I CHING
What is I Ching (Zhou Yi)?
The I Ching (Zhou Yi) is a systematic form of divination originating in ancient China, in which a procedure such as tossing coins is repeated six times to form a "hexagram," and the answer to a question is read from the text associated with one of 64 possible hexagrams. It is used for a wide range of questions, including life and career decisions and outlooks for a given period.
Overview
- System
- Omen Reading (form a hexagram from chance outcomes and read it)
- Origin
- China
- What You Need
- Coins (or alternative tools such as yarrow stalks)
- Best For
- Life direction, career, either-or decisions, and outlooks for a period
- Time Frame
- Days ahead to about 90 days, and sometimes outlooks of about a year
Origins & History
The I Ching (Zhou Yi) is a divination practice based on the ancient Chinese divination text of the same name, and it is counted among the oldest systematic forms of omen-based divination in the world.
A procedure such as tossing coins is repeated six times to build up a combination of yin and yang lines, which determines which of the 64 hexagrams applies. If the hexagram contains "changing lines," their transformation is also read together with the hexagram, allowing for a more detailed reading of the situation.
How It Works
- 01Decide on a single question you want to ask.
- 02Repeat a procedure such as tossing coins six times, recording the resulting combination of yin and yang.
- 03From the recorded combination, identify the corresponding hexagram (one of 64 possibilities).
- 04Read the text associated with the hexagram, together with the meaning of any changing lines present.
What It Reveals
The I Ching is well suited to a wide range of questions, from life choices and career decisions to a nudge when weighing an either-or option. However, the language of the 64 hexagrams tends to be abstract, requiring some familiarity to interpret well, which can make it a relatively challenging form of divination for beginners.
Related Methods
References
- Wikipedia: I Ching (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ching)