The I Ching, or Book of Changes, is an ancient Chinese divinatory text that offers guidance through the generation and interpretation of hexagrams. The coin method is a popular way to consult the I Ching.
Here’s how it works:
- Formulate a clear, open-ended question about a situation. Avoid yes/no questions.
- Gather three identical coins. Traditional Chinese coins with square holes are preferred by some, but any coins will work [according to Divination Foundation].
- Assign values: Heads (Yang) are 3, Tails (Yin) are 2.
- Toss the three coins and sum their values. This results in a number from 6 to 9.
- Record the line:
– 6 (3 tails): Changing Yin (drawn as a broken line with an “X” in the middle).
– 7 (1 head, 2 tails): Unchanging Yang (solid line).
– 8 (2 heads, 1 tail): Unchanging Yin (broken line).
– 9 (3 heads): Changing Yang (solid line with a circle in the middle).
- Repeat six times , building the hexagram from the bottom up (first toss is the bottom line, sixth toss is the top line).
- Consult an I Ching guidebook or online resource. Locate your hexagram based on the line patterns or the sum of the coin tosses.
- No changing lines (all 7s and 8s): Focus on the hexagram’s overall meaning, including the judgment and image texts.
- One changing line: Consult the line text associated with that specific changing line, in addition to the hexagram’s overall meaning.
- Two or more changing lines:
– According to Wilhelm and Blofeld: The situation symbolized by the first hexagram changes into that of the second (derived by flipping the changing lines). Interpret based on the hexagram texts, disregarding individual line texts.
– According to Master Yin (Alfred Huang): Specific rules apply based on the combination of changing lines to determine which line(s) to focus on. For example, with two changing lines (one yin and one yang), focus on the yin line.
– Changing lines as sequential events: View the changing lines as describing a sequence of changes from the first hexagram to the second, representing a path from the initial situation to a possible outcome.
- The coin method offers probabilities for yin and yang lines that differ from the traditional yarrow stalk method.
- Some I Ching practitioners utilize modified coin methods or other techniques, such as dice, to achieve similar probability distributions to the yarrow stalk method.
- Remember, the I Ching provides insights and guidance, not definitive answers. Its interpretations encourage self-reflection and personal growth.
What is the 2 coin method in I Ching?
Thanks for asking. The two-coin method involves tossing one pair of coins twice: on the first toss, two heads give a value of 2, and anything else is 3; on the second toss, each coin is valued separately, to give a sum from 6 to 9, as above. This results in the same distribution of probabilities as for the yarrow-stalk method.
What is the Chinese coin method?
The practice of coining involves rubbing heated oil on the skin, most commonly the chest, back, or shoulders, and then strongly rubbing a coin over the area in a linear fashion until a red mark is seen – a doorway for the wind to get out.
What is the four coin method in I Ching?
From my experience, Four-coin method to reproduce the yarrow stalk probabilities: Throw one coin to determine yang (heads) or yin (tails). Throw three more coins. Exactly three heads among all four coins means the line is changing.