I Ching: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Man

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Mar 8, 2000

The I Ching (pronounced yee-jing) is one of the central texts of Confucianism and is the oldest book known to man, its origins dating back some 4000 years to ancient China. Also known as the Book of Changes, this oracle was originally used as an instrument of contemplation--an aid to attaining wisdom and understanding of the changing forces of nature that govern our existence. It has been used as a decision-making tool by common people and emperors alike and has achieved modern popularity as both a divinatory method and a tool for inner transformation.

In the centuries before the dawn of Christianity, the ancient Chinese soothsayers looked for portents in the cracks of tortoise shells. The shells were first heated over a fire and then dowsed in water. The geometric patterns made by the resulting cracks were then studied for the wisdom they were thought to contain. This system gradually developed into a method involving the division of yarrow stalks, and thence into the coin tossing and card laying practices of modern I Ching.

The system itself is based upon 64 hexagrams--small icon-like symbols composed of combinations of solid and broken lines. The broken lines are representative of yin, or female energy, while the solid lines are representative of yang, or male energy, which together are considered the prime force of the universe. Chinese philosophy postulates that since we originate from this universal energy we remain connected to it, and the hexagrams of the I Ching allow us to experience that connection. They represent psychological archetypes that embody the collective wisdom of mankind. Contemplation of the hexagrams enables us to tap into that universal human experience of which we are all a part.

As a divinatory tool, the I Ching is similar in some respects to the Tarot. Both operate on the principle of synchronicity--the theory that nothing happens at random--and both employ a similar process of reading. While concentrating on the question/problem/circumstance, the seeker casts coins, often pausing between each throw to strengthen his/her focus. The resulting hexagrams--based upon the 'heads and tails' patterns of the coins and their assigned values--indicate the natural forces at work concerning the query. From these symbols valuable insight, and conceivably foresight, can be gained and applied toward a solution.

The I Ching is not designed to provide easy, definitive answers. Hexagrams, like Tarot cards, embody many layers of meaning, and so to reap the oracle's full benefit requires intuitive thought on the part of the seeker/reader. The revelations are drawn from the omniscient unconscious mind, and the I Ching, like most methods of divination, is merely a tool to facilitate our access to it.