YI JING OR ZICHOU
ONE INDIVIDUAL'S [ MIS ] [ - ] [ ? ] UNDERSTANDING
APPENDIX C
Using Sacred Coins

For more information about Chinese coins, or those of other countries, I'll simply refer you to Standard Catalog of The World's Coins which lists most, if not all legal tender coins from 1600 to 2001, in four volumes. For US Coins The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins is the way to go. If you wish to buy US coins, my recommendation is Washington Numismatic Gallery, INC in Seattle, WA. They also have both the Krause catalogs and The Red Book. If you want bullion coins, buy them in person, and pay cash. I do not know of any dealers of Chinese Coins.

For those that use the five pennies and a dime, I'll point out that US pennies have a 19 mm diameter whilst US dimes have a 17.9 mm diameter. The Susan B Anthony and Sacagawea Dollars have a 26.5 mm diameter, Quarters minted since 1831 have a 24.3 mm diameter. Take your pick as to which will confuse one the least. I don't currently have data on Canadian coins.

Money trees from Ancient Sichuan « circe 1500 BCE » have coins which are not inscribed, but have the traditional circle with the square hole in the center. These trees typically are made of bronze. « There is some question about the actual literacy of the Sichuan civilization. Some artifacts bear markings, which might be writing, but bear little, if any resemblance to any known writing systems. Other artifacts bear marks which might be from a writing system related to ancient Shang writing systems. » In passing, it should be noted that Feng Shui practioners consider money trees to increase one's financial fortune. The most potent ones are made with 1 000 coins, tied in groups of 9, with red ribbon 9 inches long. « The length is an obvious nod to the English system of measurements. »

Personal Experience with different coins.

I have used gold coins once or twice. « British Sovereigns » I have also used silver coins once or twice. « US Silver Dollars » There was a different feel to things, when I used them, instead of the Chinese tokens I normally use. Whether that feel was due to something in the respective metal, or the value of the coin, or some other factor, I know not. I don't have enough experience using either, to know if the results are significantly different.

I experimented with wooden disks, which had Yin emblazed on one side, and Yang emblazed on the other. The disks are 29 mm in diameter. Whilst meant to be used for casting hexagrams, I found that they were too light to use.

Brass tokens, which have Yin inscribed on one side, and Yang inscribed on the other are a distinct improvement over wooden tokens. Back when I haunted Atlantic City, I used SEPTA tokens. They were also a distinct improvement over the wooden disks. On the whole, I'd say that the brass tokens, and SEPTA tokens were on a par. Somewhere in my life, I aquired three gaming tokens. they neither function nor "feel" as good as either SEPTA tokens or the brass Yin/Yang tokens. A memento of my visit to Argentina was Three 10 Peso coins and a 5 Peso coin. These coins, subjectively, produce "better" feeling results, than either the SEPTA tokens or the brass Yin/Yang tokens. New York Subway tokens have the same "feel" as SEPTA tokens. Philadelphia laundromat tokens do not function as well as SEPTA tokens do, for consulting the Yi Jing. They do function well when one wants to wash clothes, and have been known to make excellent substitutes for SEPTA tokens. MARTA tokens did not function for me, though I do know of some people who found them successfull. « SEPTA: South Eastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority. This is the transit company in Philadelphia, and suburbs. MARTA: Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. The transit company in King and Dekalb County, Georgia. »

The majority of the time I cast coins, I use Chinese Cash Tokens, inscribed on both sides. In January or February of 2001, I bought a package of "Ancient Cash", purporting to be "Chinese Old Coins". Going to a couple of stores that provide Feng Shu paraphernalia for New Age types, I found similar cash tokens, at a similarly low price. It seems to me that the vast majority of coins, sold for either casting hexagrams, or Feng Shu, are modern reproductions.

If you are wondering how to tell the difference, one way is to use your psychic ability to read an object. Failing that, look at the coins carefully. I don't know when, if ever, machines were used to cut the hole in coins of China. Look carefully at the square hole. How square is it? If the corners are perfectly clean, it probably is machine made. Look at the squares under a magnifying glass, or a macroscope. There should be evidence of tool marks where the hole was cut. On one of my coins, I can see the hole that was made for the corner. The cutter didn't cut quite to the hole. On a different coin, there are the remnants of a line scratched along the square. Most of the line has ben cut away, but parts of it are clearly visible, when looked at, under a microscope. The other thing to look at, is general "wear and tear" on the coin. Modern reproductions won't have the same patina as old coins have. If corrosion is evident, the coin probably is authentic.

Which side of the coin is Yin? Which side is Yang? Most of the sources I've looked at ascribe Yin to heads, and Yang to tails. Hamerslough (1985: 27) points out that coins are made for one reason only --- to denote a value. Therefore the side on which its value is inscribed is the Yang side. The rest of the coin is Yin. I don't think it really matters which side is Yin, and which is Yang, as long as one is consistent. The Chinese coins I use, have two characters inscribed on the reverse, and four characters on the obverse. The side with two characters is Yin. When using modern coins, I've generally equated heads with Yin.

When these methods were first used.

The traditional three coin toss, was first described in the English literature, in Wilhelm/Baynes (1950). It was devised circa 1300 BCE.

The modified three coin toss was originally described by Hacker (1980). Sector (1981) describes a simpler coin toss, with the the same statistical frequency as yarrow stalks.

I attributed the Five pennies and a Dime toss to Crowely. It probably is an invention of Grady McMurtry or another of Crowley's late disciples.

The Ba Qian method was first described, in English, in Palmer, Martin; Kwok Man Ho, O'Brien, Joanne (1986).

A Consecration Ritual

Select three suitable coins. Wash them in Holy water, or Wine that has been blessed by a Daoist Priest. In one's sanctuary, perform three kowtows and place the Sacred Coins onto the altar, next to the Yi Jing.

The Yi Jing should be on an altar, facing south. In the East is a lighted candle, either white, saffron or the blue that is the shade of the shadow of the aura of an immortal. To the East and west of the Yi Jing should be incense burning. One then silently meditates on the virtues and wisdom and benevolence of the Yi Jing, for the duration of time it takes the incense stick to smolder away. One then lights a fresh stick of incense, and holding the Sacred Coins, meditate upon the meaning and wisdom that the Yarrow stalks will gain, as a result of being with the Yi Jing. One then lights a third stick of incense, and this time ponders upon the flame of the candle, becoming the flame, as the Yi Jing and Sacred Coins are. Three more Kowtows are performed, and the Sacred Coins placed in their receptacle, and then are sprinkled with the holy water, or wine. The Sacred Coins stay in this holding receptacle until they are used, and are not to be handled by another person. At the death of the individual who consecrated them, they may either be burned with the individual, or passed to a grandchild who has had the experience of the Dao. Once the ritual is over, the candle is to be snuffed out, not blown out. One then performs three more kowtows, and leaves the sanctuary. The Yi Jing is left on the sanctuary, closed, facing south. Everything is left spotless, and is always to be spotless. Source of this ritual is unknown.

Throwing The Sacred Coins

One enters one's sanctuary, performs three kowtows, and lights the incense and the candle(s). One then meditates upon one's question for the duration of time the incense smolders, until it is out. S/he then prostrates himself/herself before the altar three times, lights another stick of incense and meditates upon being within the spirit of the Dao. After this stick of incense smolders away, one then lights a third stick. The Sacred Coins are then passed through the smoke of the incense, being held in the right hand, clockwise. One also says the following:

Heaven and Earth,
Divine Spirits and Ancient Masters,
your son/daughter has a question:
« state question here »
Please respond to me through the system of the Yi Jing.
I will accept this response whether
it shows me good fortune or misfortune.

One then places the coins in one's hand, cupping them lightly and tossing them within one's hand, and letting them fall out, as they will. The Yin side is 2. The Yang side is 3.

• 6: Old Yin
• 7: Young Yang
• 8: Young Yin
• 9: Old Yang

One then repeats this process for a total of six times, which will give one the hexagram, which answers/comments/predicts and maybe even devastates one.

Modified Three Coin Toss

Take two coins. Toss them. Pick up the one that shows tails. If neither show tails, or if both show tails, pick up one coin at random. Toss two coins --- the one that was picked up, and the remaining untossed coin. Proceed as normal to derive the hexagram. Source: Secter: 1981

Aleister Crowley's System for Using Coins.

Take any five convenient pennies and a dime. Throw them up in the air, letting them land how and where they will. The Dime represents the moving line. The distance from you the coins fall, determines the hexagram. The closest coin to one, is the base line, the furthest coin from one is line # 6. Source: Crowley: 1993: 95

The Ba Qian Method.

Take eight coins of the same denomination. Mark one of them in some small, but significant way. « I use seven coins witht the same date. The eighth coin has a different date on it. » Phrase your question in an a suitable way. Take the coins in your hand, mixing them up by shaking them about. Then place them anti-clockwise, sequentially on the diagram of Fu Xi Order, starting with Qian, until you have laid the marked coin upon a trigram. That trigram is the lower trigram. Repeat this procedure, and you now have the upper trigram. Take two coins out of the set, and shake them up some more, then place them, one at a time, starting from the bottom of the hexagram, on the lines. The line that the marked coin falls is the moving line. The interpretation follows the usual patterns. Palmer, Martin; Kwok Man Ho, O'Brien, Joanne: 1986: 42

The Coins of Ko Yuen

These coins are intended as a study aid. A mandala, I partially discuss them in Appendix O

If one insists onusing them for divination, one may do so, by putting them in a bag, and pulling one out at random. Toss it into the air, and the hexagram which faces you, is the selected hexagram.

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