The origins of the I Ching (Book of Changes) can be traced back to the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BCE) and the early Western Zhou period (c. 1046-771 BCE). According to legend, the I Ching was first compiled by King Wen of Zhou. He is said to have used I Ching divination to predict the outcome of the Battle of Muye, which ultimately led to the overthrow of the last Shang king. His son, the Duke of Zhou, further refined the text.
The I Ching is an ancient classic that explains the changes and transformations of all phenomena in the universe. There were originally three books of changes -- Lian Shan, Gui Cang, and Zhou Yi -- but the first two have been lost to history. Only the Zhou Yi (the I Ching as we know it) survives today.
The I Ching has long been used for divination -- the practice of predicting future developments. The I Ching is essentially a book that summarizes the patterns and theories behind these predictions.
The most traditional method of I Ching divination uses yarrow stalks. The divination process in the Zhou Yi follows this sequence: stalks - numbers - lines - hexagrams - texts - interpretation.
The coin-tossing method is said to have been created by King Wen of Zhou (hence its name "King Wen's 64 Hexagrams"), though some attribute it to Guiguzi, a legendary strategist of the Warring States period. Its advantage is that it is very quick and convenient -- the entire divination process takes only a few minutes, and coins are readily available everywhere. For this reason, the coin method has become one of the most commonly used and widely practiced forms of divination.
This site demonstrates the coin-tossing method, with three stages: casting the hexagram, interpreting the hexagram, and reading the divination text.
Casting: Random numbers simulate coin tosses. Based on the results, values of 6, 7, 8, or 9 are assigned, corresponding to Old Yin, Young Yang, Young Yin, and Old Yang, which form the lines and hexagram.
Interpreting: Based on Old Yin/Yang and Young Yin/Yang lines, the primary hexagram and changed hexagram are formed. The number of changing lines determines which hexagram or line texts to reference.
Reading: After interpretation, you can copy the divination text for further study or reference.
This feature is designed to demonstrate the I Ching divination process. Please do not use this site for superstitious purposes. Hexagram and line texts, like answer books, horoscopes, and personality type results, are inherently vague and open to interpretation. Please refer to the "About the Barnum Effect" section below.
The Barnum effect is a psychological phenomenon named by psychologist Bertram Forer in honor of showman P.T. Barnum. People tend to rate personality descriptions as highly accurate when they believe the descriptions are vague and general, even though the descriptions are broad enough to apply to almost anyone. The Barnum effect provides a thorough explanation for the widespread acceptance of pseudosciences such as astrology, fortune-telling, and many personality tests.
In my view, however, these kinds of tests are not entirely useless. Much like a person who flips a coin to make a decision -- the point is not to let the coin decide for you, but to notice what you hoped for the moment the coin was in the air. Through these tests, you can also catch a glimpse of your subconscious expectations for your own self-image.
Therefore, I hope you won't blindly believe in the test results, but rather reflect on the results and the process. For positive psychological suggestions, once you recognize them as aspirations for yourself, take action. For negative psychological suggestions, recognize them as mere self-suggestion, and consciously avoid the influence of negative suggestions.