What is I-ching (Book of Changes)?
I-ching or the Book of Changes is an ancient divination
book aiming at the use of Chinese emperors and princes.
It consists of 64 short essays on the lineal figures named hexagrams.
Each hexagram is made of six yin and/or yang lines as shown below:
__ __
__ __
_____ Hexagram 54 - Kuei Mei
/ The Marrying Maiden
__ __
_____
_____
The yin is represented by a
broken line__ __ and the yang as a continuous _____ one.
Each hexagram has a name (tag).
Each name points
to a specific life situation, human attitude or object.
Each hexagram is assigned a so-called Judgment in the form of a short statement
sometime followed by an advice.
The statement refers to the future and is related to the consulter question. The
advice instruct the consulter on how to act in order to avoid a danger or attain
his/her goal.
Methods of divination
One may consult the I-ching oracle by casting coins or yarrows or even online
through this device (see the instruction on the left).
Online Resources:
- James Legge version of I-ching - https://baharna.com/iching/legge/
- Richard Wilhelm version of I-ching -
https://www.labirintoermetico.com/09IChing/Wilhelm_R_The_I_Ching_or_Book_of_Changes_(abriged).pdf
- Carl Jung's introduction to the Wilhelm/Baynes version (PDF) -
https://bitly.cx/ScYw1
Explains the content of I-ching book, the consultation methods, and gave an example of
interpretation of the answer.
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Special thanks to Dan Enright for this great script!