Photo: Sacred Square
I Ching is a cleromancy divination method, just like rune casting is another, but unique in itself as it is a complex method of sequential casting meant to create a combination of binary codes (the I Ching Lines) resulting in a Hexagram leading us to a prediction in the Book of Changes - the oldest known Chinese canonical manuscript, dating from 10th-4th centuries BC (the exact time of its creation is yet unknown). The Book of Changes is a major reference for Taoism, Confucianism and Yin/Yang cosmology. Each Hexagram corresponds to a cryptic, enigmatic text and its interpretation, applied to the specifics of the question, is a skill in itself, intuition playing a large part in how we apply the prediction, advice and wisdom to a modern context. The Lines with my method are generally a little story of how the query evolves (past/present/future depending on the context) and the Hexagram itself is the answer/outcome.
I use original Chinese I Ching coins to cast the Hexagrams manually and a method of casting 1-2 Hexagrams in order to get a comprehensive view of the possible evolution of each question.
I use original Chinese I Ching coins to cast the Hexagrams manually and a method of casting 1-2 Hexagrams in order to get a comprehensive view of the possible evolution of each question.
Below you can see an example of the original text format in the Book of Changes for Hexagram Pi (8).
8. Pi / Holding Together (Union)
Above K'AN
THE ABYSMAL, WATER
Below K'UN
THE RECEPTIVE, EARTH
THE JUDGMENT
HOLDING TOGETHER brings good fortune.
Inquire of the oracle once again
Whether you possess sublimity, constancy, and perseverance;
Then there is no blame.
Those who are uncertain gradually join.
Whoever come too late
Meets with misfortune.
THE IMAGE
On the earth is water:
The image of HOLDING TOGETHER.
Thus the kings of antiquity
Bestowed the different states as fiefs
And cultivated friendly relations
With the feudal lords.
THE LINES
Six at the beginning means:
Hold to him in truth and loyalty;
This is without blame.
Truth, like a full earthen bowl"
Thus in the end
Good fortune comes from without.
Six in the second place means:
Hold to him inwardly.
Perseverance brings good fortune.
Six in the third place means:
You hold together with the wrong people.
Six in the fourth place means:
Hold to him outwardly also.
Perseverance brings good fortune.
Nine in the fifth place means:
Manifestation of holding together.
In the hunt the king uses beaters on three sides only
And forgoes game that runs off in front.
The citizens need no warning.
Good fortune.
Six at the top means:
He finds no head for holding together.
Misfortune.
THE ABYSMAL, WATER
Below K'UN
THE RECEPTIVE, EARTH
THE JUDGMENT
HOLDING TOGETHER brings good fortune.
Inquire of the oracle once again
Whether you possess sublimity, constancy, and perseverance;
Then there is no blame.
Those who are uncertain gradually join.
Whoever come too late
Meets with misfortune.
THE IMAGE
On the earth is water:
The image of HOLDING TOGETHER.
Thus the kings of antiquity
Bestowed the different states as fiefs
And cultivated friendly relations
With the feudal lords.
THE LINES
Six at the beginning means:
Hold to him in truth and loyalty;
This is without blame.
Truth, like a full earthen bowl"
Thus in the end
Good fortune comes from without.
Six in the second place means:
Hold to him inwardly.
Perseverance brings good fortune.
Six in the third place means:
You hold together with the wrong people.
Six in the fourth place means:
Hold to him outwardly also.
Perseverance brings good fortune.
Nine in the fifth place means:
Manifestation of holding together.
In the hunt the king uses beaters on three sides only
And forgoes game that runs off in front.
The citizens need no warning.
Good fortune.
Six at the top means:
He finds no head for holding together.
Misfortune.
Photo: Book of Changes on silk
I CHING HEXAGRAMS
- 1 Ch’ien 乾 The Creative
- 2 K’un 坤 The Receptive
- 3 Chun 屯 Difficulty at the Beginning
- 4 Mêng 蒙 Youthful Folly
- 5 Hsü 需 Waiting (Nourishment)
- 6 Sung 訟 Conflict
- 7 Shih 師 The Army
- 8 Pi 比 Holding Together [Union]
- 9 Hsiao Ch’u 小畜 The Taming Power of the Small
- 10 Lü 履 Treading [Conduct]
- 11 T’ai 泰 Peace
- 12 P’i 否 Standstill [Stagnation]
- 13 T’ung Jên 同人 Fellowship with Men
- 14 Ta Yu 大有 Possession in Great Measure
- 15 Ch’ien 謙 Modesty
- 16 Yü 豫 Enthusiasm
- 17 Sui 隨 Following
- 18 Ku 蠱 Work on what has been spoiled [Decay]
- 19 Lin 臨 Approach
- 20 Kuan 觀 Contemplation (View)
- 21 Shih Ho 噬嗑 Biting Through
- 22 Pi 賁 Grace
- 23 Po 剝 Splitting Apart
- 24 Fu 復 Return (The Turning Point)
- 25 Wu Wang 無妄 Innocence (The Unexpected)
- 26 Ta Ch’u 大畜 The Taming Power of the Great
- 27 I 頤 Corners of the Mouth (Providing Nourishment)
- 28 Ta Kuo 大過 Preponderance of the Great
- 29 K’an 坎 The Abysmal (Water)
- 30 Li 離 The Clinging, Fire
- 31 Hsien 咸 Influence (Wooing)
- 32 Hêng 恆 Duration
- 33 Tun 遯 Retreat
- 34 Ta Chuang 大壯 The Power of the Great
- 35 Chin 晉 Progress
- 36 Ming I 明夷 Darkening of the light
- 37 Chia Jên 家人 The Family [The Clan]
- 38 K’uei 睽 Opposition
- 39 Chien 蹇 Obstruction
- 40 Hsieh 解 Deliverance
- 41 Sun 損 Decrease
- 42 I 益 Increase
- 43 Kuai 夬 Break-through (Resoluteness)
- 44 Kou 姤 Coming to Meet
- 45 Ts’ui 萃 Gathering Together [Massing]
- 46 Shêng 升 Pushing Upward
- 47 K’un 困 Oppression (Exhaustion)
- 48 Ching 井 The Well
- 49 Ko 革 Revolution (Molting)
- 50 Ting 鼎 The Caldron
- 51 Chên 震 The Arousing (Shock, Thunder)
- 52 Kên 艮 Keeping Still, Mountain
- 53 Chien 漸 Development (Gradual Progress)
- 54 Kuei Mei 歸妹 The Marrying Maiden
- 55 Fêng 豐 Abundance [Fullness]
- 56 Lü 旅 The Wanderer
- 57 Sun 巽 The Gentle (The Penetrating, Wind)
- 58 Tui 兌 The Joyous, Lake
- 59 Huan 渙 Dispersion [Dissolution]
- 60 Chieh 節 Limitation
- 61 Chung Fu 中孚 Inner Truth
- 62 Hsiao Kuo 小過 Preponderance of the Small
- 63 Chi Chi 既濟 After Completion
- 64 Wei Chi 未濟 Before Completion