i-ching

v0.3.5

Published

2 years ago

library and API for working with the i-ching

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i-ching

Node.js library and API for working with the I Ching, including as a graph.

Quick Start

Install:

npm install --save i-ching

Load the module, and consult the Oracle:

var iChing = require('i-ching');

var reading = iChing.ask('to be or not to be?');
console.log('%d %s %s', 
            reading.hexagram.number, 
            reading.hexagram.character,
            reading.hexagram.names.join(', '));

if (reading.change) {
  console.log('changing lines: %j', reading.change.changingLines);
  console.log('change to hexagram: %d %s %s', 
              reading.change.to.number, 
              reading.change.to.character, 
              reading.change.to.names.join(', '));
} else {
  console.log('no changing lines');
}

Example output:

14 ䷍ Great Possessing, Possession in Great Measure
changing lines: [1,1,1,0,0,1]
change to hexagram: 16 ䷏ Providing-For, Enthusiasm

Get trigram 8:

console.log(iChing.trigram(8));
/* output:
Trigram {
  number: 8,
  names: [ 'Open', 'The Joyous' ],
  chineseName: '兌',
  pinyinName: 'duì',
  character: '☱',
  attribute: 'joyful',
  images: [ 'swamp', 'lake' ],
  chineseImage: '澤',
  pinyinImage: 'zé',
  familyRelationship: 'third daughter',
  binary: '011',
  lines: [ 1, 1, 0 ] }
*/

Get hexagram 3:

console.log(iChing.hexagram(3));
/* output:
Hexagram {
  number: 3,
  names: [ 'Sprouting', 'Difficulty at the Beginning' ],
  chineseName: '屯',
  pinyinName: 'zhūn',
  character: '䷂',
  topTrigram:
   Trigram {
     number: 4,
     // ...etc...
   }
   bottomTrigram:
   Trigram {
     number: 3,
     // ...etc...
   },
  binary: '010001',
  lines: [ 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0 ] }
*/

Get a specific Change:

console.log(iChing.hexagram(1).changeTo(63));
/* output:
Change {
  from:
   Hexagram {
     number: 1,
     // ...etc...
   },
  to:
   Hexagram {
     number: 63,
     // ...etc...
   },
  binary: '101010',
  changingLines: [ 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1 ] }
*/

Installation

npm install --save i-ching

API

Trigram Class

Properties

Methods

Trigram.hexagrams(position)

iChing Module

var iChing = require('i-ching');

Properties

iChing.hexagrams

Returns an array containing the 64 Hexagrams.

Example

console.log(iChing.hexagrams.length);
// output: 64

iChing.trigrams

Returns an array containing the 8 Trigrams.

Example

console.log(iChing.trigrams.length);
// output: 8

Methods

iChing.asGraph()

Returns an object suitable for graph applications.

Example

console.log(iChing.asGraph());
/* output excerpt:
{ nodes:
   [ { id: 't1', type: 'trigram', name: '☰', number: 1 },
     { id: 't2', type: 'trigram', name: '☷', number: 2 },
     // ... etc trigrams ...
     { id: 't8', type: 'trigram', name: '☱', number: 8 },
     //
     { id: 'h1', type: 'hexagram', name: '䷀', number: 1 },
     { id: 'h2', type: 'hexagram', name: '䷁', number: 2 },
     // ... etc hexagrams ...
     { id: 'h64', type: 'hexagram', name: '䷿', number: 64 } ],
  edges:
   [ // ... etc hexagrams 1,2,3 edges ...
     //
     // hexagram 4 edge to top and bottom trigram
     { id: 'h4-t4-bottom', from: 'h4', to: 't4', name: 'bottom' }
     { id: 'h4-t5-top', from: 'h4', to: 't5', name: 'top' }
     // hexagram 4 edge to other hexagrams, name = changed lines
     { id: 'h4-h1', from: 'h4', to: 'h1', name: '011101' }
     { id: 'h4-h2', from: 'h4', to: 'h2', name: '100010' }
     // ... etc hexagram 4 edges ...
     { id: 'h4-h64', from: 'h4', to: 'h64', name: '001000' }
     //
     // ... etc hexagram 5-64 edges
   ]
 } */

The names of the hexagram-to-hexagram edges are the binary representation of the changing lines between those hexagrams. For more information see the Change.binary property.

iChing.ask(question)

Returns a Reading with randomness seeded by the supplied question. The question can be any javascript type including strings, numbers, objects, arrays, and even undefined. Supplying the same question a second time will not, however, result in the same reading.

The reading is generated using the yarrow stalk method described in Wilhelm's translation. See references.

Example

var reading = iChing.ask('what is the meaning of life?');
console.log('%d -> %d %j', 
            reading.hexagram.character, 
            reading.change.to.character, 
            reading.change.changingLines);
// output (will vary due to randomness):
䷀ -> ䷾ [0,1,0,1,0,1]

iChing.hexagram(number)

Returns the Hexagram corresponding to the number. The number must be an integer from 1 to 64 inclusive. Hexagrams are numbered according to the traditional sequence.

Example

console.log(iChing.hexagram(22).names);
// output: [ 'Adorning', 'Grace' ]

iChing.trigram(number)

Returns the Trigram corresponding to the number. The number must be an integer from 1 to 8 inclusive. Trigrams are numbered as follows:

☰ Force, The Creative
☷ Field, The Receptive
☳ Shake, The Arousing
☵ Gorge, The Abysmal
☶ Bound, Keeping Still
☴ Ground, The Gentle
☲ Radiance, The Clinging
☱ Open, The Joyous

Example

console.log(iChing.trigram(1).names);
// output: [ 'Force', 'The Creative' ]

iChing.trigramSequence(name)

Returns an array of Trigrams ordered according to the named traditional sequence. Possible values for name and their corresponding outputs are as follows.

"earlierHeaven"

0. ☰ The Creative

1. ☴ Ground, The Gentle

2. ☵ Gorge, The Abysmal

3. ☶ Bound, Keeping Still

4. ☷ Field, The Receptive

5. ☳ Shake, The Arousing

6. ☲ Radiance, The Clinging

7. ☱ Open, The Joyous

"laterHeaven"

0. ☲ Radiance, The Clinging

1. ☷ Field, The Receptive

2. ☱ Open, The Joyous

3. ☰ The Creative

4. ☵ Gorge, The Abysmal

5. ☶ Bound, Keeping Still

6. ☳ Shake, The Arousing

7. ☴ Ground, The Gentle

Change Class

The Change class represents a change from one hexagram to another.

Properties

Change.binary

Returns a string containing the binary representation of the change lines. The most significant digit represents the top line and the least significant digit represents the bottom line. A bit value of 1 means the line changed, and a value of 0 means it did not change.

Example

var h = iChing.hexagram(5);
var c = h.changeTo(1);
console.log('%s -> %s %s', 
            c.from.character, 
            c.to.character, 
            c.binary);
// output: ䷄ -> ䷀ 101000

Change.changingLines

Returns an array of integers representing the changing lines. A value of 1 denotes a changed line. A value of 0 denotes an unchanged line. Lines are represented from the bottom of the hexagram to top in the array.

Example

var h = iChing.hexagram(5);
var c = h.changeTo(1);
console.log('%s -> %s %s', 
            c.from.character, 
            c.to.character, 
            c.changingLines);
// output: ䷄ -> ䷀ [ 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1 ]

Change.from

Returns the Hexagram from which the change originated.

Example

console.log(iChing.hexagram(5).changeTo(1).from.number);
// output: 5

Change.to

Returns the Hexagram which results from the change.

Example

console.log(iChing.hexagram(5).changeTo(1).to.number);
// output: 1

Hexagram Class

The Hexagram class represents a hexagram of the I Ching. There are 64 possible Hexagram instances.

Properties

Hexagram.binary

Returns a string containing the binary representation of the lines of the hexagram. The most significant digit is the top line and the least significant digit is the bottom line.

Example

console.log('%s %s', 
            iChing.hexagram(63).character, 
            iChing.hexagram(63).binary);
// output: ䷾ 010101

Hexagram.bottomTrigram

Returns a Trigram representing the bottom 3 lines of the hexagram.

Example

console.log('%s %s', 
            iChing.hexagram(8).character, 
            iChing.hexagram(8).bottomTrigram.character);
// output: ䷇ ☷

Hexagram.changes

Returns an array of Changes representing the 63 possible changes to the other hexagrams of the I Ching.

Example

var h = iChing.hexagram(48);
var c = h.changes[0];
console.log('%s -> %s %s', h.character, c.to.character, c.binary);
// output: ䷯ -> ䷀ 101001

Hexagram.character

Returns a string containing the hexagram character, which is a pictogram representing the lines of the hexagram. The characters codes for these characters range from \u4dc0 to \u4dff (hexadecimal character codes).

Example

var c = iChing.hexagram(2).character;
console.log('%s \\u%s', c, c.charCodeAt(0).toString(16));
// output ䷁ \u4dc0

Hexagram.chineseName

Returns a string containing the Chinese name of the hexagram.

Example

console.log(iChing.hexagram(5).chineseName);
// output: 需

Hexagram.lines

Returns an array of integers representing the lines of the hexagram. A value of 1 denotes a solid line. A value of 0 denotes a broken line. Lines are represented from the bottom of the hexagram to top in the array.

Example

console.log('%s %j', 
            iChing.hexagram(64).character, 
            iChing.hexagram(64).lines);
// output: ䷿ [0,1,0,1,0,1]

Hexagram.names

Returns an array of strings containing the names of the hexagram.

Example

console.log(iChing.hexagram(31).names);
// output: [ 'Conjoining', 'Influence (Wooing)' ]

Hexagram.number

Returns an integer which is the hexagram number. Hexagrams are numbered according to the traditional sequence.

Example

console.log(iChing.hexagram(15).number);
// output: 15

Hexagram.pinyinName

Returns a string containing the pinyin representation of the Chinese name of the hexagram.

Example

console.log(iChing.hexagram(5).pinyinName);
// output: xū

Hexagram.topTrigram

Returns a Trigram representing the top 3 lines of the hexagram.

Example

console.log('%s %s', 
            iChing.hexagram(8).character, 
            iChing.hexagram(8).topTrigram.character);
// output: ䷇ ☵

Methods

Hexagram.changeLines(lines)

Returns a Change representing the change that would occur if the specified lines of the hexagram were changed. The lines parameter must be an Array with 6 elements whose values are either 1 or 0. Element zero of the lines array represents the bottom line of the hexagram and element five represents the top line. A value of 1 means the corresponding line changes. A value of 0 means that the corresponding line does not change.

Example

var change = iChing.hexagram(1).changeLines([1,0,1,0,1,0]);
console.log('%s -> %s %j', 
            change.from.character, 
            change.to.character, 
            change.changingLines);
// output: ䷀ -> ䷿ [1,0,1,0,1,0]

Hexagram.changeTo(number)

Returns a Change representing the change from the current hexagram to the hexagram specified by number. The number must be an integer from 1 to 64 inclusive. If number is the number of the current hexagram, then the method returns null. Hexagrams are numbered according to the traditional sequence.

Example

console.log(iChing.hexagram(5).changeTo(1).changingLines);
// output: [ 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1 ]

Reading Class

The Reading class represents the results of a consultation with the Oracle. The yarrow stalk method is used to obtain the reading, as described in Wilhelm's translation. See references.

Properties

Reading.change

Returns the Change that was divined by the Oracle of the main hexagram of the reading to one of the other hexagrams of the I Ching. This property will return null if there are no changed lines in the reading.

Example

var reading = iChing.ask('what am I becoming?');
console.log(reading.change ? reading.change.to.number : 'nothing!');
// output (will vary due to randomness in the reading):
[ 'Bound', 'Keeping Still, Mountain' ]

Reading.hexagram

Returns the Hexagram that was divined by the Oracle based on the question.

Example

var reading = iChing.ask('which hexagram is the best for me?');
console.log(reading.hexagram.names);
// output (will very due to randomness in the reading):
[ 'Great Exceeding', 'Preponderance of the Great' ]

Trigram Class

The Trigram class represents a trigram of the I Ching. There are 8 possible Trigram instances.

Properties

Trigram.attribute

Returns a string containing the "attribute" of the trigram.

Example

console.log(iChing.trigram(1).attribute);
// output: strong

Trigram.binary

Returns a string containing the binary representation of the lines of the trigram. The most significant digit is the top line and the least significant digit is the bottom line.

Example

console.log('%s %s', 
            iChing.trigram(3).character, 
            iChing.trigram(3).binary);
// output: ☳ 001

Trigram.character

Returns a string containing the trigram character, which is a pictogram representing the lines of the trigram. The characters codes for these characters range from \u2630 to \u2637 (hexadecimal character codes).

Example

var c = iChing.trigram(2).character;
console.log('%s \\u%s', c, c.charCodeAt(0).toString(16));
// output: ☷ \u2637

Trigram.chineseImage

Returns a string containing the Chinese "image" of the trigram.

Example

console.log(iChing.trigram(5).chineseImage);
// output: 山

Trigram.chineseName

Returns a string containing the Chinese name of the trigram.

Example

console.log(iChing.trigram(5).chineseName);
// output: 艮

Trigram.familyRelationship

Returns a string containing the "family relationship" represented by the trigram.

Example

console.log(iChing.trigram(6).familyRelationship);
// output: first daughter

Trigram.images

Returns an array of strings containing the "images" of the trigram. These are the inherent properties of nature represented by the trigram.

Example

console.log(iChing.trigram(6).images);
// output: [ 'wind', 'wood' ]

Trigram.lines

Returns an array of integers representing the lines of the trigram. A value of 1 denotes a solid line. A value of 0 denotes a broken line. Lines are represented from bottom of the trigram to top in the array.

Example

console.log('%s %j', 
            iChing.trigram(3).character, 
            iChing.trigram(3).lines);
// output: ☳ [1,0,0]

Trigram.names

Returns an array of strings containing the names of the trigram.

Example

console.log(iChing.trigram(2).names);
// output: [ 'Field', 'The Receptive' ]

Trigram.number

Returns an integer which is the trigram number. Trigrams are numbered according to the order presented in the Wilhelm translation (see references) as follows:

☰ Force, The Creative
☷ Field, The Receptive
☳ Shake, The Arousing
☵ Gorge, The Abysmal
☶ Bound, Keeping Still
☴ Ground, The Gentle
☲ Radiance, The Clinging
☱ Open, The Joyous

Example

console.log(iChing.trigram(1).number);
// output: 1

Trigram.pinyinImage

Returns a string containing the pinyin representation of the Chinese "image" of the trigram.

Example

console.log(iChing.trigram(5).pinyinImage);
// output: shān

Trigram.pinyinName

Returns a string containing the pinyin representation of the Chinese name of the trigram.

Example

console.log(iChing.trigram(5).pinyinName);
// output: gèn

Methods

Trigram.hexagrams(position)

Returns an array of Hexagrams that have the current trigram in the specified position. Valid values for position are as follows:

'top' - returns the 8 hexagrams that have the current trigram in the top position.
'bottom' - returns the 8 hexagrams that have the current trigram in bottom position.
undefined - returns the 15 hexagrams that have the current trigram in either the top or bottom position. Note that one of the hexagrams will have the trigram in both the top and bottom positions, which is why there are a total 15 instead of 16.

Examples

var hexagrams = iChing.trigram(2).hexagrams();
var numbers = [];
hexagrams.forEach((h) => {
  numbers.push(h.number);
});
console.log('%d items: %j', numbers.length, numbers);
// output: 
// 15 items: [2,7,8,11,12,15,16,19,20,23,24,35,36,45,46]

var hexagrams = iChing.trigram(2).hexagrams('top');
var numbers = [];
hexagrams.forEach((h) => {
  numbers.push(h.number);
});
console.log('%d items: %j', numbers.length, numbers);
// output: 
// 8 items: [2,7,11,15,19,24,36,46]

Test

npm test

Change Log

Version 0.3.3

Added Trigram.hexagrams(position) method.
Documentation improvements in README.

Version 0.3.2

Fixed minor logical error in yarrow stalk operation.

Version 0.3.1

Changed iChing.reading method to iChing.ask.

Version 0.2.1

Minor documentation cleanup.

Version 0.2.0

Added the Reading class and the yarrow stalk method of obtaining a reading.
Added Hexagram.changeLines method.
Separated pinyin names from Chinese names into their own properties.

Version 0.1.x

initial release

References

Wilhelm, R. & Baynes, C. (1967). The I ching; or, Book of changes. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press (amazon.com).
List of Hexagrams of the I Ching (Wikipedia).

Published

Vulnerabilities

Links

Maintainers

Keywords

Readme

i-ching

Quick Start

Installation

API

iChing Module

Change Class

Hexagram Class

Reading Class

Trigram Class

iChing Module

Properties

iChing.hexagrams

iChing.trigrams

Methods

iChing.asGraph()

iChing.ask(question)

iChing.hexagram(number)

iChing.trigram(number)

iChing.trigramSequence(name)

Change Class

Properties

Change.binary

Change.changingLines

Change.from

Change.to

Hexagram Class

Properties

Hexagram.binary

Hexagram.bottomTrigram

Hexagram.changes

Hexagram.character

Hexagram.chineseName

Hexagram.lines

Hexagram.names

Hexagram.number

Hexagram.pinyinName

Hexagram.topTrigram

Methods

Hexagram.changeLines(lines)

Hexagram.changeTo(number)

Reading Class

Properties

Reading.change

Reading.hexagram

Trigram Class

Properties

Trigram.attribute

Trigram.binary

Trigram.character

Trigram.chineseImage

Trigram.chineseName

Trigram.familyRelationship

Trigram.images

Trigram.lines

Trigram.names

Trigram.number

Trigram.pinyinImage

Trigram.pinyinName

Methods

Trigram.hexagrams(position)

Test

Change Log

Version 0.3.3

Version 0.3.2

Version 0.3.1

Version 0.2.1

Version 0.2.0

Version 0.1.x

References