I Ching
Ancient Chinese divination
The I Ching is an ancient Chinese divination text, also called the Book of Changes.
It consists of sixty-four hexagrams—six-line figures of broken and unbroken lines—each with associated commentary.
Traditionally, one casts yarrow stalks or coins to generate a hexagram, then consults the text for guidance: She threw the I Ching before making her decision.
The work also functions as a philosophical text on change and balance.
Six-lined divination symbols
- trigramsThree-symbol sequences
- coinsMetal money units
- castingShaping through liquid form
- consultationMeeting seeking expert guidance
readings · interpretation · solid lines · broken lines · querent · judgment · image · sitting
Six-lined divination symbols
- trigramsThree-symbol sequences
- HeavenSacred afterlife realm
- EarthOur world
- MountainVast earthen elevation
Lake · Fire · dragon · tiger · sage · well · cauldron · army
Philosophy of the Way
- ConfucianismChinese ethical philosophy
- cosmologyStudy of universal structure
- dualityTwofold nature
- natural orderInnate arrangement of things
Laozi · complementarity · polarity · microcosm · macrocosm · Heaven and Earth · self-reflection
Steadiness or amount owed
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- sagesProfoundly learned people
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
introspection · judgment · foresight · discernment · contemplation · stillness · patience · humility
Thorough change in form
- fluxContinuous change or flow
- transitionChange from one state
- impermanenceQuality of not lasting
- cyclesRecurring sequences of events
becoming · movement · process · adaptation · development · turning point · reversal · growth
Ancient Chinese ethical teacher
- oracle bonesInscribed Shang divination remains
- Warring StatesEra of competing Chinese kingdoms
- mandate of heavenCosmic approval for sovereignty
- ancestor worshipReligious honoring of forebears
hexagrams
Six-lined divination symbols
consultation · readings · interpretation · solid lines · broken lines · querent · judgment · image · sitting · meditation
hexagrams
Six-lined divination symbols
Mountain · Lake · Fire · dragon · tiger · sage · well · cauldron · army · family
Taoism
Philosophy of the Way
- ConfucianismChinese ethical philosophy
- cosmologyStudy of universal structure
- dualityTwofold nature
natural order · Laozi · complementarity · polarity · microcosm · macrocosm · Heaven and Earth · self-reflection
balance
Steadiness or amount owed
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- sagesProfoundly learned people
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
guidance · introspection · judgment · foresight · discernment · contemplation · stillness · patience · humility · sincerity
transformation
Thorough change in form
- fluxContinuous change or flow
- transitionChange from one state
- impermanenceQuality of not lasting
cycles · becoming · movement · process · adaptation · development · turning point · reversal · growth · decay
Confucius
Ancient Chinese ethical teacher
- oracle bonesInscribed Shang divination remains
- Warring StatesEra of competing Chinese kingdoms
- mandate of heavenCosmic approval for sovereignty
- Chinese divinationfour pillars, Chinese zodiac, hexagrams, trigrams, oracle bones
- ChinaBeijing, Shanghai, Great Wall, Yellow River, Chinese calligraphy
- Chinese cultureConfucianism, Chinese calligraphy, Beijing, Chinese New Year, Daoism
- Predictionprediction, forecasting, forecast model, estimation, extrapolation
- Asian studiesKorean language, Chinese history, Japanese history, Asian history, Japanese literature
- divinationdivination, fortune telling, fortune-telling, fortune teller, tarot
I Chingscientific method
Structured process for investigation
empiricism · rationalism · statistical analysis · evidence-based reasoning · materialism