Divination of I CHING
There are many kinds of ways to consult an oracle by I Ching; from the easier one to the more complex and authenticated one. The Three Coins Oracle is used as a handy method in home China although this way is not well known in Japan. Speaking of consulting oracle by I Ching, one could remind the image of stirring up bamboo sticks, Yarrow Stalk Method. There are three kinds of yarrow stalk methods and the most authenticated one is described in the fifth wings of the Great Treatise which is said to be edited by Confucius.
(1) Three Coins Method
This method needs just three identical and clean coins. The process involves throwing three coins at the same time and repeats the process six times; each throw obtains a yao. Cup the coins between your palms and shaken them, then drop them on a clean cloth. The appearance of 0, 1, 2 or 3 tails means that the "ritual numbers" which are explained in "The Structure of I Ching" of this home page, are 6, 7, 8 or 9 respectively.
In other words, each tail has 3 points and each head has 2 points; No tail means 3 heads, then the ritual number is 3(heads) * 2(points) =6 and 1 tail means 2 heads then the ritual number is 1(tail) * 3(points) + 2(heads) * 2(points) = 7, for example.
The first shaking and counting gives you the first ritual number for the bottom line of the gua, or hexagram. The second shaking for the second line of the gua, and so forth. As an example, you are supposed to obtain 8,7,7,6,7,8 in this order from the bottom. This shows yin, yang, yang (Wind) and yin, yang, yin (Water) and forms to Replenishing(48).
The fourth line is 6, old yin, which tends to change to yang. The line that tends to change is called "moving line". In this example, the fourth line is moving line and you get the oracle of fourth yao of the Gua, Replenishing(48). In this home page, the fourth line of Replenishing(48), 484, shows;
"It has been confirmed that one can draw water from the well since the dirty well was dug up and the mud was cleaned out. Everything is ready because they have paved the well by tiles furthermore. The final stage is just that people drink water of this well. You are also ready and there will be no problem."
Some comments from mathematical view;
P(6)=P(9)= 1/8 (All tails or All heads is 1/2 * 1/2 * 1/2), and P(7)=P(8)= 3/8 ( (1 - 2 * 1/8) / 2 ), where P(6), etc., are read as the probability of getting the ritual number 6, etc.
Please confirm the following relations;
P(6) + P(7) + P(8) + P(9) = 1
P(6) + P(8) = 1/8 + 3/8 = 1/2 (The probability of obtaining Yin)
P(7) + P(9) = 1/8 + 3/8 = 1/2 (The probability of obtaining Yang)
(2) The 50 Yarrow Stalk Method
This is the most complex and authenticated method to consult I Ching. Please note that the essential point here is to divide into the two bunch of stalks at random. The details are following:
1. Hold 50 yarrow stalks in your left hand and put one stalk aside on the table in front of you. This stalk symbolizes the commencement of Tai Chi("ultimate beginning, or Big Bang") from the chaotic void or the state before Heaven and Earth were differentiated. It plays no further part in the divination.
2. Divide the remaining 49 stalks into two bundles at random sincerely and with full of wish , one each in hand. The left bundle represents Heaven and the right Earth.
3. Take one stalk from the right-hand bundle and put it between the ring finger and little finger of your left hand. This stalk symbolizes humanity. Heaven, Earth and humanity are considered the three supreme powers in the universe.
4. Take four stalks at a time from your left-hand bundle and put them aside until there are 4 or fewer stalks remaining in your left hand. That is, calculating the remaining by 4. These four-stalk bundles symbolize the four seasons. Place the remaining stalks between the ring finger and the middle finger of your left hand.
5. Take four stalks at a time from your right-hand bundle and put them aside until there are 4 or fewer stalks remaining in your right hand. Place the remaining stalks between the middle finger and the index finger of your left hand.
6. Collect all the stalks between the fingers of your left hand. The sum should be either 5 or 9. Set these stalks aside. Then, the total remaining stalks should be 44 or 40 respectively.
7. Use the remaining stalks and repeat the process above from 2. to 5.. You will get 4 or 8 stalks between your left fingers. Set these stalks aside and the total remaining stalks will be 32, 36 or 40.
8. Use the remaining stalks and repeat the process above from 2. to 5.. You will get 4 or 8 stalks again between your left fingers. Set these stalks aside and the total remaining stalks will be 24, 28, 32 or 36.
9. Now you have either 24, 28, 32 or 36 stalks. Divide the number in hand by 4 and you will get the ritual numbers; 6, 7, 8 or 9 respectively. Six and eight, even numbers, indicates yin yao. Seven and nine, odd numbers, indicate yang yao. The meaning of the ritual numbers are explained in "The Structure of I Ching" of this home page.
10. Repeat from 2. to 9. five more times, then you get a Gua.
As a result, let's suppose to obtain 8,6,9,8,6,8 in this order from the bottom to the top. This shows yin, Ying, Yang (Mountain) and yin, Yin, yin(Earth) and forms to Humbleness(15). There are three moving lines here; the second six, the third nine and the fifth six. In this case, the third nine is selected as the most probable moving line and you will get the advise 153 that shows;
'Third NineF153. All the people respect you in esteem because you are still humble even after you made splendid service to the public. You will win the support of all the people and things will end in good fortune.'
Some comments from mathematic view;
P(6) = 1/16, P(7) = 5/16, P(8) = 7/16 and P(9) = 3/16, where P(6), etc, are read as the probability of getting the ritual number 6, etc. Please note that these numbers are different from the Three Coin Method described above, following relations are kept both the case;
(Proof)
P(6) + P(7) + P(8) + P(9) = 1
P(6) + P(8) = 1/16 + 7/16 = 1/2 (The probability of obtaining Yin)
P(7) + P(9) = 5/16 + 3/16= 1/2 (The probability of obtaining Yang)
In the first process from 2. to 5., the probability of getting 5 is 3/4 and the probability of getting 9 is 1/4. Why?
Let's suppose that A shows the number of left-hand bundle and B shows right-hand bundle. Then A + B = 48. When A = 4 * M + r, where M is integer and r ranges from 1 to 4.
Then, B = 48 - A = 44 - 4 * M + (4 - r) = 4 * (11 - M)+ (4 - r).
So, when r is 1, 2 or 3, (4 - r) is 3, 2, 1 respectively and the sum of the remaining of A and B is 4. Adding 1 of humanity stalk to 4 becomes 5. When r is 4, (4 - r) is 0. But, (4 - r) should be from 1 to 4, then 4 - r is 4 and the sum of the remaining of A and B becomes 8. Adding 1 of humanity stalk to 8 becomes 9.
As a result, there are 3 cases which obtain 5 (r is 1, 2 or 3) and one case (r is 4) obtains 9.Using the same calculation, you can get the probability of obtaining 4 as 1/2 and 8 as 1/2 in the processes of 7. and 8.. In order to get P(6), you need to get 9, 8, 8 in this order (shown as (9,8,8)) and the probability becomes 1/4 * 1/2 * 1/2 = 1/16.
(3) Simple Version of the 50 Yarrow Stalk Method.
For P(9), you need (5,4,4) and the probability is 3/4 * 1/2 * 1/2 = 3/16.
For P(7), you need (5, 8, 8), (9, 8, 4) or (9, 4, 8), then the probability is 3/16 + 1/16 + 1/16 = 5/16.
For P(8), you need (5, 4, 8), (5, 8, 4) or (9, 4, 4), then the probability is 3/16 + 3/16 + 1/16 = 7/16.
Q.E.D.
The 50 Yarrow Stalk Method takes rather lengthy time and it's hard for a fortune-teller to keep the tension in mentally and physically all the time through the end. Then, some of the simple versions were devised as handy methods. Here, one of them is shown that is considered to be used in popular in the old days of Japan.
1. Hold 50 yarrow stalks in your left hand and put one stalk aside on the table in front of you. This stalk symbolizes the commencement of Tai Chi("ultimate beginning, or Big Bang") from the chaotic void or the state before Heaven and Earth were differentiated. It plays no further part in the divination.
2.Divide the remaining 49 stalks into two bundles at random sincerely and with full of wish , one each in hand. The left bundle represents Heaven and the right Earth.
3. Take one stalk from the right-hand bundle and put it between the ring finger and little finger of your left hand. This stalk symbolizes humanity. Heaven, Earth and humanity are considered the three supreme powers in the universe.
4. Take eight stalks at a time from your left-hand bundle and put them aside until there are 7 or fewer stalks remaining in your left hand. That is, calculating the remaining by 8. Add one stalk of humanity between the ring finger and little finger of your left hand to the remaining stalks. The sum of these sticks is the number of lower gua shown below.
When the sum is 1, the lower gua is Heaven.
When the sum is 2, the lower gua is Lake.
When the sum is 3, the lower gua is Fire.
When the sum is 4, the lower gua is Thunder.
When the sum is 5, the lower gua is Wind.
When the sum is 6, the lower gua is Water.
When the sum is 7, the lower gua is Mountain.
When the sum is 8, the lower gua is Earth.
5. Repeat procedures from 2. to 5. to obtain the number of the upper gua.
6. Obtaining the moving line;
Repeat the procedures from 1. to 3..
Take six stalks at a time from your left-hand bundle and put them aside until there are 5 or fewer stalks remaining in your left hand. That is, calculating the remaining by 6. Add one stalk of humanity between the ring finger and little finger of your left hand to the remaining stalks. The sum of these sticks is the number of moving line, counting up from the bottom of the gua.
(4) How to select the most probable moving line
As you see in the case of (1) and (2), your result may sometime obtain more than one moving line, and occasionally none. When there is no moving line, you need only consult the name, symbol and the decision of the gua. When you have exactly one moving line, you should pay special attention to the yao text for this line, and then you should consult the approached gua, the new hexagram that will result when the moving line changes from yang to yin or vice-versa. When there is more than one moving line, decide the most probable moving line by following the procedures shown below.
1. If there are two moving lines, one yin and one yang, consult only the yin moving line.
2. If the two moving line are both yin or yang, consult only the lower one.
3. If there are three moving lines, consult only the middle one.
4. If there are four moving lines, consult only the upper of the two non-moving lines.
5. If there are five moving lines, consult only the non-moving line.
6. If there are six moving lines, consult the Decision of the new gua, the approached gua.
7. If there is All Six, consult the seventh line of Responding(2).
8. If there is All Nine, consult the seventh line of Initiating(1).
This procedure is shown in the Book of 'The Complete of I CHING' by The Taoist Master Alfred Huang and implemented in the program of this Home Page to give an advice to readers.
(June 2, 2001; Copyright of the first edition by Cold Spring)