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I CHING PRIMER

Trigram Divination

L. H. Kwan

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DEDICATION

To Charlotte the spider, whosesimple words

SOME PIG TERRIFIC RADIANT

HUMBLE

completely enhance the life of Wilbur.

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CONTENTS

Foreword ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6

Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7

The Method ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10

The Trigrams

heaven ………………………………………… 12

earth ………………………………………………………………………… 16

thunder …………………………………………………………………… 20

wind …………………………………………………………………………… 24

water ………………………………………………………………………… 28

fire …………………………………………………………………………… 32

mountain ………………………………………………………………… 36

lake …………………………………………………………………………… 40

Image Table ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 50

Trigram Chart …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 51

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FOREWORD

When my dad first asked me to write the foreword to his book,I was reluctant, because I thought, "What do I know about theI Ching ?" So he told me to read his book.

I can remember birthday parties where my dad's fortune-telling was the main event (besides the cake.) I also rememberfamily friends asking about their fortunes at dinner parties.

I'm sure you'll enjoy this book; it's for people of all ages.

Sonia Kwan 1 January 1986 aged 13

7INTRODUCTION

This is a game of Chinese fortune-telling using the oldest Chinese book of wisdom called the I CHING (pronounced as "yee jing") meaning the Book of Changes.

Since time immemorial, the Chinese people have always understood nature in two aspects, namely, yin and yang. Day is yang while night is yin. The sun is yang and the moon is yin. The sky is yang and the earth is yin. The masculine is yang and the feminine is yin. A father is yang and a mother is yin. The energetic is yang while the gentle is yin. Yin and yang are eachother's complement: neither being superior to the other.

Like the male sex organ, yang is simply represented by a single straight line . Like the parted female organ, yin is simply represented by a parted line with the middle space indicating receptivity.*

From the simple primitive ideas of yin and yang,

a Chinese tribe, the Fuxi( ) people (4360 B.C.?) devised a symbolism of eight trigrams for a more elaborate understanding of nature. Even primitive human beings had their maths game and talents. You can imagine the Fuxi people playing with the two basic lines of yin and yang, putting one on top of the other to see what possible combinations they can form. Here is the outcome:

They looked at these symbols and thought of representative images in nature respectively: heaven, earth, thunder, wind,water, fire, mountain, lake. We may simply regard these eight trigrams as eight primitive words written by this primitive Fuxi people for these eight predominant things in nature.

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The concepts being represented are respectively:Creativity, Receptivity, the Arousing, the Penetrating, the Abysmal, the Clinging, Keeping Still, and the Joyous.

With these eight concepts, one can right away start fortune-telling. A footprint left by a bird or animal, or cracks on a tortoise shell, can be seen as showing the pattern of one of the eight trigrams, indicating a good or bad omen, , for example, indicates "Danger!" and

is an omen for "Stop!"You may ask, "Does it work?" It works as well as

and not any better than tossing one coin: headindicating "Yes", and tail indicating "No". Instead of tossing just one coin for a simple yes/no answer, tossing three coins gives you a variety of more sophisticated answers. The game is more interesting.

Just as you will think sensibly before you will or not commit yourself and decision to the chance outcome of tossing a coin, you will be wise to consider the outcome of tossing three coins as just a suggestion. Your reason and good sense ultimately chooses and decides what the trigram means to you and what is the right action to take.

For example, if you ask whether your present boyfriend or girlfriend will be the one you will eventually marry, tossing one coin gives you a straightforward answer. But is the answer reliable? Will it work even if you want it to? It depends on, you. It is risky to toss a coin on such an important issue. I would not. But as a game and for the fun of it, I may toss three coins for a sophisticated trigram to set my imagination to play. For lighter issues and more casual questions, it can be great fun.

One can make any number of off-hand guesses to explain how this form of fortune-telling may work. Consider, for example, a psychic theory. Assume for a moment that some people can use their mind energy

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to physically bend metal spoons.** If even this is possible, could it be possible to psychically affect the outcome of tossing three coins for a revealing answer or clue to an earnestquestion? One can call this tapping on Higher Intelligence. Thismay perhaps be a possibility. I don't know. What I do know• is that people often get surprisingly meaningful answers tossing three coins this way and things work out surprisingly well. Of course at other times, things may not work out so well. This is the game.

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**Psychokinesis. See Edgar Mitchell's Psychic Exploration (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1974). An appended chapter on Uri Gelleris interesting reading. Or, for the fun of it, consider another off-hand explanation, namely, a "NO Board" theory, in which game, say, three people each has one finger touching a disc or small saucer turned upside-down as marker, which will move around on a board with the alphabet letters on it, spelling out answers to questions put by the players. Who moves the disc? The minds, or the fingers, or the ghosts? For a discussion of other theories, read L.H. Kwan's article "Divination with the I Ching" in

Toyogaku ronso: Suzuki Hakushi Koki Kinen (Studies on oriental culture: a collection of articles in commemoration of the seventieth birthday of Dr. Yoshijiro Suzuki), pp. 15-26. Tokyo: Meitoku Press, 1972.

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THE METHOD *

There are seven steps to find an answer to your question:

1. Write down your question.

2. Toss any three coins three times, which will give you a trigram on your question:

One head and two tails gives you a yang line.One tail and two heads gives you a yin line.Three heads gives you a moving yang line.Three tails gives you a moving yin line.

A yang line is masculine straight.A yin line is feminine parted.A moving yang line ---o--- may change into ayin line.A moving yin line --–X--- may change into ayang line.

Like the growth of a tree, the trigram is built up from below. The first toss gives you the bottom line. The second toss the middle line, and the thirdtoss the top line.

3. Draw the three lines on your paper.

4. Look up the Table of Contents to find the right page.

5. Check the Classical Images, which means Indications,of the obtained trigram. See which word, or words, if any, impress you as meaningful to your question. Such words will be the answer or clue to your question.

* Copyright by L.H. Kwan

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The answer is within yourself. The spark of wisdom is in every human being.

Be positive, ethical, optimistic, creative, and ingood humour.

WARNING: Evil intentions bring bad fortune.

6. If you cannot find any of the indications relevantto your question, leave it and look at it another day.

7. Keep a written record in your exercise page. Write downthe date too, and your name if you like.

There are real-life examples in this book to show you how it works. The names of some persons may have been omitted or changed for personal privacy.

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13CREATIVITY

Classical Images. The heavens, round, head,leader, strong, father, horse, a good horse, an oldhorse, a lean horse, a wild horse, deep red, thenorth-west, cold, ice, jade, metal, fruit of trees.

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HEAVEN EXAMPLES

a. 1973? Vancouver. Judy from Montreal obtainedthe heaven trigram when she asked, "ShallI take my trip to Mexico in September or at Christmas time?" The heaven trigram indicates ...cold, ice...". It was suggested to her that winter would be a good time to go.

b. 1973? Vancouver. Louisa from Alberta asked, "Shall I move to Vancouver?" She obtained the heaven trigram

. This trigram indicates movement of the heavenly bodies. It was suggested to her that her eventual move to Vancouver would be good.

c. Children Fun. 7-year-old Uranus asked, "Do I have any admirers?" She tossed three coins three times, and obtained the heaven trigram . This trigram indicates the heavenly bodies; so I gave her this answer: "Lots! As many as the stars in heaven, or the apples on a tree!" (28 August 1978.)

d.

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RECEPTIVITY

Classical Images. Receptivity, quiet, gentle, yielding, storage, the earth, black soil, nourishment, a cooking cauldron, the abdomen, mother, cow, a fertile cow, multitude, a large vehicle, a handle, husbandry, evenness, cloth, adornment, the southwest.

18EARTH EXAMPLES

a. 18 October 1974, Vancouver. Four friends wentfishing at Deep Cove. Three of them tossed three coins the day before the trip and obtained these three trigrams: Paul . Kelvin .Kwan . Kwan caught the most.

b. 1 November 1977. I showed my manuscript to Mr. Raymond Hull for his writing advice. He read the whole manuscript in ten minutes and gave me useful advice. I invited him totry the method. He asked about his next visit to his doctor. He obtained the Earth trigram . He read the classical indications of the trigram. One seemed relevant to his question, namely, "nourishment". He perceived that the trigram advised him to eat nourishing food, and watch his digestion.

c. 13 August 1978, Vancouver. Robert asked about which place to visit. He tossed the coins and obtained this trigram:

Earth changing to Water. Answer: South-West. Land approaching water.

d. 1978 Vancouver. Robert asked, "Will I leave Vancouver in 1978?" He tossed the coins and obtained the trigram

earth. In fact, he did not leave Vancouver in 1978.

e. 22 September 1978, Vancouver. Pat, from England, visiting in Vancouver asked, "Will my future be successful?" She obtained this trigram: earth changing to water. Answer: Great productivity. Plan well and play safe.

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f. Sunday, 5 January 1986 . Gathered with her friends for exercise and recreation, Charlotte initiated a new year fortune-telling session when she asked, "What is the key to my happiness in 1986?" She tossed her coins and obtained the Earth trigram . She read the classical images of the trigram and found the image "cloth" significant, whereupon she wrote her own answer to her question: "Cloth. I will weave chance threads in sacred strings to bind all that I love."

g. Date: 1986 01 05 Sunday. Vancouver, CanadaName: L.H. KwanQuestion: What's my good fortune in 1986?Trigram:

Answer: Receptivity becomes brilliance and attachments in academic, career, and employment pursuits.

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THE AROUSING

Classical Images. The arousing, thunder, emancipate,the East, start, motion, feet, swift, a freeway, a dragon, decision and vehemence, the eldest son, a U-turned sprouting, a green and young bamboo, a reed or rush, the erect and strong, expansion, the luxuriant and fresh, spring, dark yellow. Among horses, it indicates a good neigher, a prancer, or one in motion showing its white forehead or white hind legs. In short, it is motion, eruptive explosive and startling.

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THUNDER EXAMPLES

a. Shek and his wife Betty were living in Winnipeg.Betty was expecting a baby. The waiting grandmother in Hong Kong hoped the baby would be a boy. Shek's sister Alice in Vancouver tossed the coins on whether this first grandchild of the Auyoung family would be a boy or girl. The thunder trigram was obtained.

The trigram indicates the eldest son. Sometime afterwards, Shek's wife gave birth to a male baby. It was shek's first son. He named him Ezon, born 26 July 1974. On 1 July 1976, Betty gave Shek their second child, Ejun, also a boy.

b. 1 November 1977, Vancouver . Kayce asked, "Will I hear from my friend in Toronto?" She threw three coins threetimes and obtained the Thunder trigram . The classical indications say "startling". She understood the trigram as indicating that she would be hearing some startling news from Toronto.

c. 13 August 1978, Vancouver . After dinner and with her friends gathered in a circle in the generously spacioussitting room for some fortune-telling fun, Christa asked the first question, "Who loves me?" She threw three coins high in the air, letting them fall onto thecarpet in the middle of the circle of her friends. She obtained the thunder trigram . Answer: "The Arousing".

d. In the same party as above, there were about a dozen

people. Each asked one question. Joan asked, "Where will I be in five years' time?" She obtained the Thunder trigram. Answer: "The East."

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e. Catherine in the same party asked, "Will I be getting A's in my college exams?" She also obtained the Thundertrigram for her question. She was given this answer: "Rise. High grades."

f. 4 March 1980 . I am doing a I Ching workshop at the Vancouver Technical Secondary School night school in April. I visited the school office. Administrative assistant Miss Jean Frith asked what the course is about in case people enquire about it. I said it is a game of Chinese fortune-telling. Rather than having herunderstand it, I invited her to experience the fun of it by asking a personal question in good humour. She amiably complied and wrote down this question: Will I have a happy time on my vacation when I go in March andApril of this year?" I asked her to toss three coins three times and she obtained the trigram zhèn, the Arousing. Now zhèn indicates soaring ascension, andthe trigram also changes to the Joyous trigram ;so I said, "The trip is elating, awakening, and joyous." Miss Frith herself also looked at the classical indications of the obtained trigram, and said, "How interesting: I am actually going to the East, and in Spring. I am going to S.E. Asia on my trip." This whole episode of fortune-telling fun took only three minutes.

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25THE GENTLE

Classical Images. Eldest daughter. The south-east. Wind, gentle, penetrate, stir, distribute, even, odour. Wood, a straight guideline, white, long, high, thighs, advance andretreat, indecision, chicken. (Wind falls leaves.) A scanty-haired person, a broad forehead, a person showing much white in the eyes. Close to gain and three fold valuein market. Haste.

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WIND EXAMPLES

a. 13 August 1978, Vancouver . At Christa's party, lawyer Allen Major asked, "When will the next election be in Canada?" He tossed the coins and obtained the wind trigram .

Answer: Between spring and summer.Fact: 22 May 1979.

b. 7 October 1978, Vancouver . 6-year-old Sonia asked, "Will my hurt go away quick?" She tossed the coins and obtained the wind trigram .

Answer: Yes. Quick as the wind.

c. Sunday, 5 January 1986, Vancouver .Zuzana asked, "How will I fare in 1986?" She tossed thecoins and obtained the wind trigram . She read the classical images of the trigram and constructed an answer for herself: "Wood. Out of the hardness, I will be carved into the image of Christ through the moving spirit of God's love." She (had) joined Overseas Missionary Fellowship and left Canada on 3 February 1986 for Singapore and Japan.

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THE ABYSMAL

Classical Images. The middle son, the submerged, the North, a trap, descent, the abysmal, danger, the hidden and concealed, the moon, a thief, ears, penetration, water, pig, rain, moisture, blood, red, channels and ditches, river, bending and straightening out, bow and wheel. It is toil, worry, heart ill, or earache, in a person. In a horse, it indicates an elegant spine in the middle of the body, a rash spirit, a lowered head, thin hoofs, and shambling steps. In a vehicle, it indicates many risks. Think also of a tree with a many-ringed hard core.

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WATER EXAMPLES

a. Shek's friend MIU from eastern Canada would he having his college architecture degree examinations in 1978. On holiday in Vancouver on 17 December 1977 at a Chinese restaurant brunch in Chinatown with Shek and other friends, Miu asked about his coming examination results. He wrote, "I want to be a good architect." Having phrased his question in his special way, he tossed three coins three times and obtained the water trigram . In good humour, I said to him, "Uncertainty. Perseverance succeeds." Also in good humour, he replied, "This means personal efforts. Only I can help myself. It's a case of self-salvation!" He went back to eastern Canada and studied really hard. Hejust made it in his exams!

b. 8 March 1978 . Siri and her colleagues at a neighbourhood pub were having wage negotiations with the management the coming Sunday. She asked, "Will nextSunday be a successful day?" The Abysmal trigram of water was obtained with a middle moving yang line. I said, "Uncertainty. Great efforts needed, Receptivity brings agreement."

c. 13 August 1978 . At Christa's party, Janice asked, "Whatwill I be doing next year this time?" She obtained thistrigram .

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33CLINGING

Classical Images. Fire, the ascending. Lightning. Heat anddryness. The sun, warmth, the South. Look to brightness. Shining, armour and helmet, spear and sword. Brightness, beauty, the pheasant. Seeing, the eye, contact, meeting, attachment. The middle daughter. (This trigram, like a flame burning intensely outside and less so in the core, also indicates things hard outside and soft inside.) A turtle, a crab, a snail, an oyster, a tortoise, a hollow tree, a person with a large belly.

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FIREE EXAMPLES

a. Vancouver, 19 June 1976 . During a summer session coursein Burnaby, B.C., Agatha of Notre Dame University in Nelson, B.C. asked whether she would stay at Simon Fraser University to complete her degree. She threw thecoins and obtained the Fire trigram li. The trigram has the classical indication 'clinging'. It indicates attachment, like flame to fuel. I said that she would finish her degree in S.F.U. Fact: She did stay at S.F.U. and finished her degree there, and then went back to Hong Kong.

b. 1978. Robert asked, "Will I get another job within the next six months?" He tossed the coins and obtained the Fire trigram. He stayed in the same job for the next six months. He thought, however, that chances were goodin the South.

c. Vancouver, 21 April 1978 . Dessy asked, "Will I be rich and happily married?" She tossed the coins and obtainedthe Fire trigram:

fire,

Answer: Brilliance. Warmth. Togetherness.

d. 6 September 1978, Vancouver . Doreen asked, "Will my mother (home in California) be emotionally stable? If not, when?" She tossed the coins and obtained the Fire trigram on the question. Her friend Mary deciphered, "The trigram chart says 'Development and Progress'.

Your mother is getting better and better every day."

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e. 11 November 1978 . A friend asked whether his wife's first pregnancy was a boy or girl. He tossed the coins and got this trigram:

The obtained trigram is Fire, with a top moving yang line, changing the trigram to zhen. Attachment changes to unexpected motion. My dear friend's wife hada miscarriage. I am sorry I failed to decipher the warning. I am sad. In future, I will not have coins tossed on pregnancies. The womb shall be respected withawe. Kwan 22 March 1980.

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KEEPING STILL

Classical Images. Stop, the end, the begun andfinished, result, accomplishment, success. The North-East.Stop, a mountain, a bypath or footpath, stones, fruits of trees and creeping plants, prey animals and hard-billed birds. Stop, a dog, a doorkeeper or watchman, arrest, hand, fingers, snatch, a rat. A hard wood tree with many joints.

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MOUNTAIN EXAMPLES

a. 3 July 1976 . Vivien in Vancouver asked how her boy-friend was getting on in the Philippines and when they could see each other again. She tossed the coins and obtained the Mountain trigram . I said her friend was fine in the Philippines. Nothing had changedand life there was peaceful. They were, however, separated by a big obstacle (mountain). Seeing each other would be difficult. But a mountain has footpaths and shortcuts, I said. Vivien's boyfriend worked on hisfamily farm. It was difficult for him to score high points in the Canadian immigration system then. Vivien understood the trigram in her own way: she applied for Nonoy to come as her fiance. They are happily married now (1980) in Vancouver, with a cute three-year-old daughter.

b. 1 November 1977 . Kayce White asked what response she would get from a story proposal to a specific magazine.She tossed three coins three times and obtained the Mountain trigram . She looked at the indicationsof the trigram, and found the words "result, accomplishment, success". She looked forward to

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success. In fact, a different magazine bought the story.

c. Robert asked, "Will 1978 be a prosperous year for me?"

mountain

Answer: Peaceful, growthful, and fruitful.

d. 6 September 1978 . Larry asked, "Will I have a short or long life?" He tossed the coins and obtained the Mountain trigram . I said, "Good health and longlife like the mountains."

e. 22 September 1978 . Pat from England asked, "Shall I be fortunate in my emotional life?

mountain

Answer: Stability. Peace of mind.

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THE JOYOUS

Classical Images. Joy, the youngest daughter, a lamb, a young wife, a lake, pleasure, speech, mouth and tongue, a priestess. The West. Autumn: harvesting, cutting, breaking, severance; hard and salty earth.

42LAKE EXAMPLES

a. 4 February 1975 . Ulan asked, "Will I receive financial assistance, in the form of scholarship, grant, teachingassistantship, etc. while working on my thesis?" She tossed three coins three times — — and obtained the Joyous trigram lake. Afterwards, she did receivefinancial assistance in the form of a salaried positionat $750 per month for the summer, and $150 per month infall and after.

b. 1976 Vancouver . Before her wedding, Vivian asked whether her married life would be a success. She tossedthree coins three times and obtained the trigram of Joy. I said, "Your marriage will be a joyful harvest: life after marriage is like a sacred vessel for offering, which a priestess holds at the altar withgreat care and reverence. She married in autumn in Calgary.

c. 1 November 1977 , Vancouver. Mr Raymond Hull asked aboutthe publication prospects of his next books. He tossed three coins three times and obtained the Lake trigram

. He looked at the classical indications of the trigram. Among the indications, the words "speech, the mouth and tongue" impressed him as relevant. He understood that the trigram suggested success through use of the material as lectures. Cheerful

d. 6 September 1978 . At a cheerful fortune-telling party, Dave Adair asked, "Should I continue my present job or do something completely different?" He tossed three coins three times and obtained the Joyous trigram. Answer: What you are happy with.

e. 6 September 1978 . At the same party, Mary asked, "What will be my role in life?" She also obtained the trigram

of Joy. I said, "To be happy."

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f. 22 September 1978 . Pat from England asked, "Shall I continue to have good health?" She obtained the Lake trigram. I said, "Recreational activities like the ducks in the Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park. This brings good health and happiness."

g. Children Fun . At 1:00 p.m. on 8 October 1978, Sonia asked, "Will we be going swimming with Uranus today?" She tossed three coins three times and obtained this trigram:

lake

Answer: Yes. Joy.

Fact: At 3:00 p.m., the eight children together with their parents and friends went to the Minoru Park Swimming Pool in Richmond, instead of their pre-plannedcartoon movie. The parents were divided on the issue. The eight children had to hold a meeting and votes werecast for the changed decision. They had a happy time.

h. 5 January 1986 . Four friends at a new year gathering for exercise and recreation asked about our fortunes in1986. John Macdonald asked, "How will I fare in 1986?" He tossed the coins and obtained the trigram of Joy. From the classical images of the trigram, John constructed this answer for himself: "I will harvest joy from the pains of the past."

44DIVINATION DIARY

Date PlaceNameQuestion:

Trigram:

A n s w e r :

Date PlaceNameQuestion:

Trigram:

A n s w e r :

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Date PlaceNameQuestion:

Trigram:

A n s w e r :

Date PlaceNameQuestion:

Trigram:

A n s w e r :

Date PlaceNameQuestion:

Trigram:

A n s w e r :

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Date PlaceNameQuestion:

Trigram:

A n s w e r :

Date PlaceNameQuestion:

Trigram:

A n s w e r :

Date PlaceNameQuestion:

Trigram:

A n s w e r :

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Date PlaceNameQuestion:

Trigram:

A n s w e r :

Date PlaceNameQuestion:

Trigram:

A n s w e r :

Date PlaceNameQuestion:

Trigram:

A n s w e r :

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NOTES

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NOTES

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IMAGE TABLE

51TIGRAM CHART

I CHING PRIMER : TRIGRAM DIVINATION

Learn Chinese fortune-telling in 10 minutes! Children can do it. You can do it. Do it with your friends. Learn it ingood humour. Gain insight. Understand yourself better. Be surprised. Have fun.

Changes ? Recreation ?Health ? Creativity ?

Love ?Career ? Money ?

Happiness ? Inspiration ?

Simply toss three coins three times, and get an answer. Any coins.

The Chinese money coin, round outside and square within, symbolizes the Chinese way to riches: be friendly and

flexible around you and squarely principled within yourself.