About the I Ching
The I Ching (易經), also known as the "Book of Changes" or "Classic of Changes," is an ancient Chinese divination text and one of the oldest of the Chinese classics. Dating back more than 3,000 years, it has influenced philosophy, religion, and various forms of divination throughout history.
The core of the I Ching consists of 64 hexagrams, each composed of six lines that can be either yin (broken) or yang (solid). Each hexagram represents a specific state or condition in the universe, and the transitions between them reflect the dynamic balance of opposing forces.
About the Nanjing Milfoil Method
The I Ching, or Book of Changes, is an ancient Chinese divination text that has been used for thousands of years. This application implements the Nanjing Milfoil Method for casting hexagrams.
The Nanjing Milfoil Method involves the division of 50 yarrow stalks (or virtual stalks in this application) to generate a hexagram through a series of divisions and calculations.
Hexagram Structure
Each hexagram consists of six lines, read from bottom to top. The bottom three lines form the lower trigram, and the top three lines form the upper trigram. The combination of these two trigrams creates the hexagram.
The eight trigrams are:
- Heaven (Qian): ☰ (three solid lines)
- Earth (Kun): ☷ (three broken lines)
- Thunder (Zhen): ☳ (solid, broken, broken)
- Water (Kan): ☵ (broken, solid, broken)
- Mountain (Gen): ☶ (broken, broken, solid)
- Wind (Xun): ☴ (broken, solid, solid)
- Fire (Li): ☲ (solid, broken, solid)
- Lake (Dui): ☱ (solid, solid, broken)
About This Application
This app was created by Luis Andrade based on his 2008 article, "A Proposed Alternative Milfoil Divination Method of the Yijing", about what is known as the Nanjing Method for casting hexagrams. Please read the article for more information.
This web application provides a digital implementation of the Nanjing Milfoil Method for I Ching divination. It simulates the division of 50 stalks to generate hexagram lines, identifies the resulting hexagram, and determines any related hexagram based on changing lines.
The application also calculates which line is "available for change" based on the sum of all six line values, following traditional I Ching practices.
While this digital implementation cannot replace the meditative and tactile experience of physical divination, it aims to provide an accessible and authentic way to consult the I Ching for guidance and reflection.