4.3BSD - /usr/man/cat6/ching.0

CHING(6)                                                              CHING(6)


NAME
       ching - the book of changes and other cookies

SYNOPSIS
       /usr/games/ching [ hexagram ]

DESCRIPTION
       The  I  Ching  or Book of Changes is an ancient Chinese oracle that has
       been in use for centuries as a source of wisdom and advice.

       The text of the oracle (as it is sometimes known)  consists  of  sixty-
       four  hexagrams,  each  symbolized  by  a particular arrangement of six
       straight (---) and broken (- -) lines.  These lines have values ranging
       from  six  through  nine,  with  the  even values indicating the broken
       lines.

       Each hexagram consists of two major sections.   The  Judgement  relates
       specifically  to  the  matter  at  hand (E.g., “It furthers one to have
       somewhere to go.”) while the Image describes the general attributes  of
       the  hexagram  and how they apply to one’s own life (“Thus the superior
       man makes himself strong and untiring.”).

       When any of the lines have the values six  or  nine,  they  are  moving
       lines;  for  each there is an appended judgement which becomes signifi‐
       cant.  Furthermore, the moving lines are inherently unstable and change
       into  their opposites; a second hexagram (and thus an additional judge‐
       ment) is formed.

       Normally, one consults the oracle by fixing the desired question firmly
       in  mind  and then casting a set of changes (lines) using yarrow-stalks
       or tossed coins.  The resulting hexagram will  be  the  answer  to  the
       question.

       Using  an  algorithm suggested by S. C. Johnson, the UNIX oracle simply
       reads a question from the standard input (up to an EOF) and hashes  the
       individual  characters  in combination with the time of day, process id
       and any other magic numbers which happen to be lying around the system.
       The  resulting  value  is used as the seed of a random number generator
       which drives a simulated coin-toss  divination.   The  answer  is  then
       piped through nroff for formatting and will appear on the standard out‐
       put.

       For those who wish to remain steadfast in the old traditions, the  ora‐
       cle  will  also  accept the results of a personal divination using, for
       example, coins.  To do this, cast the change and then type the  result‐
       ing line values as an argument.

       The impatient modern may prefer to settle for Chinese cookies; try for���
       tune(6).

SEE ALSO
       It furthers one to see the great man.

DIAGNOSTICS
       The great prince issues commands,
       Founds states, vests families with fiefs.
       Inferior people should not be employed.

BUGS
       Waiting in the mud
       Brings about the arrival of the enemy.

       If one is not extremely careful,
       Somebody may come up from behind and strike him.
       Misfortune.


7th Edition                      May 20, 1985                         CHING(6)