The I Ching (or Yi Ching or Book of Changes) is most commonly known as an ancient Chinese method of divination. The following method is a quick and simple way to determine an I Ching hexagram using dice. This method has the same probability of outcomes as the original yarrow stalk method.
Step 1
Obtain 4 dice, two of one color (or size) and two of a different color (or size).
Step 2
Designate one pair of dice as the lead pair, and one as the second pair.
Step 3
Roll the dice.
Step 4
Calculate the value of the roll by adding the value of the dice using the following:
- For the lead pair, if the total rolled is odd, it has a value of 2; otherwise, the value is 3.
- For the second pair, each dice has a value. An odd roll has a value of 2, otherwise, the value is 3.
- Example: Lead pair of 2 and 4 and Second pair of 1 and 6.
Roll value is 3 (lead) + 2 (second) + 3 (second) = 8
Step 5
Determine the line based on the roll value:
- 6 = old yin
- 7 = young yang
- 8 = young yin
- 9 = old yang
Step 6
Write down the resulting line. Begin with the first (bottom) line, and work your way up to the sixth (top) line. Once six lines have been determined, the hexagram is formed. The lines are:
- old yin = ---x---
- young yin = --- ---
- young yang = --------
- old yang = ---o---
Step 7
Interpret the hexagram by matching it to the description or translation from the I Ching.
Tips
- You can also use dice in place of coins in the 3 coin method. Simply designate an odd roll as heads, and an even roll as tails.
