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Random I Ching Divination
Here a full I Ching divination using the "coin method" is simulated. The "divination" section immediately below shows the divination itself, giving the hexagrams, the judgments, the images, and the moving lines. The "derivation" section below that shows the divination process in detail, from the results of the coin tosses through to the construction of the hexagrams and the identification of the moving lines.
To obtain a new divination, simply refresh this page. You can get more information about an individual hexagram by clicking on it or on its title.
(Note: the numbers in parentheses below the title of each hexagram refer to the page in the Wilhelm/Baynes 1968 Third Edition of I Ching or book of changes where additional commentary on the individual hexagram can be found.)
Divination
Hsieh — Deliverance
(154)
The Judgement
DELIVERANCE. The southwest furthers.
If there is no longer anything where one has to go,
Return brings good fortune.
If there is still something where one has to go,
Hastening brings good fortune.
The Image
Thunder and rain set it:
The image of DELIVERANCE.
Thus the superior man pardons mistakes
And forgives misdeeds.
The Lines
Six at the beginning means:
Without blame.
Nine in the second place means:
One kills three foxes in the field
And receives a yellow arrow.
Perseverance brings good fortune.
Six in the fifth place means:
If only the superior man can deliver himself,
It brings good fortune.
Thus he proves to inferior men that he is in earnest.
Changing to…
Sui — Following
(71)
The Judgement
FOLLOWING has supreme success.
Perseverance furthers. No blame.
The Image
Thunder in the middle of the lake:
The image of FOLLOWING.
Thus the superior man at nightfall
Goes indoors for rest and recuperation.
Derivation
To consult the oracle, we must use three coins (there is another method of consulting the oracle using yarrow stalks, but the coin method is simpler, and just as good). Traditionally Chinese coins are used, with a plain side and an inscribed side, but any coin will suffice provided you decide in advance which face will represent the plain side and which will represent the inscribed side. Throw the three coins, and determine which way up they landed. The inscribed side of the coin is worth 2, and the plain side is worth 3. Add together the three numbers, and this is the number of the first or bottom line of the hexagram. Repeat this process five times for the remaining lines.
Each line will total 6, 7, 8 or 9:
- 6 is an old yin, represented by a broken line;
- 7 is a young yang, represented by a single line;
- 8 is a young yin, represented by a broken line; and
- 9 is an old yang, represented by a single line.
The old yin and the old yang are known as moving lines, and each moving line in the hexagram affects the reading — a moving line will only occur if all three coins land the same side up. Furthermore, the movement in these lines gives rise to a new hexagram, whose meaning must be taken into account in the reading. To obtain this new hexagram, sixes in the original hexagram become sevens in the new hexagram, and nines in the original hexagram become eights in the new hexagram. The new hexagram will therefore not contain any moving lines. If the original hexagram has no moving lines, then a second hexagram is not employed. It is these movements which give the "Book of Changes" its name.
The table below shows our sample divination and the hexagrams thereby obtained:
| Coin 1 | Coin 2 | Coin 3 | Total | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Line 6 |  |
 |
|
8 | 8 |
| Line 5 | |
|
|
6 | 7 |
| Line 4 | |
|
|
7 | 7 |
| Line 3 | |
|
|
8 | 8 |
| Line 2 | |
|
|
9 | 8 |
| Line 1 | |
|
|
6 | 7 |
| Hexagrams | |
|
|||
| Hsieh | Sui | ||||
We have obtained the hexagram Hsieh — "Deliverance", so we interpret both the "judgment" and the "image" for this hexagram in our reading. In addition, there are three moving lines in this hexagram, namely:
- Six at the beginning
- Nine in the second place
- Six in the fifth place
As well as the judgment and the image for Hsieh we need to interpret the text attached to these moving lines in our reading also.
By changing the moving lines (i.e. changing a solid line to a broken line, and vice versa) we obtain a second hexagram, Sui — "Following". To complete our reading, we must interpret both the judgment and the image for this hexagram also.
