 Help
