Recently, renewed interest in extravagant fortune-telling systems and predictions of the future. If you know the meaning of the hexagrams of the Book of Changes, then you are far ahead of most people interested. If not, it doesn’t matter. After reading this article, you can figure out these Chinese charades with ease. And if you want to also find out whether it is worth translating the plan into reality, whether to decide on one or another step, etc.
Introduction
The exact meaning of the name of this treatise is difficult to determine, because the Chinese characters are ambiguous. One of the versions is the Treatise (Canon) of Changes, the second is the Cyclicity of Changes, the third is the Canon of the Zhou Epoch (during this period the most complete version of the book was written).
So, we will use the more familiar ear western option: Chinese Book of Changes. The value of the hexagram will be discussed below. At first, I would like to note that this is primarily a treatise of Confucianism, and only then a fortune telling tool.
The forerunner of such fun was the Liangshan tradition, based on the prophecy of the book. Unfortunately, only the name has come down to us. They are united only by the general use of the "losh" - diagrams of six horizontal lines.
Book's contents
"And Jin" were more fortunate. This treatise has been preserved in several editions, in addition to this, we know the divination methodology used in ancient China.
So let's get a little more detailed.
Deciphering the hexagrams of the Book of Changes is impossible without the basic concepts of Chinese philosophy.
The treatise consists of sixty-four characters, each of which is two trigrams. In each of them there are six horizontal lines called “yao”. They can be whole (in the European tradition of "nine", in the Chinese "yang") or interrupted in the middle ("six", or "yin"). The first means the active stage of action, the second - passive.
Color designation. Yang is white, yin is black stripes. By analogy, the first corresponds to light and tension, the second - darkness and suppleness.
In general, the hexagram is called "gua" and includes six lines.
Each such symbol corresponds to a set of aphorisms and sayings of Chinese sages. These phrases are intended to make clear the path for the fortuneteller and get an answer to questions of interest.
System
Hexagrams are built on the principle of the Pythagorean pivot table for multiplying numbers. There is a vertical row with the meanings of traditional Chinese materials and forces. It includes thunder, earth, fire, sky, water, mountains, river, wind. The same concepts are located horizontally, but in a slightly different sequence.
We will talk about the fortune-telling order a bit later. It is important to remember the following. In the traditional ritual, after the definition of “gua,” the questioner contemplates it, delving into the game of an active and passive beginning. Only after that the attached aphorisms are read.
Location
Deciphering the hexagrams of the Book of Changes occupies and has occupied the minds of many scientists. First of all, mathematicians became interested in the “gua” order.
To date, there are three systems of arrangement of characters in the treatise, that is, three alternatives. The Wen Wang method (classic), Fu Xi and a couple of completely unusual options. The main task posed by pundits was to identify patterns in the order of appearance of hexagrams in the book.
Some interesting comments were made. In the classical system, they are located as if in a dance. Each even picture repeats the odd, but in a half-turn (180 degrees). If the symbol turned out to be symmetrical, for example, six solid lines, then the nines are replaced by sixes. Thus, the above “gua” will consist entirely of broken lines.
Macken, an American researcher, created an entire theory on this. Judging by his hypothesis, the Book of Changes is an analog of the periodic system of Mendeleev. He studied the interpretation of hexagrams based on changes in yao in each subsequent symbol.
Gradually studying the book, he created a table, which, according to him, helped him calculate some events. For example, he predicted the end of the world in 2012. Of course, he was mistaken, but which of the mere mortals was not mistaken?
Critics say his theory is a numerological fit for fragmentary predictions from different religions. “I Ching” itself is not related to these events, and such statements are just an attempt to become famous.
Philosophy
Variability is the basis that the Chinese Book of Changes carries. Hexagrams reflect only the play of light and shadow on the mirror of life.
Whatever the problem the person might have, however difficult the way out of the current situation seemed, it was possible to achieve harmony with the help of coins and a treatise. Thus, it turns out that this technique is an analogue of the ring of the Jewish king Solomon, on which it was written: “Everything will pass. This too shall pass".
But, in spite of everything, “I Ching” has almost a therapeutic effect on people suffering from neurosis. Karl Jung and Alexander Appenyansky repeatedly mention this treatise in their works.
Such a fortune-telling can help a person understand himself, abstract from the problem that has arisen, and “go beyond”. After all, only a creative approach allows you to go through life effortlessly and overcome difficult situations without extra effort.
What Confucianism Says
"Wu Ching" - a Confucian five-book book that includes the volume of fortune-telling, hymns, traditions, laws and historical records - is compared by researchers with the Bible. Scientists say that this historical source carries not only information about events, but also represents the whole ancient Chinese worldview system to modern man.
Part of the work mentioned is the Book of Changes. The interpretation of hexagrams, however, is not given anywhere in Confucius. Moreover, the treatise itself is allegedly mentioned only once in Conversations and Judgments. According to one version, this is an intentional falsification or mistake of the copyist, who instead of the hieroglyph “inserted” inserted “changes”. These characters are similar to each other.
Judging by the first version, Confucius said that if he still had time for life, he would have spent it on studying the “Changes” so as not to be mistaken. According to another hypothesis, he simply talked about the benefits of learning.
Comments and development
A similar arrangement of traits was used by the later philosopher Yang Xiong. He wrote the canon "Tai Xuan Jing", in which he built symbols on the principle of three forces. A person was indicated by a solid line, a horizontal line with one space symbolized earthly events, and with two - heavenly events.
The meaning of the hexagrams of the Book of Changes is quite widely interpreted in the comments to the treatise. They are known as “Shi Yi,” or “Ten Wings.”
This collection of interpretations includes the decoding of images, statements, aphorisms, an explanation of individual trigrams and hexagrams, as well as the essence of their location.
However, since this text was written in the Han era, when many sources were adapted to the current political situation, it should be treated with caution.
Scientists just do not take it seriously, lovers of predictions often rely on it in their interpretations.
How to guess
So, if you are interested in divination by the Book of Changes, hexagrams can help in this. All that is needed for the western version of the ritual is three coins (preferably silver) and the treatise itself.
Before the ceremony itself, it is necessary to take a shower, mentally cleanse yourself and get rid of everyday worries. The meaning of the hexagrams of the Book of Changes is revealed only to an uncomplicated mind.
Next, take a sheet of paper, a pen and three coins. We decide what will symbolize the “eagle”, and what “tails” - the nine or six.
We ask a question and start tossing coins in turn. If there are three identical ones, we draw the trait that we defined. If both obverse and reverse fell out, we look, which is more.
Last moment. We begin to draw stripes from below. That is, the fortune-telling process is 18 coin tosses.
Next, just read the answer to your question under the appropriate symbol. It will be drawn in your fortune-telling.
So, today we introduced you to the main points of ancient fortune telling. It is almost impossible to reveal the meaning of the hexagrams of the Book of Changes within the framework of a short article. To do this, you need to get a specific manual with comments.
Good luck, dear readers!