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1 | .\" Copyright (c) 1993 |
2 | .\" The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. | |
54a34ee9 | 3 | .\" |
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4 | .\" %sccs.include.proprietary.roff% |
5 | .\" | |
d1938e6a | 6 | .\" @(#)ching.6 8.1 (Berkeley) %G% |
36cc81c3 | 7 | .\" |
5a28fe5a | 8 | .TH CHING 6 "" |
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9 | .AT 3 |
10 | .SH NAME | |
204c0584 | 11 | ching \- the book of changes and other cookies |
36cc81c3 | 12 | .SH SYNOPSIS |
07b20fd6 | 13 | .B ching |
36cc81c3 | 14 | [ hexagram ] |
36cc81c3 KM |
15 | .SH DESCRIPTION |
16 | The | |
17 | .I "I Ching" | |
18 | or | |
19 | .I "Book of Changes" | |
204c0584 KM |
20 | is an ancient Chinese oracle that has been in use for centuries |
21 | as a source of wisdom and advice. | |
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22 | .PP |
23 | The text of the | |
24 | .I oracle | |
204c0584 | 25 | (as it is sometimes known) consists of sixty-four |
36cc81c3 | 26 | .I hexagrams, |
204c0584 KM |
27 | each symbolized by a particular arrangement of six straight (\-\-\-) |
28 | and broken (\-\ \-) lines. These lines have values ranging | |
29 | from six through nine, with the even values indicating the broken lines. | |
36cc81c3 | 30 | .PP |
204c0584 | 31 | Each hexagram consists of two major sections. The |
36cc81c3 | 32 | .B Judgement |
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33 | relates specifically to the matter at hand (E.g., |
34 | \*(lqIt furthers one to have somewhere to go.\*(rq) while the | |
36cc81c3 | 35 | .B Image |
204c0584 KM |
36 | describes the general attributes of the hexagram and how they apply |
37 | to one's own life (\*(lqThus the superior man makes himself strong | |
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38 | and untiring.\*(rq). |
39 | .PP | |
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40 | When any of the lines have the values six or nine, they are moving lines; |
41 | for each there is an appended judgement which becomes significant. | |
42 | Furthermore, the moving lines are inherently unstable and | |
43 | change into their opposites; a second hexagram | |
44 | (and thus an additional judgement) is formed. | |
36cc81c3 | 45 | .PP |
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46 | Normally, one consults the oracle by fixing the desired question |
47 | firmly in mind and then casting a set of changes (lines) | |
48 | using yarrow\-stalks or tossed coins. The resulting hexagram | |
49 | will be the answer to the question. | |
36cc81c3 | 50 | .PP |
204c0584 | 51 | Using an algorithm suggested by S. C. Johnson, the UNIX |
36cc81c3 | 52 | .IR oracle " simply reads" |
204c0584 KM |
53 | a question from the standard input (up to an EOF) |
54 | and hashes the individual characters in combination with the | |
55 | time of day, process id and any other magic numbers which happen to be lying | |
56 | around the system. The resulting value is used as the seed | |
57 | of a random number generator which drives a simulated coin\-toss divination. | |
36cc81c3 KM |
58 | The answer is then piped through |
59 | .BR nroff " for formatting" | |
204c0584 | 60 | and will appear on the standard output. |
36cc81c3 | 61 | .PP |
204c0584 KM |
62 | For those who wish to remain steadfast in the old traditions, |
63 | the oracle will also accept the results of a personal divination using, | |
64 | for example, coins. To do this, cast the change and then type the | |
65 | resulting line values as an argument. | |
36cc81c3 | 66 | .PP |
204c0584 KM |
67 | The impatient modern may prefer to settle for Chinese cookies; try |
68 | .IR fortune (6). | |
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69 | .SH "SEE ALSO" |
70 | It furthers one to see the great man. | |
71 | .SH DIAGNOSTICS | |
72 | The great prince issues commands, | |
73 | .br | |
74 | Founds states, vests families with fiefs. | |
75 | .br | |
76 | Inferior people should not be employed. | |
77 | .SH BUGS | |
78 | Waiting in the mud | |
79 | .br | |
80 | Brings about the arrival of the enemy. | |
81 | .PP | |
82 | If one is not extremely careful, | |
83 | .br | |
84 | Somebody may come up from behind and strike him. | |
85 | .br | |
86 | Misfortune. |