What are the methods of divination in the Book of Changes with pictures

The Book of Changes, also known as I Ching, is an ancient Chinese classic that has been used for divination for thousands of years. With the help of pictures, we can better understand its divination methods. Let's explore some of the common divination methods in the Book of Changes with pictures.

One of the well - known methods is the yarrow stalk method. First, you need to prepare 50 yarrow stalks. Remove one stalk and hold it in your left hand. Then, divide the remaining 49 stalks into two piles. This represents the separation of heaven and earth. Next, take one stalk from the right - hand pile and place it between the ring finger and little finger of your left hand. Then, group the stalks in each pile into groups of four. Count the remaining stalks. Repeat this process three times. After three times of operation, you will get a number, which corresponds to a line in the hexagram. By repeating this process six times, you can get a complete hexagram. Pictures can be used to illustrate each step clearly, such as showing the division of yarrow stalks and the placement of the remaining stalks.

Another method is the coin - tossing method. You use three coins. Each coin has two sides, yang (heads) and yin (tails). When you toss the three coins at once, there are four possible combinations: three yang, three yin, two yang and one yin, or two yin and one yang. Each combination represents a line in the hexagram. Toss the coins six times to form a hexagram. Pictures can depict the different coin combinations and how they relate to the hexagram lines.

Once you have obtained a hexagram, you can refer to the Book of Changes to interpret its meaning. The hexagrams in the Book of Changes are composed of six lines, and each line and the overall hexagram have specific symbolic meanings. Pictures can help you visualize the hexagrams and understand their structures more easily.

In conclusion, the divination methods in the Book of Changes with the aid of pictures can make the complex process more accessible and understandable. Whether it is the yarrow stalk method or the coin - tossing method, pictures can serve as a useful tool to guide you through the divination process and help you gain insights from the ancient wisdom of the Book of Changes.