I Ching divination

Last updated
I Ching fortune teller in Japan, 1914 Fortune Teller on the street of Japan (1914 by Elstner Hilton).jpg
I Ching fortune teller in Japan, 1914

I Ching divination is a form of cleromancy applied to the I Ching . The text of the I Ching consists of sixty-four hexagrams: six-line figures of yin (broken) or yang (solid) lines, and commentaries on them. There are two main methods of building up the lines of the hexagram, using either 50 yarrow stalks or three coins. Some of the lines may be designated "old" lines, in which case the lines are subsequently changed to create a second hexagram. The text relating to the hexagram(s) and old lines (if any) is studied, and the meanings derived from such study can be interpreted as an oracle.

Contents

Methods

Each hexagram is six lines, written sequentially one above the other; each of the lines represents a state that is either yin (yīn: dark, feminine, etc., represented by a broken line) or yang (yáng: light, masculine, etc., a solid line), and either old (moving or changing, represented by an "X" written on the middle of a yin line, or a circle written on the middle of a yang line) or young (static, unchanging). The usual methods for consulting the I Ching as an oracle produce a "sacred" or "ritual" number for each type of line: 6 (for an old yin line), 7 (young yang), 8 (young yin), or 9 (old yang). The six lines are produced in order using the chosen method (see below for examples), beginning at the first (lowest) one and proceeding upward to the sixth (uppermost) line, each with its corresponding number. Then, the commentaries applying to the generated hexagram are studied; if the hexagram contains no old lines at all, that concludes the consultation, but if there are one or more old lines, the separate commentary for each such line is also studied. Then, the lines are appropriately changed (any old yin lines into young yang lines, and any old yang lines into young yin lines), which—with the young lines in the original hexagram remaining the same—results in a second, different, hexagram, the commentarial material on which is then also studied.

The method used by the diviner to generate the hexagram(s) depends on their circumstances and beliefs; the yarrow-stalk method is usually employed by traditionalists who find significance in its complexity, and in the resulting time needed to manipulate the stalks to produce a hexagram. Coin methods, and others, are used either by those short of time, or by fortune-tellers who need a quick reading. There are also methods to generate a hexagram by interpreting the time, direction, person, etc., instead of throwing coins or dividing and counting yarrow stalks. Several of the methods described below force exactly one, or no, moving lines; the traditional yarrow-stalk method allows from zero to six moving lines. The yarrow-stalk method favours static lines over moving lines in the ratio 3:1.

Precursor to I Ching: Cracks in turtle shell

Plastromancy or the turtle-shell oracle is probably the earliest recorded form of fortune telling. The diviner would apply heat to a piece of a turtle shell (sometimes with a hot poker), and interpret the resulting cracks. The cracks were sometimes annotated with inscriptions, the oldest Chinese writings that have been discovered. This oracle predated the earliest versions of the Zhou Yi (dated from about 1100 BC) by hundreds of years.[ relevant? ]

A variant on this method was to use ox shoulder bones, a practice called scapulimancy . When thick material was to be cracked, the underside was thinned by carving with a knife.

Yarrow stalks

A bunch of 50 yarrow (Achillea millefolium subsp. millefolium var. millefolium) stalks, used for I Ching divination. Yarrow stalks for I Ching.JPG
A bunch of 50 yarrow (Achillea millefolium subsp. millefolium var. millefolium) stalks, used for I Ching divination.

Hexagrams may be generated by the manipulation of yarrow stalks. These are usually genuine Achillea millefolium stalks that have been cut and prepared for such purposes, or any form of wooden rod or sticks (the quality ranging from cheap hardwood to very expensive red sandalwood, etc.) which are plain, lacquered, or varnished. When genuine Achillea is used, varieties local to the diviner are considered the best, as they would contain qi closer to, and more in tune with, the diviner, or they may come from a particularly spiritual or relevant place, such as on the grounds of a Confucian temple. When not in use, they are kept in a cloth or silk bag/pouch or a wooden case/box.

Fifty yarrow stalks are used, though one stalk is set aside at the beginning and takes no further part in the process of consultation. The remaining forty-nine stalks are roughly sorted into two piles, and then for the right hand pile one stalk is initially "remaindered"; then the pile is "cast off" in lots of four (i.e., groups of four stalks are removed). The remainders from each half are combined (traditionally placed between the fingers of one hand during the counting process) and set aside, with the process then repeated twice (i.e., for a total of three times). The total number of stalks in the remainder pile will necessarily (if the procedure has been followed correctly) be 9 or 5, in the first count, and 8 or 4, in the second. 9 or 8 is assigned a value of 2; 5 or 4, a value of 3. The total of the three passes will be one of just four values: 6 (2+2+2), 7 (2+2+3), 8 (2+3+3), or 9 (3+3+3)—that value is the number of the first line. [1] The forty-nine stalks are then gathered and the entire procedure repeated to generate each of the remaining five lines of the hexagram.

The yarrow-stalk method produces unequal probabilities [2] [3] for obtaining each of the four totals, as shown in the table. Compared to the three-coin method discussed next, the probabilities of the lines produced by the yarrow-stalk method are significantly different.

NumberYarrow-stalk probabilityThree-coin probabilityyin or yangSignificationSymbol
61/168/162/168/16old yinyin changing into yang---x---
87/166/16young yinyin, unchanging---  ---
93/168/162/168/16old yangyang changing into yin---o---
75/166/16young yangyang, unchanging--------

Note that the Yarrow algorithm is a particular algorithm for generating random numbers; while it is named after the yarrow-stalk method of consulting the I Ching, its details are unrelated to it.

Yarrow Stalks prepared for regular usage French Polished Yarrow stalks from LPKaster.jpg
Yarrow Stalks prepared for regular usage

Coins

Three-coin method

Two heads and one tail of the original I-Ching Divination Coins. Ichingcoins.JPG
Two heads and one tail of the original I-Ching Divination Coins.

The three-coin method came into use over a thousand years after the yarrow-stalk method. The quickest, easiest, and most popular method by far, it has largely supplanted yarrow stalks, but produces outcomes with different likelihoods. Three coins are tossed at once; each coin is given a value of 2 or 3, depending upon whether it is heads or tails, respectively. Six such tosses make the hexagram. Some fortune-tellers use an empty tortoise shell to shake the coins in before throwing them on a dish or plate.

Modified Three-coin method

The three-coin method can be modified to have the same probabilities as the yarrow-stalk method by having one of the coins be of a second coin type, or in some way be marked as special (i.e., be distinguishable from the other coins). All three coins are tossed at once. The results are counted just as in the original three-coin method, with two exceptions: one to make yin less likely to move, and one to make yang more likely to move. (The probability for 6/8/9/7 in the coin method is 2/6/2/6, but in the yarrow-stalk method is 1/7/3/5; hence, 6 has to occur less often, and 9 has to occur more often.)

In the case where the special coin is tails and the other two are both tails—which would normally produce a 6—re-flip the marked coin: if it remains tails, then it remains a 6 (moving yin); otherwise, treat it as an 8 (static yin). As a 6 can become a 6 or an 8, it reduces the probability of the moving 6. In other words, it makes the old yin less likely to change (or move).

In the case where the special coin is heads and the other two are both tails—which would normally produce a 7—re-flip the marked coin: if it remains heads, then it remains as a 7 (static yang); otherwise, it becomes a 9 (moving yang). As a 7 can become a 7 or an 9, it reduces the probability of the static 7. In other words, it makes the young yang less likely and hence more yangs change as a result.

This method retains the 50% chance of yin:yang, but changes the ratio of moving yin to static yin from 1:3 to 1:7; likewise, it changes the ratio of moving yang to static yang from 1:3 to 3:5, which is the same probabilities as the yarrow-stalk method.

Two-coin method

Some purists contend that there is a problem with the three-coin method because its probabilities differ from the more ancient, yarrow-stalk, method. In fact, over the centuries there have even been other methods used for consulting the oracle.

The two-coin method involves tossing one pair of coins twice: on the first toss, two heads give a value of 2, and anything else is 3; on the second toss, each coin is valued separately, to give a sum from 6 to 9, as above. This results in the same distribution of probabilities as for the yarrow-stalk method.

Simplified two-coin method

A modified version of the two-coin method improves on the original on several aspects. First, while maintaining the probabilities of the traditional yarrow-stalk method, it simplifies outcomes such that they become intuitive at first sight, without need of further calculations. Second, it reduces the average number of coin throws per hexagram by 25%, from 12 to 9. It does so by requiring to throw the coins a second time only if both coins land on the same face (either both heads, or both tails), thus only in 50% of instances. Third, it is easy to memorize, as it clearly identifies heads with yang, and tails with yin, and a greater share of heads/tails with old (aka mature, moving, changing) yang/yin.

The modified two-coin method involves tossing one pair of coins of different size or shape. The larger, or heavier coin is assigned primacy (and is reported here as first, dominant, outcome) while the outcome of the smaller one comes second. Let H be heads and T tails.

If the coins land H, T, yang dominates and the outcome is young yang, unchanging. There is no need to throw the coins again for the same line.

If the coins land T, H, then yin dominates and the outcome is young yin, unchanging. Again, there is no need to throw the coins again for the same line.

If the coins land both on heads (H, H) then the outcome is for sure yang, but one must throw again to verify if the yang is changing (aka old) or unchanging (young). In case the second throw yields at least one H (either H, H, or H, T, or T, H), then the yang is changing. If both coins land on T (T, T) at second throw then the yang is unchanging.

If the coins land both on tails (T, T) then the outcome is for sure yin, but one must throw again to verify if the yin is changing or unchanging. In case the second throw yields both tails (T, T), then the yin is changing. If any of the two coins lands on H (either H, T, or T, H, or H, H) at second throw then the yin is unchanging.

The modified two-coin method yields old yang (changing) 3/16 of the times. Unchanging yang 5/16 times, and unchanging yin 7/16. The remaining 1/16 outcomes is old yin (changing).

It is considered simplified as it reduces the number of throws and calculations needed to correctly identify the outcome of each hexagram line, compared to any other method. While this has its advantages, some purists consider the time required to build the hexagram as a fundamental aspect of I Ching divination, for its ceremonial as well as introspective purposes. This said, any other coin based method can be considered similarly lacking on this regard, when compared to the yarrow-stalk method.

As is the case for the conventional two-coin method and the four coin method, the simplified two-coin method can be boiled down to binary numbers, simply interpreting any H as 1 and any T as 0. Then, old yin takes value of 0000 (0 in decimal numbers), unchanging yin values between 0001 and 0111 (1 to 7), unchanging yang those between 1000 and 1100 (8 to 12), and old yang from 1101 to 1111 (13 to 15). This also clearly showcases the relative probabilities of each outcome.

Four coins

With tails assigned the value 0 (zero) and heads the value 1, four coins tossed at once can be used to generate a four-bit binary number, the right-most coin indicating the first bit, the next coin (to the first's left) indicating the next bit, etc. The number 0000 is called old yin; the next three numbers—0001, 0010, and 0011 (the binary numbers whose decimal equivalents are 1, 2, and 3, respectively)—are called old yang, with a similar principle applied to the remaining twelve outcomes. This gives identical results to the yarrow-stalk method.

CoinsBinaryDecimalLine
T T T T00000---x---
T T T H00011---o---
T T H T00102---o---
T T H H00113---o---
CoinsBinaryDecimalLine
T H T T01004-------
T H T H01015-------
T H H T01106-------
T H H H01117-------
CoinsBinaryDecimalLine
H T T T10008-------
H T T H10019--- ---
H T H T101010--- ---
H T H H101111--- ---
CoinsBinaryDecimalLine
H H T T110012--- ---
H H T H110113--- ---
H H H T111014--- ---
H H H H111115--- ---

The two-coin method described above can be performed with four coins, simply by having one pair of coins be alike—of the same size or denomination—while the other two are of a different size or denomination; the larger coins can then be counted as the first toss, while the two smaller coins constitute the second toss (or vice versa).

Six coins

Six coins—five identical coins and one different—can be thrown at once. The coin that lands closest to a line drawn on the table will make the first line of the hexagram, and so on: heads for yang, tails for yin. The distinct coin is a moving line. This method has the dual failings that (1) it forces every hexagram to be a changing hexagram, and (2) it only ever allows exactly one line to be changing.

Eight coins on Ba Qian

Eight coins, one marked, are tossed at once. They are picked up in order and placed onto a Bagua diagram; the marked coin rests on the lower trigram. The eight process is repeated for the upper trigram. After a third toss, the first six coins are placed on the hexagram to mark a moving line. This has the deficiency or allowing at most one moving line, whereas all six lines could be moving in traditional methods.

Dice

Any dice with an even number of faces can also be used in the same fashion as the coin tosses, with even die rolls for heads and odd for tails. An eight-sided die (d8) can be used to simulate the chances of a line being an old moving line equivalent to the yarrow-stalk method. For example, because the chances of any yin line or any yang line are equal in the yarrow-stalk method, there is a one-in-eight chance of getting any basic trigram, the same chance held under the ba qian method, so the ba qian method can be used to determine the basic hexagram. The d8 can then be used by rolling it once for each line to determine moving lines. A result of 1 on a yin line, or 3 or less on a yang line, will make that line a moving line, preserving the yarrow-stalk method's outcomes.

Another dice method that produces the 1:7:3:5 ratio of the yarrow-stalk method is to add 1d4 + 1d8. All odd results are considered yin, with the result of 11 denoting an old yin. Any even results would be considered yang, with both 4 and 10 treated as old yang.

Two dice methods that not only produce the yarrow-stalk probabilities but also maintain the traditional even–odd associations of yin and yang are the 3d4 and 2d8 methods. In the 3d4 method, one rolls three four-sided dice and adds their outcomes, treating all odd totals as yang and all even totals as yin, with totals of 4, 7, and 12 indicating a moving line. The 2d8 method works analogously for two eight-sided dice, but here, any total over 10 (with the exception of 12) is considered moving.

Calendric cycles and astrology

There is a tradition of Taoist thought which explores numerology, esoteric cosmology, astrology and feng shui in connection with the I Ching.

The Han period (206 BCE-220 CE)… saw the combination and correlation of the I Ching, particularly in its structural aspects of line, trigrams, and hexagrams, with the yin-yang and wu hsing (Five Element) theories of the cosmologists, with numerical patterns and speculations, with military theory, and, rather more nebulously, with the interests of the fang-shih or "Masters of Techniques," who ranged over many areas, from practical medicine, through alchemy and astrology, to the occult and beyond.

Hacker, Moore and Patsco, "The I Ching in Time and Space", I Ching: an annotated bibliography, p. xiii

The eleventh-century Neo-Confucian philosopher Shao Yung contributed advanced methods of divination including the Plum Blossom Yi Numerology, a horary astrology [4] that takes into account the number of calligraphic brush strokes of one's query.[ citation needed ] Following the associations Carl Jung drew between astrology and I Ching with the introduction of his theory of synchronicity, the authors of modern Yi studies are much informed by the astrological paradigm. [5] Chu and Sherrill provide five astrological systems in An Anthology of I Ching [6] and in The Astrology of I Ching [7] develop a form of symbolic astrology that uses the eight trigrams in connection with the time of one's birth to generate an oracle from which further hexagrams and a daily line judgement are derived. [4] Another modern development incorporates the planetary positions of one's natal horoscope against the backdrop of Shao Yung's circular Fu Xi arrangement and the Western zodiac to provide multiple hexagrams corresponding to each of the planets. [4]

Wen Wang Gua method

This method goes back to Jing Fang (78–37 BC). While a hexagram is derived with one of the common methods like coin or yarrow stalks, here the divination is not interpreted on the basis of the classic I Ching text. Instead, this system connects each of the six hexagram lines to one of the Twelve Earthly Branches, and then the picture can be analyzed with the use of 5 Elements (Wu Xing). [8]

By bringing in the Chinese calendar, this method not only tries to determine what will happen, but also when it will happen. As such, Wen Wang Gua makes a bridge between I Ching and the Four Pillars of Destiny.

Software methods

The preceding ("concrete"/physical) methods can be simulated in ("abstract"/conceptual) software. This has the theoretical advantage of improving randomness aspects of consulting the I Ching ("not-doing" in the personal sense, enhancing the "universal" principle). For all methods, one must pre-focus/prepare the mind.

Here is a typical example for the "modified three-coin" method:

Python code for I Ching simulation
#!/usr/bin/env python3## iChing_Modified_3_coins.py##   see https://github.com/kwccoin/I-Ching-Modified-3-Coin-Method##   Create (two) I Ching hexagrams: present > future (might be same).## With both "3-coin method" and "modified 3-coin method" (see <nowiki>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ching_divination</nowiki>).## 3-coins Probabilities:#   old/changing/moving yin    "6 : == x ==" = 1/8#   (young/stable/static) yang "7 : =======" = 3/8#   (young/stable/static) yin  "8 : ==   ==" = 3/8#   old/changing/moving yang   "9 : == o ==" = 1/8## 3-coins Probabilities:#   old/changing/moving yin    "6 : === x ===" = 1/8#   (young/stable/static) yang "7 : =========" = 3/8#   (young/stable/static) yin  "8 : ===   ===" = 3/8#   old/changing/moving yang   "9 : ====o====" = 1/8## Modified 3-coins Probabilities:#   old/changing/moving yin    "6 : === x ===" = 1/8 * 1/2     = 1/16#   (young/stable/static) yang "7 : =========" = 3/8 - 1/8*1/2 = 5/16#   (young/stable/static) yin  "8 : ===   ===" = 3/8 - P[6]    = 7/16#   old/changing/moving yang   "9 : ====o====" = 1/8 - p[7]    = 3/16# see# https://aleadeum.com/2013/07/12/the-i-ching-random-numbers-and-why-you-are-doing-it-wrong/# especially see the remark why 1st round are 1/4-3/4 whilst 2nd and 3rd round are 1/2-1/2importrandomdeftoss(method:str="yarrow")->int:"""Toss."""rng=random.SystemRandom()# Auto-seeded, with os.urandom()special_coin=0val=0forflipinrange(3):# Three simulated coin flips i.e. coin 0, 1, 2val+=rng.randint(2,3)# tail=2, head=3 for each coinifflip==0:special_coin=val# Coin 0 as the special coinifmethod=="coin":# Coin method note tth or 223 is 7 or young yangreturnval# Probability of 6/7/8/9 is 1/8 3/8 3/8 1/8elifmethod=="modified 3 coins":# method similar to "yarrow-stick" need to have prob.# for 6/7/8/9 as 1/16  5/16  7/16  3/16# now coin method is# for 6/7/8/9 as 2/16  6/16  6/16  2/16# modified to change#               -1/16 -1/16 +1/16 + 1/16#                   6     7     8      9if(val==6)and(special_coin==2):special_coin=rng.randint(2,3)ifspecial_coin==2:val=6else:val=8elif(val==7)and(special_coin==3):special_coin=rng.randint(2,3)if(special_coin==3):val=7else:val=9returnval# probability of 6/7/8/9 is 1/16 5/16 7/16 3/16else:# yarrow-stick method as effectively default# start_sticks, sky-left, sky-reminder, human,  earth-right, earth-reminder, bin # value->   49         0             0      0             0            0      0# index->    0         1             2      3             4            5      6# on table:#               heaven# heaven-left   human    earth-right#               earth## sometimes use finger to hold abovedefprintys(ys,remark):# String format example: f"Result: {value:{width}.{precision}}"width=3print(f'[{ys[0]}, \t{ys[1]}, \t{ys[2]}, \t{ys[3]}, \t{ys[4]}, \t{ys[5]}, \t{ys[6]}] \t{remark}')returndefys_round(ys,round,debug="no"):ifdebug=="yes":print("Round is",round)ifdebug=="yes":print("===============")ifdebug=="yes":print(f'[{"src"}, \t{"sky"}, \t{"left"}, \t{"human"}, \t{"earth"}, \t{"right"}, \t{"bin"}] \t{"remark"}')# Generate a number somewhere in between 1/3 to 2/3 as human do not trick ifdebug=="yes":printys(ys,"Starting")ys[1]=rng.randint(ys[0]//3,ys[0]*2//3)ys[4]=ys[0]-ys[1]ys[0]=ys[0]-ys[1]-ys[4]ifdebug=="yes":printys(ys,"Separate into two")ys[3]=1ys[1]=ys[1]-ys[3]ifdebug=="yes":printys(ys,"and with one as human")ys[2]=ys[1]%4ifys[2]==0:ys[2]=4ys[1]=ys[1]-ys[2]ifdebug=="yes":printys(ys,"then 4 by 4 and sky behind ...")ys[5]=ys[4]%4ifys[5]==0:ys[5]=4ys[4]=ys[4]-ys[5]ifdebug=="yes":printys(ys,"then 4 by 4 and earth behind ...")ys[6]+=ys[2]+ys[3]+ys[5]ys[2]=0ys[3]=0ys[5]=0ys[0]=ys[1]+ys[4]ys[1]=0ys[4]=0ifdebug=="yes":printys(ys,"complete the cycle ...")returnysys=[0,0,0,0,0,0,0]# May be better use dictionaryys[0]=55# printys(ys, "The number of heaven and earth is 55")ys[0]=49# printys(ys, "only 49 is used")# Round 1 need to ensure mod 4 cannot return 0 and cannot have 0 # wiki said cannot have 1 as well not sure about thatys=ys_round(ys,1,"no")# "yes")ys=ys_round(ys,2,"no")# "yes")ys=ys_round(ys,3,"no")# "yes")returnys[0]//4# We build in bottom to topprint("Method is yarrow by default\n")toss_array=[0,0,0,0,0,0]forlineinrange(0,6,1):toss_array[line]=toss()print("Line is ",line+1,"; toss is ",toss_array[line],"\n")# Hence we print in reversedefprint_lines_in_reverse(toss_array):forlineinrange(5,-1,-1):val=toss_array[line]# The changing line/hexagram need another programifval==6:print('6  :  == x ==')# ||   ==   ==  >  -------')elifval==7:print('7  :  -------')# ||   -------  >  -------')elifval==8:print('8  :  ==   ==')# ||   ==   ==  >  ==   ==')elifval==9:print('9  :  -- o --')# ||   -------  >  ==   ==')print_lines_in_reverse(toss_array)print("\n\n")

With a modified three-coin method as default, this may avoid the Sung dynasty issue, i.e., when you have an easily available and simple method, you use it—but with a wrong probability! (Also, the first number starts from the bottom like a hexagram.)

A JavaScript version of the Yarrow Stalk method, which generates slightly different probabilities, is available in open source form at GitHub. [9]

Probability analysis of I Ching divination

Most analyses of the probabilities of either the coin method or yarrow-stalk method agree on the probabilities for each method. The coin method varies significantly from the yarrow-stalk method, in that the former gives the same probability to both of the moving lines and to both of the static lines, which is not the case in the yarrow-stalk method.

However, the calculation of the frequencies for the yarrow-stalk method—generally believed to be the same as those described in this article in the simplified method using sixteen objects—contains a further error, in the opinion of Andrew Kennedy, [10] which is that of including the selection of zero as a quantity for either hand. The yarrow-stalk procedure expressly requires that the four numbers be produced without using zero; Kennedy shows that by not allowing the user to select zero for either hand, or a single stalk for the right hand (this stalk is moved to the left hand before counting by fours, and so also leaves a zero in the right hand), the hexagram frequencies change significantly for a daily user of the oracle. Kennedy has modified the simplified method of using sixteen coloured objects described in this article as follows:

take 38 objects, of which

This arrangement produces Kennedy's calculated frequencies within 0.1%.

Related Research Articles

The gambler's fallacy, also known as the Monte Carlo fallacy or the fallacy of the maturity of chances, is the belief that, if an event has occurred less frequently than expected, it is more likely to happen again in the future. The fallacy is commonly associated with gambling, where it may be believed, for example, that the next dice roll is more than usually likely to be six because there have recently been fewer than the expected number of sixes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sample space</span> Set of all possible outcomes or results of a statistical trial or experiment

In probability theory, the sample space of an experiment or random trial is the set of all possible outcomes or results of that experiment. A sample space is usually denoted using set notation, and the possible ordered outcomes, or sample points, are listed as elements in the set. It is common to refer to a sample space by the labels S, Ω, or U. The elements of a sample space may be numbers, words, letters, or symbols. They can also be finite, countably infinite, or uncountably infinite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Probability space</span> Mathematical concept

In probability theory, a probability space or a probability triple is a mathematical construct that provides a formal model of a random process or "experiment". For example, one can define a probability space which models the throwing of a die.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yin and yang</span> Philosophical concept of dualistic-monism or dynamic-monism in ancient Chinese philosophy

Yin and yang, also yinyang or yin-yang, is a concept that originated in Chinese philosophy, describing an opposite but interconnected, self-perpetuating cycle. Yin and yang can be thought of as complementary and at the same time opposing forces that interact to form a dynamic system in which the whole is greater than the assembled parts and the parts are important for cohesion of the whole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geomancy</span> Method of divination that interprets markings on the ground

Geomancy translates literally to "earth divination," and the term was originally used to mean methods of divination that interpret geographic features, markings on the ground, or the patterns formed by soil, rocks, or sand. Its definition has expanded over time, to include any spiritual, metaphysical, or pseudoscientific practice that is related to the Earth. In recent times the term has been applied to a wide range of other occult and fringe activities, including Earth mysteries and the introduction of ley lines and Bau-Biologie.

<i>Baguazhang</i> Chinese martial art

Baguazhang is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being tai chi and xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice. Baguazhang literally means "eight trigram palm", referring to the bagua "trigrams" of the I Ching, one of the canons of Taoism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Binary code</span> Encoding for data, using 0s and 1s

A binary code represents text, computer processor instructions, or any other data using a two-symbol system. The two-symbol system used is often "0" and "1" from the binary number system. The binary code assigns a pattern of binary digits, also known as bits, to each character, instruction, etc. For example, a binary string of eight bits can represent any of 256 possible values and can, therefore, represent a wide variety of different items.

In probability theory, an event is said to happen almost surely if it happens with probability 1. In other words, the set of outcomes on which the event does not occur has probability 0, even though the set might not be empty. The concept is analogous to the concept of "almost everywhere" in measure theory. In probability experiments on a finite sample space with a non-zero probability for each outcome, there is no difference between almost surely and surely ; however, this distinction becomes important when the sample space is an infinite set, because an infinite set can have non-empty subsets of probability 0.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coin flipping</span> Practice of throwing a coin in the air to choose between two alternatives

Coin flipping, coin tossing, or heads or tails is the practice of throwing a coin in the air and checking which side is showing when it lands, in order to randomly choose between two alternatives. It is a form of sortition which inherently has two possible outcomes. The party who calls the side that is facing up when the coin lands wins.

The King Wen sequence is an arrangement of the sixty-four divination figures in the I Ching. They are called hexagrams in English because each figure is composed of six 爻 yáo—broken or unbroken lines, that represent yin or yang respectively.

Hexagram (<i>I Ching</i>) Six stacked horizontal lines used in Chinese divination

The I Ching book consists of 64 hexagrams. A hexagram in this context is a figure composed of six stacked horizontal lines, where each line is either Yang, or Yin. The hexagram lines are traditionally counted from the bottom up, so the lowest line is considered line one while the top line is line six. Hexagrams are formed by combining the original eight trigrams in different combinations. Each hexagram is accompanied with a description, often cryptic, akin to parables. Each line in every hexagram is also given a similar description.

<i>Bagua</i> Eight trigrams used in Taoist cosmology

The bagua (Chinese: 八卦; pinyin: bāguà; lit. 'eight trigrams') is a set of symbols from China intended to illustrate the nature of reality as being composed of mutually opposing forces reinforcing one another. Bagua is a group of trigrams—composed of three lines, each either "broken" or "unbroken", which represent yin and yang, respectively. Each line having two possible states allows for a total of 23 = 8 trigrams, whose early enumeration and characterization in China has had an effect on the history of Chinese philosophy and cosmology.

"Chapter 24" is a song by the English rock band Pink Floyd released on their 1967 album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. This song was one of several to be considered for the band's "best of" album, Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd. It was the second song recorded for the album.

Jiaoshi Yilin (Chinese: 焦氏易林; pinyin: Jiāo shì Yì lín; lit. 'Forest of Changes of the Jiao Clan' is a Chinese book of divination composed during the Western Han dynasty. Modeled on the I Ching, the work was attributed to Jiao Yanshou, courtesy name Jiao Gan焦贛, who came from Liang 梁 and was a tutor in the household of the Prince of Liang. He was a scholar and official, reaching the rank of district magistrate in Xiao Huang 小黃. He was a student of the great Yi Jing scholar Meng Xi 孟喜 and passed on the traditions of his school to Jing Fang 京房. However, some scholars suspect that the book was composed later, perhaps in the late Western Han, perhaps even somewhat later. I am inclined to agree with those who attribute the book to Cui Zhuan, a scholar and official who was active in the time of the Wang Mang interregnum. Many of the verses seem oriented to the use of traveling merchants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fair coin</span> Statistical concept

In probability theory and statistics, a sequence of independent Bernoulli trials with probability 1/2 of success on each trial is metaphorically called a fair coin. One for which the probability is not 1/2 is called a biased or unfair coin. In theoretical studies, the assumption that a coin is fair is often made by referring to an ideal coin.

The Taixuanjing is a divination guide composed by the Confucian writer Yang Xiong in the decade prior to the fall of the Western Han dynasty. The first draft of this work was completed in 2 BCE; during the Jin dynasty, an otherwise unknown person named Fan Wang (范望) salvaged the text and wrote a commentary on it, from which our text survives today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yin-style baguazhang</span>

Yin Style Baguazhang is a style of Baguazhang.

<span title="Chinese-language text"><i lang="zh">Taiyi shenshu</i></span> Form of Chinese divination

Taiyishenshu is a form of divination originating in China. It is one of the Three Styles of divination. The others are Da Liu Ren and Qi Men Dun Jia.

<i>I Ching</i> Ancient Chinese divination text

The I Ching or Yijing, usually translated Book of Changes or Classic of Changes, is an ancient Chinese divination text that is among the oldest of the Chinese classics. The I Ching was originally a divination manual in the Western Zhou period (1000–750 BC). Over the course of the Warring States and early imperial periods (500–200 BC), it transformed into a cosmological text with a series of philosophical commentaries known as the Ten Wings. After becoming part of the Chinese Five Classics in the 2nd century BC, the I Ching was the basis for divination practice for centuries across the Far East and was the subject of scholarly commentary. Between the 18th and 20th centuries, it took on an influential role in Western understanding of East Asian philosophical thought.

Wen Wang Gua is a method of interpreting the results of I Ching divination that was first described in writing by Jing Fang in Han dynasty China. It is based on correlating trigrams to the Celestial Stems and Earthly Branches of the Chinese calendar, and then using the stem and branch elements to interpret the lines of the trigrams and hexagrams of the I Ching. The method is popular in South East Asia. It is known by various names: refers to the fact that it interprets the meaning of six symbols; the Najia method, indicates its logic of elemental values derived from the Chinese calendar; Wu Xing Yi ; or Wen Wang Ke.

References

  1. "Consult the I Ching with Yarrow Stalks".
  2. "I Ching / Divination - Organic Design". www.organicdesign.co.nz. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  3. Sabazius. "Probability and the Yi Jing". The Invisible Basilica. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  4. 1 2 3 Hacker, E.A.; Moore, S.; Patsco, L. (2002). I Ching: an annotated bibliography. Routledge. p. 6,21,68,87–88,125,250. ISBN   978-0-415-93969-0.
  5. Grasse, R.; Houck, R.; Watson, B.; Erlewin, M.; Defouw, H.; Braha, J. (1997). Eastern Systems for Western Astrologers: An Anthology . S. Weiser. ISBN   978-1-57863-006-6. LCCN   97001457.
  6. Sherrill, W.A.; Chu, W. (1978). An Anthology of I Ching. Routledge & Kegan Paul. ISBN   978-0-7100-8590-0. LCCN   78303708.
  7. Chu, W.; Sherrill, W.A. (1993). The Astrology of I Ching. Penguin Group USA. ISBN   978-0-14-019439-5. LCCN   93234616.
  8. Wen Wang Gua Archived 2006-10-26 at the Wayback Machine , Joseph Yu
  9. Fitzgerald, Brian (2022-11-08), I-Ching , retrieved 2022-11-20
  10. Kennedy, Andrew, Briefing Leaders, Gravity Publishing, UK, 2006, ISBN   0-9544831-3-8
  11. Wickman, Forrest (May 20, 2013). "Last Night's Mad Men: The Vietnam Theory". Slate.
  12. "The Chinese I Ching Coins as Seen on 'Mad Men'". Educational Coin Company. May 20, 2013. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  13. COLLINS, SEAN T. (May 20, 2013). "The Ultimate Don Draper Pitch Is Don Draper: Seeing Mad Men Through Its Ads". Wired.
  14. "Sheila Heti, In Conversation with Herself". artreview.com. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
  15. Schwartz, Alexandra (2018-04-30). "Sheila Heti Wrestles with a Big Decision in "Motherhood"". The New Yorker. ISSN   0028-792X . Retrieved 2024-02-07.