SmallChange and RealChange
© 1994, J. Brad Hicks.

SmallChange and RealChange are implementations of the I Ching, or Book of Changes, for the Newton.  Either one puts an ÒI ChingÓ icon into your Extras drawer; when you tap it, it displays and identifies one of the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching, along with moving lines.  Tapping the scroll arrows shows you more information.

SmallChange only shows you the hexagram, its name in Chinese and English, and the names of the two trigrams; it fits in only 11k on a Newton and is perfect for people who have memorized the I Ching or who are working with their own preferred translation nearby.

RealChange, in addition to all of the above, shows both the Judgment and Image for each hexagram. (YouÕll still need a good translation of the I Ching handy if you want line-by-line interpretation of the moving lines. IÕm thinking about adding that feature in a later version.) But then, it takes up 33k and may not fit on many peoplesÕ original MessagePads, MessagePad 100s, or ExpertPads, unless you put it on a RAM card.

WhatÕs the I Ching?

One of the oldest known methods of divination (fortune telling, to call it by its vulgar name) is the Chinese oracle explained in the classic I Ching (Book of Changes).

To use the I Ching oracle, you use one of two methods (coins or yarrow stalks) to generate six random numbers from six to nine, where 7 and 8 are more likely than 6 or 9.  The even numbers are portrayed by broken lines, and the odd numbers, solid lines. 6 and 9 are called Òmoving lines,Ó that is to say, in the near future the situation will change and those lines will flip ÒpolarityÓ from broken to solid or vice versa.

The six lines are then stacked on top of one another, from the bottom up.  The top three lines form one symbol (called a trigram), and the bottom three another.  Since there 2 to the 3rd power is 8, there are 8 possibilities for each trigram: heaven (creative), thunder (arousing), water (abysmal), mountain (still), earth (receptive), wind or wood (gentle), fire or flame (clinging), and lake (abysmal).  And since 8 times 8 is 64, there are 64 combined symbols.  Because each symbol has six (hex-) lines, in English the combined symbol is called a hexagram.

The complete Book of Changes has a brief meditation on the visual symbolism of each hexagram, called the Image, plus a vaguely worded prophesy from each hexagram, called the Judgement, plus further prophesies based on where the moving lines, if any, are in the hexagram. Most translations also include commentary by classic authors and/or the translator.  Read one, itÕs good for you.

How to Use SmallChange or RealChange

Concentrate on your question or situation, then tap I Ching in your Extras drawer.

What youÕll get is a floating window with an I Ching hexagram, and several bits of text.  The Hexagram is the number given to this symbol in the Book of Changes. ItÕs followed by the hexagramÕs name, both in Chinese and English. On the next line is the word Image and the names of the two trigrams. Finally, youÕll see the word JUDGMENT and the I Ching's interpretation of what this hexagram means to you.

There are more pages of additional information. Use the scroll arrows on your Newton to see the rest of the information.

SmallChange: Page 1 shows the hexagram as it was cast; page 2, what it becomes after changing the moving lines.

RealChange: Page 1 shows the hexagram as it was cast and its judgment; page 2, a meditation on the image of the hexagram, also from the Book of Changes. Page 3 shows the hexagram as it becomes after changing the moving lines, and page 4, the new hexagramÕs image.

Final Notes

I Ching Experts Who Are Also Computer Programmers:  I used the Òthree coinÓ method for determining the lines of the hexagram, because itÕs just so perfect for computers: random(2,3) + random(2,3) + random(2,3). IÕve been told that the yarrow stalk method generates slightly different probabilities for the lines. If you have a computer algorithm that neatly and quickly simulates the yarrow stalk method, feel free to email it to me and I may include it in later versions of SmallChange and/or RealChange.

Legal Stuff: SmallChange is Copyright 1994 by J. Brad Hicks. Copies may be freely distributed if unmodified; all other rights reserved.

How to Contact the Author:  Send mail to J. Brad Hicks, 3960 Kenneth Avenue, Bridgeton, Missouri 63043-2354, United States of America.  Via Internet, jbhicks@mcimail.com or mc!Brad_Hicks@mhs.attmail.com.  Via CompuServe, 76012,300 ... but I donÕt check that mailbox much more often than twice a week.