易經
I Ching is known as the “Book of changes” and is based on symbols called Trigrams and hexagrams. These symbols are made of continues or broken lines and reflect the concepts of yin and yang. These symbols were invented by an ancient Chinese sage called “Fu Hsi” (or Fu Xi) who lived 6000 years ago. Fu Hsi observed Heaven, Earth and other natural phenomenon and created these symbols to represent the forces of nature.
In order to consult the I Ching, a specific question has to be set. Then the person that has the question will throw 3 coins on a flat surface (eg on a table) 6 times. These coins may be traditional Chinese coins (those with the square hole in the middle) or just 3 coins of same value. Each time the coins are thrown, one continues or broken line is created.
6 lines create an hexagram. This is an hexagram of the I Ching.
There are many different types of the I Ching.
Most people relate I Ching with the book usually found in bookstores. According to this system, after the coins are tossed 6 times an hexagram is created. Then you look up in an I Ching book and you find the answer to your question. However, the answer you get using this type of I Ching is usually not easy to understand, as it is hard to associate a modern situation with a story 3000 years ago.
This version of I Ching was created by King Wen (emperor of Chau Dynasty) and Confucius (famous Chinese teacher). But these authors lived 3000 years after the time of Fu Hsi. Their interpretation about the Hexagrams is not necessarily what Fu His intended. Neither King Wen nor Confucius were fortune tellers while the original purpose of I Ching was divination and forecasting.
The professional fortune tellers in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China rarely refer to this type of I Ching. They are actually using the I Ching that is commonly known as “Fire Pearl Forest” or “King Wen Oracle System”.
They take a totally different approach of interpretation. Here is this other system:
They convert each line of the hexagram into one of the 12 Chinese animals (tiger, rabbit, dragon etc) and to an element (wood, fire, earth etc).
One of these lines is the Subject representing the person in question. A line called Object represents the situation or matter in question. There is a key element, which depends on the type of question. If the person asks about money, the key element is money. If the person asks about career or husband the key element is power.
Then the strength of the subject/object and the key element is examined in comparison with the elements and animals of the day and month that the I Ching is consulted (the Chinese calendar is used to find the day and month pillar of the date that the coins are tossed).
By logical deduction and after following certain rules, the answer is derived. The answer is extremely accurate and totally relevant to the question. This method can give answers about money, relationships, career, moving & travelling, health, marriage etc. It can also give very detailed information and is totally understandable to our modern times.
I use this method.
