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YI JING OR ZICHOU
ONE INDIVIDUAL'S [ MIS ] [ - ] [ ? ] UNDERSTANDING
APPENDIX D
Using Dice

Consecration Ritual.

I am not aware of rituals, per se. However, I assume that the one given for consecration the coins could, with some adoptions, be used.

Throwing Normal Dice.

Throw three normal dice. Toss the die to obtain the numbers, as shown below. Repeat the process six times, to construct the relevent hexagram.

Dice Results Primary Hexagram Secondary Hexagram
3 odd numbers Solid Line Solid Line
3 even numbers Broken Line Broken Line
2 odd, 1 even Solid Line Broken Line
2 even, 1 odd Broken Line Solid Line

Note: The odds of obtaining a moving line using die are radically different from either coins are yarrow stalks.

Alternate Method of Using Die

On a table place a die with 1 facing up, on one's right hand side. On the left side place a die with 6 facing up. Touch the right die with one's fingers. Without looking, turn the die over in different directions untill it "feels right". Stop. If the number on top is odd, the line is Yang. Record this as the first line of the hexagram. Repeat this process, except with the left die, for the second line. repeat until six lines haves been constructed.

This method does not rely on chance, but rather, on how well one can perceive the different patterns on the dice. Source: Culling (1989:56)

Eight Sided Dice

Obtain two eight sided dice of different colors. Decide which color indicates the top trigram, and which indicates the bottom trigram. Numbers follow that of the Fu Xi Arrangement of the Trigrams.

In the mid-eighties, one of the Yi Jing books I bought, came with a set of die with the trigrams inscribed on them. I do not know which book it was. Using them is most satisfactory.

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