I Ching Notes

Wu chi is the unmanifest, the original state of all things. Then comes tai
chi, the first manifestation, but it is as yet undifferentiated. Finally,
yang and yin separate, and from them come all permutations of the opposites
that creates the world we know.

_ _ ___ ___ _ _
_ _ _ _ ___ ___
Greater Yin Lesser Yang Greater Yang Lesser Yin
New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter
Winter Spring Summer Fall
North East South West
Old age Birth Youth Maturity
Midnight Morning Noon Evening

With Yin and Yang we have two, and the addition of a third line symbolizes
creation, particularly the creation of humanity by heaven and earth.

___
___
___
Heaven (Qian, Chien), father, creative, active, 6, south or northwest,
approach of winter, time - 7-10pm, element - metal, tiger, horse, lion,
sages, old men, husbands, presidents, chairmen of boards, dictators, military
commanders, kings, prime ministers, government service, industrial machinery,
sports equipment, lawyers, jeweler, salesman, priest, teacher, skull, head,
mind, pineal gland, temples, shrines, churches, convention halls, stadiums,
arenas, encampments, fortifications, racetracks, schools, universities,
congress, parliament, offices, mountain retreats, clear crisp and cold
weather, high pressure areas, broken bones, heart attacks, migraines, lung
ailments, swellings, fresh fruits, soy, natural teas, raw veggies (other than
green), rye, oats, chrysanthemums, fruit trees, herbs, fruit tree blossoms,
cars, planes, gems and jewelry, bikes, watches, clocks, stamps, insignia,
protective devices, round items, room - study, eventual oneness with
universal brotherhood, sagacity, wealth, nobility, high status, courage,
boldness, daring, happiness, contentment, charity, leadership, fulness,
dynamic, strong, tough, forgiving, roundness, day, golden white, a circle,
ruler, jade, metal, cold, ice, deep red, serious, bone, large city, resort,
sky-scraper,cogwheel, machine, huge.

_ _
___
___
Lake (Dui, Tui), youngest daughter, joyousness, pleasure, satisfaction, 7,
southwest or west, time 5-7pm, element - metal, autumn, sheep, birds,
simians, deer, elk, women under 16, immature people, incompetent people,
prostitutes, public relations, entertainment industry, banker, taverns,
waitress, singer, dentist, mouth, tongue, speech organs, valleys, marshes,
restaurants, liquor stores, bars, low-lying land, rain, fog, smog, chest and
breast difficulties, pelvic disorders, hip joint disorders, skull injuries,
coffee, wine, mutton, fish, honey, magnolias, gardenias, lake plants,
mangrove trees, ginger, hot spice plants, non-wind musical instruments,
articles that give pleasure, playroom, recognition of spirituality and the
joy of giving, red, sea-going activities, musical arts, gentleness, lawsuits,
expressed sexual desire, laughter, openness, arguments, setbacks or failures,
damage, hardware stores, a bill, sword, kitchen, concubine.

___
_ _
___
Fire (Li), middle daughter, the sun, brightness, beauty, clarity, 9, east or
south, time - 11am-1pm, element - fire, summer, pheasant, goldfish, crab,
shrimp, oyster, turtle, women 15-20, beauties, wise and intellegent people,
beneficent people, public servants, fundamentalists, writer, artist, artisan,
optometrist, war correspondant, armorer, book dealers, beautician, publisher,
teacher, diplomat, eyes, blood system and heart, lighthouses, airway beacons,
schools, theaters, libraries, churches, beauty salon, court houses, scenes of
fire, department stores, city streets at night, clear warm and dry weather,
mental illnesses, brain tumors, heart ailments, blood disorders, high fevers,
eye diseases, dried foods, shellfish, colorfully prepared foods, peanuts,
maples, watermelons, red peppers, tomatoes, books, paintings, calligraphy,
ornaments and decorations, lights, pots, kettles, checks, stocks and bonds,
silent weapons, arrows, armor and helmet, spear and sword, gun, protective
devices, patio, porch, being a light for self and others, intelligence,
magnifiscence, sound judgement, midday, impulses, acridity, electricity,
medical practice, newspapers, magazines, bookstores, clinging, dependent, TV,
camera, operation, sun, lightning, a large belly.

_ _
_ _
___
Thunder (Zhen, Chen), eldest son, arousing, movement, danger, 3, northeast or
east, time 5-7am, element - wood, spring, eagle, dragon, swallow, cicadas,
men 23-40, princes, famous people, innovators, construction, inventors,
television industry, announcer, operator, munitions industry, technician,
engineer, musician, sportsman, vocal system, feet, liver, communication,
telephone, broadcasting, tv and radio stations, lecture halls, auditoriums,
power stations, forests, remodelled buildings, weather clear and mild,
thunderstorms, hurricans, typhoons, nervious system disorders, ulcers,
tumors, hysteria, phobias, liver diseases, foot ailments, green veggies,
citrus, bamboo shoots, plums and prunes, peaches, evergreens, bamboo,
sprouting plants, blossoming trees and plants, noise making objects, rockets,
guns, fireworks, musical instruments, records, telephones, bells, living
room, external and internal growth, freshness, greenness, newness, uplifting
lectures, determination, renewal, birth, sunrise, flight, surprise,
energetic, business, industry, manufacturing, engineering, blue, sand stone,
great highway.

___
___
_ _
Wind (Xun, Sun), eldest daughter, penetration, gentle, 4, southeast or
southwest, time 7-11am, element - wood, cock, chicken, crane, snake,
earthworm, unicorn, women 21-40, businessmen, travellers, thinkers,
meditators, removals industry, shipping, building, furniture construction,
advertising, communications industry, travel agent, guide, teacher, postman,
salesman, thigh, leg, nervous system, breathing system, forest glades,
libraries, studies, research centers, windstorms usually with clouds,
tornados, colds, hyperactivity, intestinal upsets, spine trouble, pasta,
onions, leeks, garlic, cauliflowers, grass, poppies, lilies, fans, vacuums,
ropes, wire, string, thread, lumber, cabinets, drawers, posted items,
railways, pencils, air conditioners, electric fan, hallway, reflextion,
concentration, credit, intellectual activities, neatness, submissive,
statesmanship, mid-morning, care, faraway places, esoteric subjects,
relaxation, hypnotism, aviation, psychology, supermarkets, white, long,
lofty, advancing and receding, deficiency of hair, wide forehead, airport,
harbor, travel.

_ _
___
_ _
Water (Kan), middle son, river, moon, a pit, danger, entrap, 1, west or
south, time - 10pm - 1am, element - water, winter, pig, rat, fox, bat, men
aged 16-22, troublemakers, evil doers, sick persons, troubled, strong sex
drive, promiscuous, the dead, printing and dyeing, fishing industry,
chemist, massage therapists, fishermen, prostitutes, philosopher, writer,
ears, sex organs, kidneys and urinary system, wells, convalescent homes,
waterworks, hospitals, funeral parlors, brothels, waterfalls, hot springs,
bars, liquor stores, heavy rains, floods, cold weather, darkness, kidney
ailments, earache, venereal disease, hemorrhoids, abnormal menses,
meloncholy, neurasthenia, liquor, beer, salt, soy sauce, soft drinks,
seaweed, raw fish, dairy, saltwater fish, reeds, lotuses, lilies, swamp
plants, algae, paints, varnishes, coal tar, petrol, oils, inks, waistbands,
generic medicine, bathroom, baptism, cleansing, confined activity, narrow
limits, hidden crimes, robberies, close interpersonal conflicts, worries,
passion, perserverance, cunning, midnight, canyons, gorges, channels,
ditches, dishwashers, washing machines, azure, inland water activites,
refridgerators, roads, bow, wheel, increase of anxiety, distress of mind,
red, moon, thief, boatman, waterfall, restroom, bar, gas, tryst, sleep, pen.

___
_ _
_ _
Mountain (Gen, Ken), youngest son, keeping still, stagnation, 8, northeast or
northwest, time 1-5am, approach of spring, element - earth, dog, bull, ox,
leopard, rat, mouse, men under 16, hunchbacks, sincere people, lazy people,
prisoners, convicts, faithful people, monk, taoist practitioner, priest,
minister, clergy, hands, back, hotels, motels, apartment buildings, walls,
graves, gates, paths, castles, palaces, cloudiness that is clearing, nasal
difficulties, arthritis, fatigue, muscular difficulties, leg disorders,
constipation, preserved foods, beef, avocados, mushrooms, cooked cereals, nut
trees, fruits, mangoes, non-moving items, tables, warehouses, screens,
storage bins, beds, bedroom, inner perception and introspection, tardiness,
stubbornness, candor, savings, frugality, stability, stoping, caution,
independence, a by-path, small rock, gateway, porter, family, warehouse,
second floor, bridge.

_ _
_ _
_ _
Earth (Kun), mother, receptive, passive, 2, north or northwest, approach of
autumn, time 1-5pm, element - earth, cow, mare, ant, old ladies, wise women,
the masses, groups, congregations, unions, general services, obstetrician,
hospital doctor, antique/curio dealer, nurse, gardener, abdomen, stomach,
spleen, doctor's office, fields, farms, empty land, uncultivated areas,
ghettos, bottom of the sea, mobs, weather - cloudy, low pressure areas, skin
diseases, blood diseases, goiters, tongue and throat ailments, digestive
ailments, congestion, yams, taro, sweet potatoes, natural cereals, wheat,
rice, desserts, sugar, snacks, powdered and ground food, hors d'oeuvres,
peanuts, potatoes, bulb flowers, square items, clothing, cloth, cotton,
mattresses, cushions, pillows, sheets, suitcases, kitchen, philanthropy, true
and impartial rendering of service, reverence, perserverance, caution,
thrift, modesty, adaptive, yielding, humility, tranquility, obedience,
respect, yellow, sweet, night, stinginess, frugality, cauldron, large wagon,
multitude, handle or support, black soil, old woman, farmer, village,
antiques.

The progeny are determined and designated by the concepts that 'one rules
many' and that 'changes enter from the bottom'. The sons, therefore, are
those trigrams with one yang and two yin, the one with the solid line at the
bottom being the eldest son, while the one with the single yang line in the
middle is the middle son, and the trigram with the single yang line at the
top is the youngest son.

Fu Hsi's Hsien Tien arrangement The Hu Tien arrangement

South S
_ _ ___ ___ ___ ___ _ _
___ ___ ___ ___ _ _ _ _
___ ___ _ _ _ _ ___ _ _
Tui Chien Sun Sun Li Kun
___ _ _ _ _ _ _
E _ _ ___ _ _ ___ W
___ _ _ ___ ___
Li Kan Chen Tui
___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ ___
_ _ _ _ ___ ___ _ _ ___
Ken Kun Chen Ken Kan Chien
North N

Bathe, fast, light incense and a candle. Pray in this way, ""Heaven is
silent and nature goes its hidden ways without words. Yet I believe this side
of nature can be felt, and I believe that when I ask sincerely, heaven will
communicate a reply to me. In this matter I am considering, I do not know
what actions will bring good fortune or ill fortune. I do not see my way and
I ask for guidance and clarity." Wave your divining tools in the incense
smoke.

When one wishes to obtain an oracle the first step is to formulate one's
question clearly, concisely and in the present tense. Otherwise, phrase the
question with a definite time, i.e.this weekend? this year? etc. The phrasing
should be terse yet using active verbs. Questions phrased positively also
seem to get clearer responses than those with a negative aspect. It should
not be an either/or question. If need be, break the question into two parts
and ask each seperately. Be specific.

There are three basic kinds of questions (what is your advice about...):

1. Whether to initiate or refrain from a proposed action (what to do).

2. How a cerain situation will develop (what will happen).
3. How to judge a particular action or relationship. (what a situation is
like).

The coins used for consulting the I Ching should be preserved and used for
that purpose only. Wash and polish whichever coins you decide to use. The
coins are placed in a cylindrical container with a tightly fitting cover. Its
size is three to four inches in diameter and four to six inches high. To
read, shake the container and pour out the coins. Ask your question mentally
before each of the six times you toss the coins to obtain a hexagram. Heads
is yang with a value of 3, and tails is yin with a value of 2. If you use
Chinese coins, the side with four characters is yang, and the side with two
characters is yin.

Three tails (0 heads) = 6 - (old) moving yin

Two tails, one head (1 head) = 7 - (young) unmoving yang
Two head, one tail (2 heads) = 8 - (young) unmoving yin
Three heads (3 heads) = 9 - (old) moving yang
The six coin method produces only one moving line. Five of the coins should
be the same, and one should be of a different type. Toss the coins to the
east, and the lowest coin is the first line, and so on. If two coins are
equidistant, the coin on the left is the lower line.

Another method is to use sixteen objects of the same size, and gives the same
probability of outcome as the yarrow stalk method. Each one is painted a
different color, seven of color A (young yin), five of color B (young yang),
three of color C (old yang), and one of color D (old yin). Put the objects
in a bag, shake while thinking of your question, draw out one object, record
it, and place it back in the bag.

If you already know the situation you're facing, you can look up a hexagram
that is closest to that situation for some advice. You might also wish to
read the text for the ruling line to get the hexagram's basic theme. If you
want to change the situation in a certain way, select an appropriate
resultant hexagram, and consult the changing lines that would take you to
that hexagram. But a random consultation will open you to possibilities and
perspectives that you may not have thought of, so bear that in mind.

The construction of a trigram or a hexagram is from the bottom upwards. A

Yang moving line represents the present or past situation with regard to the
question asked, while a yin moving line represents the future, as it relates
to the meanings given for a particular line. A moving Yang converts into a
Yin and this is considered retrogression, whereas a moving Yin converts
itself into a Yang and is considered progression. The second hexagram can
signify the future or a deeper background situation, or how you relate to the
situation. The strange and oracular images in the text stimulate thinking
based on your personal history and experiences. If the result is not a good
one, it may be showing you some conflict or hidden idea in yourself that
needs to be brought out into the open. Sometimes the answer you receive will
not seem germane to the question. It may be relevant to some other issue
that has been in the back of your mind. It's as if the book is saying, "you
were asking me about X, but what you really want to know about is Y."

If one does not like a present situation or circumstance one can select a
hexagram representing what one would like the situation to be and then look
up the action that needs to be taken to attain the new situation. Suppose,
for example, that the present situation is one of conflict and one would like
to have peace instead. Conflict is Hexagram 6 and Peace is Hexagram 11. What
then is needed to change Hexagram 6 into Hexagram 11? A glance at the
hexagrams shows that the lines which need to change into their opposites are
1, 3, 4, 5 and 6. One would then read Hexagram 6 and the action required for
the moving lines in order to determine the course to pursue for the situation
to become one of peace.

If the hexagram and the moving line(s) seem to contradict, then the moving
line(s) take precedence.
If there are no moving lines, and you need more clarification, you can read
the hexagram's ruling line, which usually states the basic theme. If there
are many moving lines, you can interpret the line statements as describing
successive situations that occur one after the other.

Another solution from Huang:

1. If there are two moving lines, one yin and one yang, consult the yin line.
2. If both moving lines are the same, consult the lower one.
3. If there are three moving lines, consult the middle one.
4. If there are four moving lines, consult the upper of the two non-moving
lines.
5. If there are five moving lines, consult the non-moving line.
6. If there are six moving lines (when it's not hexagrams 1 and 2), consult
the hexagram created from the changes.
7. In the case of hexagrams 1 and 2, consult the special seventh line for
when all lines are changing.

The traditional advice:

One Moving Line: Make the judgment and final evaluation on the text of the
one moving line.

Two Moving Lines: Consider the text of both moving lines and give the upper
line more weight in the evaluation than the lower.

Three Moving Lines: Consider the text of all the moving lines and give the
greatest weight to the text of the middle moving line.

Four Moving Lines: Read all the lines and give greatest weight to the meaning
of the two unmoving lines as they are described in the future hexagram.
Emphasize the meaning of the lower non-moving line as it is found in the
future hexagram.

Five Moving Lines: Read all the lines and give greatest weight to the meaning
of the single non-moving line as it is described in the future hexagram.

Six Moving Lines: Read everything but make the evaluation on the basis of the
final outcome (future) hexagram (except for hexagrams 1 and 2, which have
special seventh lines).

The inner (upper) trigram generally relates to self or the particular

question or situation under consideration, whereas the outer (lower) one
relates to external conditions and external effects. Where the moving line
lies determines where there is change, in oneself or in others. For Tai Chi,
the inner trigram represents one's state of mind and the outer one the
condition of one's body. For meditation, the hexagrams indicate how the chi
flows in the body during meditation.
Hexagram 40, Deliverance
Upper trigram: Thunder, movement,
Lower trigram: Water, rain, danger
Movement, tends to rise, while rain falls and water flows downhill. So we
have movement away from danger, hence deliverance. Also, after a thunderstorm
and rain the air has been cleared and is refreshed and the earlier tension in
the atmosphere has been released. These then are the factors which give the
hexagram its name of 'Deliverance'.

The lines in the trigrams:

6 = heaven, spiritual
5 = man, mental/emotional
4 = earth, physical
3 = heaven, spiritual
2 = man, mental/emotional
1 = earth, physical

The lines in the hexagrams:

6 heaven - outside the situation, old age and death, the top of the head,
ears, or horns, wisdom and egoless contemplation.
5 heaven - ruler or husband, maturity and culmination, the back of the head
or neck, nose, and mouth, authority and rulership.
4 man - minister, middle age, career, creation of a family, the back or
torso, social consciousness and altruism.
3 man - transitional state, adolescence, the thigh, waist, or groin,
ambition, striving, individual endeavor.
2 earth - wife or follower, childhood, calves and ankles, rational self-
interest.
1 earth - seeds of the change of the situation, birth and infancy, the foot,
big toe, or tail, instinct and emotion.

For example:
_ _ Two Yin, so heaven's consideration is to be receptive to guidance.
_ _

___Here a Yang is leading a Yin, the positive is leading the negative, in

keeping with natural law.
_ _

___Same interpretation as for 4/3 above. Here the positive in nature (earth)
is leading the negative,
_ _which is also in keeping with natural law.

The first line of the lower trigram in a hexagram represents the beginning of
something, or the earliest stages of development. It may also represent
someone who is still outside the situation and has not yet entered it.
Socially, it refers to the masses, or lowest rank in an organization or
group. It is also associated with the feet, big toe, or the tail.
The second line is usually considered auspicious. It represents the ordinary
person, slightly higher in the social hierarchy, also the scholar,
technician, scientist, or skilled worker. Another association is with women,
wives, and the home.

The third line in a lower trigram symbolizes the transition from the lower to
the upper trigram. Socially, it represents the official.bureaucrat,
politician, or administrator, someone who is trying to move from the rank of
ordinary citizen into the higher ranks. It therefore signifies unhappiness
or discontent with one's situation. It also symbolizes dangers and
difficulties with trying to attain a higher place. It is not auspicious, and
refers to people who try to do something for which they are not adequately
prepared or suited, or people who have difficulties dealing with change.

Socially, the fourth line represents entry into government or high position,
the high ranking officer, cabinet minister, or presidential advisor. It is
more auspicious than line three. It is the person who works closely with the
ruler who is symbolized by line five. Unlike line two which is distant from
the center of power (line five), the minister directly supports the ruler.
The appropriate role is to subordinate one's interests to those of the
leader.

Line five is usually the most auspicious line in a hexagram, and often states
the hexagram's basic theme. It represents the culmination of an endeavor, or
the moment of fruition. It is the king, president, prime minister, or
leader.

Line six represents the time after culmination, when the situation described
by the hexagram is ending, or when a person has gone beyond the situation or
is outside of it. Socially, it represents the sage, the virtuous hermit, or
the person who has traveled beyond the ordinary conventions of society, or a
person of talent who has cultivated and realized their talent to the most
advanced degree. It is very important to note that the top rank of human
value is not the king or the person in power. It goes to the person who uses
talents to good effect in life and culture. This is because a person can
become "king" by fortune or birth, even if lacking merit as a person. It may
also represent a person who has gone too far or reached too high, who has
failed to recognize that times have changed, or who has failed to act when
the moment was right. It sometimes represents a transition into the theme of
the next hexagram.

The ordering of line by auspicious to least auspicious is five, two, four,

one, six, and three.

The lines are said to be auspicious and in their rightful position when they
are:
_ _
___
_ _
___
_ _
___
The odd number positions are Yang, positive, strong, whereas the even numbers
are Yin, negative, gentle. For the moving lines, the following table applies:

( -) X (+) = (-) lines disagree

( -) X (-) = (+) lines agree
( +) X (+) = (+) lines agree
( +) X (-) = (-) lines disagree

Now to determine the position of the governing ruler of the hexagram.

Basically, if a trigram or hexagram has a single Yin or Yang line, then that
single line determines the nature and position of the governing ruler of the
trigram or hexagram. A single Yang line in a trigram determines that it was a
son and the position of the Yang line determines whether it is the eldest,
middle or youngest son. Similarly, a single Yin and its position determined
the eldest, middle and youngest daughters. The normal position for the ruler
is line 5. However, if there is only one Yang line or one Yin line in a
hexagram it usually is the ruler, as in the trigrams. The principle is that
one and only one can rule many. In cases where the upper and lower trigrams
are equal, as in Hexagram 51, the ruler is the single line in the upper
trigram (in this case the Yang line in the fourth place). It is to be noted
that there is only one case in all the sixty-four hexagrams where a line in
the third position is assigned as the ruler, and that is Hexagram15,
Modesty . The third position is generally considered as unstable, transient,
wavering, and hence unfavourable. It is the third line which when moving in a
rising and declining cycle, is about to enter the upper trigram and as such
the first consideration given is that it is a source of trouble until it
proves itself to be favourable, as in Hexagram 15, where it exemplifies
modesty.

Now we determine whether the lines of the inner and outer trigrams agree or
disagree, correspond or fail to correspond. This is done by matching lines 1
to 4, 2 to 5, and 3 to 6, the upper trigram being considered as leading the
lower. If 1 is yin and 4 is yang,1 and 4 agree since a Yang is leading a Yin,
the positive leading the negative. Lines 2 is yang, and 5 is yin, and are
opposites, so they can get along but not as favourably as when the Yang leads
the Yin. Lines 3 and 6 are both yin, alike, so difficulties between them as
nonmoving lines are apt to arise.

For Hexagram 40 to be derived from Hexagram 46 means that the Yang line in
the third place in Hexagram 46 has to move up into the outer trigram K'un to
become the Yang line in the fourth place of Hexagram 40. K'un means a lot of
people or the general public. Its position in the Later Heaven sequence is in
the south-west. Therefore, the Judgment of the hexagram says there is good
fortune in going to the south (line 3 in Hexagram 46 moving into the K'un
trigram) and that this is beneficial to the public. It can be interpreted as
meaning either that by going to the south there will be good fortune, or that
when the majority or public need help there will be good fortune in going to
their aid.

The inner hexagram is that hexagram made up of the two nuclear trigrams
(lines 2, 3 and 4; and lines 3, 4 and 5). For example, where lines 3, 4 and 5
= Li and are symbolized by fire and sun, and lines 2, 3 and 4 form trigram
K'an, symbolizing water, danger and field. The inner hexagram plays a part in
the overall view of a given situation. Here we have 'three foxes in a field',
the three lines of the Li trigram being the foxes who, mixing with lines 3, 4
and 5 show them to be in the field formed by the latter trigram. We read the
following for Hexagram 40 line 2: 'Nine in the second place means: One kills
three foxes in the field and receives a yellow arrow. Perseverance brings
good fortune.' So if line 2 is a moving line, then when such movement takes
place the Li trigram is destroyed. This course is meritorious, eradicating
the three foxes, so a reward of a yellow arrow is ascribed. In other words,
one receives an appropriate reward for eliminating troublesome conditions.

This next consideration relates to individual lines and what type of line
they are resting on. Except for the bottom line of each hexagram, all lines
are 'resting' on another line which is either Yin or Yang. Since Yang lines
are strong, active and creative, they are difficult to ride on, whereas Yin
lines are gentle and receptive. Yang lines also have a tendency to rise,
which makes them additionally difficult. So depending on their own strength,
a line has more or less difficulty in its position by virtue
of the strength and type of line under it.

The last consideration is, in a sense, the reverse of the above, yet
different. Here the line has comfort or difficulty depending on whether a
gentle Yin line or a strong Yang line is on top of it.

Considerations for the lines:

(a) Is it in its right place?
(b) Does it agree with the corresponding line of the other trigram?
(c) Is it favourable or unfavourable as a part of heaven (lines 5 and 6), man
(lines 3 and 4) or earth (lines 1 and z)?
(d) What type of line is it riding on?
(e) What type of line is on top of it?
(f) Is it a Yang or Yin line?
(g) Is it a fixed or moving line?
(h) What is its favourable or unfavourable action as a moving line?
(i) Which line is the ruler of the trigram or hexagram?

Considerating the trigrams:

(a) What is the symbolism of the trigram?
(b) What is the sex of the trigram?
(c) What is the nature of the trigram?
(d) What is its relation to the other trigram of the hexagram?
(e) Is it a male trigram leading a female trigram, or viceversa?
(f) What is its direction of movement?
(g) What is the position of any moving line(s) in the trigram?
(h) What trigram does it change into, or does it remain the same?
(i) What is its position in the Later Heaven sequence?

Considering the hexagrams:

(a) All the considerations that were applied to the trigrams.
(b) The interaction of the symbolism of the trigrams.
(c) The interaction of the directional position of each trigram.
(d) The same considerations for the nuclear trigrams within the inner
hexagram (lines 2, 3 and 4; plus lines 3, 4 and 5)
(e) What effect does the inner hexagram have on the external hexagram?
(f) What other points of view regarding the situation or question, apply? In
particular, what is said by:
(i) the opposite hexagram (change every line to its opposite)?
(ii) the reverse hexagram (turn the hexagram upsidedown)?
(iii) the inner hexagram?
(iv) the reverse inner hexagram?
(g) What are the courses of action which augur good fortune and success?
(h) What actions or courses should be avoided?
(i) What is the proper timing?
0) Is the proposed action in keeping with the Supreme Will?

Plum Flower Mind I Ching

The first method uses the date and time to derive a hexagram. Divide the
year by 12 (or the number 12 if there is no remainder), and add the number of
the remainder to the number of the month and the day, divide the sum of these
three numbers by 8, and the number of the remainder determines the outer
trigram (if there is no remainder, the number of the trigram is 8). To
determine the lower trigram, include the hour in the calculation. The
trigrams are numbered according to Hsien Tien - 1 Chien; 2 Tui; 3 Li; 4
Chen; 5 Sun; 6 Kan; 7 Ken; 8 - Kun. The hour is always even (don't
use the minutes) and by military time. Again, divide these four numbers by
8, and the remainder determines the trigram. To determine the moving line,
divide the four numbers again by 6, and the remainder is the number of the
moving line. For a specific example of this method we will consider a date,
say April 19th, 1982, at 10:20 a.m.:

The Year 1982 - 2

The Month April 4
The 19th Day 19
Total 25
Divided by 8 = 3 with remainder 1
1 equals Chien, the outer trigram
The Year 1982 - 2
The Month April - 4
The 19th Day - 19
The 10th Hour - 10
Total 35
Divided .by 8 = 4 with remainder 3
3 equals Li, the inner trigram

The Year, Month, Day, Hour is 35

Divided by 6 is 5 with remainder 5
The moving Yao is the fifth line.

The second method is observational. Watch for an unusual action or event.

It determines the outer trigram, and the direction of the action in relation
to the front of the observing diviner determines the inner trigram according
to the Hu Tien arrangement of trigrams. Add the number of each of the
trigrams, according to its place in the Hsien Tien arrangement, and add the
hour of the day to that number. We divide its sum by 6 to get the moving Yao
from the remainder, as before. For instance:

The number of Chien is 1, the number of Li is 3.

The number of hour is 10.
Total is 1 + 3 + 10= 14
Divided by 6 = 2 with a remainder 2.

Divination by number of objects

Count the number of objects (if over 8 divide the total by 8 and use the
remainder) to get the upper trigram. Use the hour number of the time the
objects were counted to get the lower trigram. Divide the total by 6 to get
the moving line.

22 objects counted at 8.30 p.m.

22 divided by 8 = 2 and the remainder is 6.
8 divided 8 = 0 The lower trigram is 8
22 + 8 = 30 30 divided by 6 = 5 and remainder 0
The moving line is 6.

Divination by words - Divide the number of words involved in half and use
each half to get the upper and lower trigrams. If the number is odd, the part
with one word less will form the upper trigram and the one with the one word
more, the lower. If it is just a couple words, use the number of letters,
or the sum of the numeralogical value of each letter. If there are many
words, use the number of words. Use the hour the question was asked or use
the total of both halves to get the moving line.

When observing people, you can use appearance and age as the basis for the
upper trigram and the action of the object involved for the lower:
Shaking the head is Ch'ien
Shaking the feet is Chen
Moving the eyes a lot is Li
Using the hands a lot is Ken
Fidgeting is K'un
Talking volubly is Tui
Taciturnity is Kan
Profundity is Sun

Wood generates fire, fire generates earth, earth generates metal, metal
generates water and water generates wood. Fire feels close to wood because
wood helps sustain and strengthen it.

Wood conquers earth, earth conquers water, water conquers fire, fire conquers
metal and metal conquers wood. Earth fears and respects wood because wood
controls its fate. A milder way to look at this is to say that wood
obstructs, weakensor prevents earth from doing something.

Ti means form, and Yung means function or fate. Ti is the natural condition,
simple, and Yung is man-made, complex. Ti is the leading role in a,drama,
and Yung is all the supporting roles. Ti is who we are, and Yung are the
forces outside of our control Generally, the bottom, inner trigram, is
identified as having the quality Ti. The Ti could be the upper trigram if it
is the quietest, i.e. the trigram with the least or no moving lines. All the
other trigrams are Yung. Then assign the elements to each of the trigrams,
and look at therelationships of the Yung to the Ti. Place the inner hexagram
in the middle of the initial and final hexagrams.

After determining the elemental relationships, we can find out when an event
will happen. The rule is to add the numbers of the inner and outer trigrams
and the number of the hour. When the subjective diviner is sitting, we say
the disaster comes slower and multiply by 2 to get the time.
When the diviner is standing still, we take the sum directly. When the
diviner is walking, we say it will come faster, and we divide the sum by 2.
This could be hours, days, weeks, months, or years.

When determining a birth date hexagram, the following characterizations of

personality are given for the inner trigram:

Chien or Kun - a warm-hearted, benevolent person.

Sun - a cool, heartless person.
Kan - a clever person with sweet, honeyed words.
a lying, deceitful person.
Chen - a person born at the wrong time, unlucky.
Ken - a person who is always very fair, who doesn't let
personal feelings sway objective decisions.
Li - a clever, open-minded person, optimistic and good.
Tui - a person with a smiling face, gentle and affable, who has
good judgment for propriety and moderation in
speech and behavior.

Year is 5
Month is 6
Day is 24
Total = 35 divided by 8 = 4 r.3

Year is 5
Month is 6
Day is 24
Hour is 14
Total is 49 divided by 8 = 6 r. 1
Divided by 6 = 8 r. 1

___ _ _ ___
_ _ F ___ M _ _ F
___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___
___ M ___ M ___ W
___ x ___ _ _ x

14 43 50

14 Great Possession, Great Harvest - The word 'possess' shows an ideogram

with a hand grasping a moon. The original meaning means 'inappropriate to
possess'. This reflects the transitory nature of possession. The sun is in
the sky, strength and clarity united, giving heat and light to all the earth,
bringing prosperity and harvest. You are in the spotlight, and for this
reason, your good qualities as well as the bad are magnified. The yin line
yields in an honorable position. It is like a great king, generous and
humble, seeking harmony with his people and thereby reaping a great harvest.
Blessings descend. Power is expressing itself in graceful and controlled
way.

Moving Line - No pride, therefore no harm or fault. Don't be overconfident.

43 - Resolution, Eliminate Hesitation - When increase leads to excess, it

will surely burst. Thus, after increasing, eliminating hesitation follows.
The ideogram means to set apart, separating evil from good. The yin element
is set apart by the five yang elements. When water from the lake goes to the
sky, there will surely be a cloudburst. It is a rupture after an
accumulation of tension in society. There is some danger in this, so the
righteous (the five yang lines) must eliminate inferior forces (the yin line)
through an act of resolution. This is done through truth and not through the
use of force. There can be no compromise with negative emotions, but
resolving to eliminate them must be based on a union of strength and
friendliness. Finding no opponent, the sharp edges of the weapons of evil
become dulled. As long as we wrestle with them, they continue to be
victorious. The best way to fight evil is to make energetic progress towards
goodness.

The lake has risen up to heaven, thus the superior man dispenses riches
downward. If a man were to pile up riches for himself alone, without
considering others, he would certainly experience a collapse, for all
gathering is followed by dispersion. Therefore the superior man begins to
distribute while he is accumulating. In the same way, in developing his
character he takes care to remain receptive to impressions through
disciplined and continuous self-examination.

50 - The Cauldron, Establishing the New Age - With wood, fire, and a
cauldron, you can prepare food and give nourishment. The wood feeds the
flame of the spirit. All that is visible must grow beyond itself and extend
into the realm of the invisible. Thereby it becomes consecrated and takes
firm root in the cosmic order. The cauldron concernes how people enlighten
themselves through culture. With it we offer sacrifice to God, or honor and
spiritually nourish wise and virtuous people. The wise and virtuous are the
ones you must rely on to establish a new order. Through the offering ritual,
you purify your motivation and rededicate yourself to your spiritual
endeavor. The host is the fifth yin line offering to the wise and virtuous
in the sixth line. Remember, to make something new, you must first clear
away the old, overturning the cauldron and emptying it of the leftovers.

Simple guidance of Ti-Yong interpretation

Wood
Wood - Ti and Yong help each other. Ti = Yong. Situation is comfortable for
Subject. Good fortune by all means.
Fire - Ti helps Yong. Ti < Yong. Subject gets success by hard effort. Finally
good, only through hard working with sincerity.
Earth - Ti controls Yong. Ti > Yong. Subject controls Situation. Good, but
easy to make enemy, carefulness is needed.
Metal - Yong controls Ti. Ti < Yong. Subject is influenced by Situation. Hard
to get success,but not impossible if with enough power and wisdom.
Water - Yong helps Ti. Ti > Yong. Situation helps Subject. If in good faith,
good fortune.

Fire
Fire Ti and Yong help each other.
Ti = Yong Situation is comfortable for Subject. good fortune by all
means.
Earth Ti helps Yong.
Ti < Yong Subject gets success by hard effort. finally good, only
through hard working with sincerity.
Metal Ti controls Yong.
Ti > Yong Subject controls Situation. good, but easy to make enemy,
carefulness is needed.
Water You controls Ti.
Ti < Yong Subject is influenced by Situation. hard to get success,but not
impossible if with enough power and wisdom.
Wood You helps Ti.
Ti > Yong Situation helps Subject. if in good faith, good fortune.

Earth
Earth Ti and Yong help each other.
Ti = Yong Situation is comfortable for Subject. good fortune by all
means.
Metal Ti helps Yong.
Ti < Yong Subject gets success by hard effort. finally good, only
through hard working with sincerity.
Water Ti controls Yong.
Ti > Yong Subject controls Situation. good, but easy to make enemy,
carefulness is needed.
Wood Yong controls Ti.
Ti < Yong Subject is influenced by Situation. hard to get success,but not
impossible if with enough power and wisdom.
Fire Yong helps Ti.
Ti > Yong Situation helps Subject. if in good faith, good fortune.

Metal
Metal Ti and Yong help each other.
Ti = Yong Situation is comfortable for Subject. good fortune by all
means.
Water Ti helps Yong.
Ti < Yong Subject gets success by hard effort. finally good, only
through hard working with sincerity.
Wood Ti controls Yong.
Ti > Yong Subject controls Situation. good, but easy to make enemy,
carefulness is needed.
Fire Yong controls Ti.
Ti < Yong Subject is influenced by Situation. hard to get success,but not
impossible if with enough power and wisdom.
Earth Yong helps Ti.
Ti > Yong Situation helps Subject. if in good faith, good fortune.

Water
Water Ti and Yong help each other.
Ti = Yong Situation is comfortable for Subject. good fortune by all
means.
Wood Ti helps Yong.
Ti < Yong Subject gets success by hard effort. finally good, only
through hard working with sincerity.
Fire Ti controls Yong.
Ti > Yong Subject controls Situation. good, but easy to make enemy,
carefulness is needed.
Earth Yong controls Ti.
Ti < Yong Subject is influenced by Situation. hard to get success,but not
impossible if with enough power and wisdom.
Metal Yong helps Ti.
Ti > Yong Situation helps Subject. if in good faith, good fortune.

Trigrams
anything circle, white, large, tall.
father, emperor, king, president, strong leader, tyrant.
anybody or anything coming from northwest.
person or organization of which name is related with metal such as Mr. Gold.
person or organization of which name is related with wind such as Mr.
Skywaker.

anything white, anything related with metal, especially small and flexible.
anybody or anything coming from west.
person or organization of which name is related with metal such as Mr. Sword.

anything red, hot, changing, anything related with fire.

anybody or anything coming from south.
person or organization of which name is related with fire such as Mr. Burn.

anything green, blue, yielding like willow, anything related with wood.
anybody or anything coming from east.
person or organization of which name is related with wood such as Mr.
Logging.

anything green, blue, tall, or anything related with wood.

anybody or anything coming from southeast.
person or organization of which name is related with wood such as Mr. Oak

pond, see, river and/or anything related with water

anything black, anything of which outside is soft and inside is hard.
anybody or anything coming from north.
middle aged man is also meaning of Kan.
lower, cleaner, waterworker, middle management worker.
person or organization of which name is related with water such as Mr. Pond.

anything yellow, huge like mountains. mountain, cliff, tower, and/or anything
related with earth
anybody or anything coming from northeast.
person or organization of which name is related with earth such as Mr. Rock.

anything yellow, wide area. plain, country, desert, and/or anything related
with earth
anybody or anything coming from southwest.
person or organization of which name is related with water such as Mr. Ground

___ x _ _ _ _ x
_ _ Wo _ _ Wo _ _ E
_ _ ___ _ _
___ _ _ ___
___ E ___ M ___ E
_ _ ___ _ _
18 54 46
Remedying Marrying Maiden Growing Upward
beware of inertia tactful reserve effort of will
indifference affection progress, promotion
stagnation
Favorable to cross great rivers.

Moving Line:
He does not serve kings and princes,sets himself higher goals. Not every man
has an obligation to mingle in the affairs of the world. There are some who
are developed to such a degree that they are justified in letting the world
go its own way and refusing to enter public life with a view to reforming it.
But this does not imply a right to remain idle or to sit back and merely
criticize. Such withdrawal is justified only when we strive to realize in
ourselves the higher aims of mankind. For although the sage remains distant
from the turmoil of daily life, he creates incomparable human values for the
future.