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The 64 hexagrams of the I Ching
are composed of all the possible combinations of six lines; either broken,
yin lines or unbroken, yang lines. These six lines can further be analyzed
into their component trigrams, the 8 possible
configurations of three lines. Each trigram has it's own elements of meaning.
Moreover, the position of each line has it's own significance,
so we can see that
Hexagram 11, Tai (Peace)
Here we see the hexagram's component trigrams. K'un is the trigram of unmixed yin, feminine, receptive qualities. We shouldn't get too wrapped up in the terms masculine and feminine here, because what is being referred to is tendencies of nature rather than male or female human characteristics. It is associated with adaptiveness, darkness, nourishment, and yielding. Ch'ien is the trigram of unmixed yang, light, strength, creativity, oneness. It is the sky to K'un's earth, the day to K'un's night. Since the light lines tend to rise and the dark ones tend to fall, and since K'un is on top and Ch'ien is on bottom, the total image is of heaven and earth coming together in peace and fruitfulness. However, the hexagram can yield to yet more analysis in
terms of it's nuclear trigrams:
Putting these two together gives us hexagram 54, The Marrying
Maiden,
But we are not yet finished exhausting the available information
in the hexagram. Each line has it's own significance:
This may seem to be a baffling density of information, but don't worry. Just concerning yourself with the overt meaning as described with each hexagram is enough for now. Each I Ching reading produces sometimes one, but usually two hexagrams. These represent the current condition, the most desirable course of action, and the outcome. The way that the course of action and the outcome hexagram are known is by the changing lines. Lets do a sample divination and I will show you how it
works.
Each possible configuration of the three coins signifies
either a changing yin line, a changing yang line, an unchanging yin line,
or an unchanging yang line:
But wait, we haven't got there yet! For each hexagram, there is text that goes along with the changing lines, and which give more specific advice in respect to your question. You only read the changing line texts for those particular changing lines which you drew. This changing line information is important and can change the whole meaning of the hexagram in relation to your question. I hope that this has gotten you interested in exploring the possibilities of the I Ching. I can promise that if you come to know the wisdom of this ancient book, you will never be the same. |