ching(6)

CHING(6)                 GAMES AND DEMOS                 CHING(6)

NAME
     ching - the book of changes and other cookies

SYNOPSIS
     /usr/games/ching [hexagram]

DESCRIPTION
     The I Ching or Book of Changes is an ancient Chinese  oracle
     that has been in use for centuries as a source of wisdom and
     advice.

     The text of the oracle (as it is sometimes  known)  consists
     of  sixty-four  hexagrams,  each  symbolized by a particular
     arrangement of six straight (---) and  broken  (- -)  lines.
     These  lines have values ranging from six through nine, with
     the even values indicating the broken lines.

     Each hexagram consists of two major sections.  The Judgement
     relates  specifically  to  the matter at hand (For instance,
     "It furthers one to have somewhere to go.") while the  Image
     describes  the  general  attributes  of the hexagram and how
     they apply to one's own life ("Thus the superior  man  makes
     himself strong and untiring.").

     When any of the lines has the value six or  nine,  it  is  a
     moving  line;  for any such line there is an appended judge-
     ment which becomes  significant.   Furthermore,  the  moving
     lines  are  inherently  unstable and change into their oppo-
     sites; a second hexagram (and thus an additional  judgement)
     is formed.

     Normally, one consults the  oracle  by  fixing  the  desired
     question  firmly  in  mind and then casting a set of changes
     (lines) using yarrow-stalks or tossed coins.  The  resulting
     hexagram will be the answer to the question.

     Using an algorithm suggested by S. C. Johnson,  this  oracle
     simply  reads  a  question from the standard input (up to an
     EOF) and hashes the  individual  characters  in  combination
     with the time of day, process ID and any other magic numbers
     which happen to be lying around the system.   The  resulting
     value is used as the seed of a random number generator which
     drives a simulated coin-toss divination.  The answer is then
     piped  through  nroff  for formatting and will appear on the
     standard output.

     For those who wish to remain steadfast  in  the  old  tradi-
     tions, the oracle will also accept the results of a personal
     divination using, for example, coins.  To do this, cast  the
     change  and  then type the resulting line values as an argu-
     ment.

     The impatient modern may prefer to settle for Chinese  cook-
     ies; try fortune(6).

SEE ALSO
     It furthers one to see the great man.

DIAGNOSTICS
     The great prince issues commands,
     Founds states, vests families with fiefs.
     Inferior people should not be employed.

BUGS
     Waiting in the mud
     Brings about the arrival of the enemy.

     If one is not extremely careful,
     Somebody may come up from behind and strike him.
     Misfortune.							

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