Understanding Your Result - Lines, Changes, and Hexagrams

You've successfully cast your six lines using the three-coin method and recorded them from bottom to top. Now, it's time to understand what these lines signify and how they combine to form one or sometimes two hexagrams, which are key to receiving your guidance from the I Ching.

1. Review of Line Types and Their Significance

As a quick recap from Article 3, each toss of the three coins results in a sum (6, 7, 8, or 9), which corresponds to a specific type of line:

Sum of 6: Old Yin (Changing Yin) --- X --- or --- o ---

This is a Yin (broken) line that is "moving" or "changing." It holds the potential to transform into its opposite (a Yang line).

Significance: These lines are often crucial points of focus in a reading, indicating areas of significant flux, transformation, or special advice.

Sum of 7: Young Yang (Stable Yang) ---------

This is a Yang (solid) line that is stable and not currently in a state of change.

Significance: Represents a clear, stable Yang aspect relevant to your query.

Sum of 8: Young Yin (Stable Yin) --- ---

This is a Yin (broken) line that is stable.

Significance: Represents a clear, stable Yin aspect relevant to your query.

Sum of 9: Old Yang (Changing Yang) ----X---- or ----o----

This is a Yang (solid) line that is "moving" or "changing." It holds the potential to transform into its opposite (a Yin line).

Significance: Like Old Yin lines, these are key indicators of change, important lessons, or areas requiring attention.

2. Identifying the Primary Hexagram

The six lines you cast and recorded, in their initial forms (including any 'X's or 'o's indicating changing lines), directly constitute your Primary Hexagram (also sometimes called the "Present Hexagram" or "First Hexagram").

How to find it: Simply look at the six-line figure you've drawn. This is your Primary Hexagram.

What it represents: The Primary Hexagram generally reflects the current state of affairs regarding your question. It describes the situation as it is now, including the dynamic forces at play (represented by any changing lines).

Once you have this six-line figure, you would typically consult an I Ching text or resource to find the number and name of this hexagram and read its associated judgment and image texts.

3. The Role of Changing Lines: Creating the Secondary Hexagram

If your casting resulted in one or more changing lines (lines with a sum of 6 or 9), these lines are not only significant in themselves but also indicate the formation of a Secondary Hexagram (also known as the "Future Hexagram," "Transformed Hexagram," or "Changed Hexagram").

How it's formed:

• Any line that was a 6 (Old Yin --- X ---) transforms into its opposite: a Yang line (---------).
• Any line that was a 9 (Old Yang ----X----) transforms into its opposite: a Yin line (--- ---).
• Stable lines (7 and 8) remain as they are.

Drawing the Secondary Hexagram:

To visualize this, you can redraw the hexagram next to your primary one. For each line:

• If the primary line was a 7 (Stable Yang), the secondary line is also a 7 (Stable Yang).
• If the primary line was an 8 (Stable Yin), the secondary line is also an 8 (Stable Yin).
• If the primary line was a 9 (Changing Yang), the secondary line becomes a 7 (Stable Yang) for the purpose of forming the new hexagram structure, though its character is now effectively Yin. More simply put, the solid changing line becomes a broken line.
• If the primary line was a 6 (Changing Yin), the secondary line becomes an 8 (Stable Yin) for the purpose of forming the new hexagram structure, though its character is now effectively Yang. More simply put, the broken changing line becomes a solid line.

Essentially, change a 9 to a Yin line, and a 6 to a Yang line. Lines 7 and 8 stay the same.

What it represents:

The Secondary Hexagram often indicates:

• The potential outcome or future direction if the changes inherent in the situation unfold.
• The underlying context or a more hidden aspect of the situation.
• Where the current situation is tending or leading.

4. Reading the I Ching Texts

Once you have identified your Primary Hexagram and, if applicable, your Secondary Hexagram:

If there are NO changing lines:

You only have one hexagram to consider – the Primary Hexagram. You would read the main text (Judgment, Image) for this hexagram.

If there ARE changing lines:

• Read the Judgment and Image for the Primary Hexagram. This gives you the overall context of your current situation.
• Then, specifically read the text associated with each individual changing line you cast (e.g., the text for the changing line at the third position, if line three was a 6 or 9). These line texts often provide the most specific and pertinent advice.
• Finally, read the Judgment and Image for the Secondary Hexagram. This gives you a sense of where the situation is heading or what it might transform into.

Important Note: This article focuses on how to identify your hexagram(s) from the coin toss results. The actual interpretation of what these hexagrams and lines mean in relation to your question comes from studying the texts of the I Ching itself. There are many excellent translations and commentaries available to help with this deeper interpretive process.

Example:

Let's say you cast the following lines from bottom to top:

• Line 1: Sum 7 (Young Yang ---------)
• Line 2: Sum 9 (Old Yang ----X----)
• Line 3: Sum 8 (Young Yin --- ---)
• Line 4: Sum 7 (Young Yang ---------)
• Line 5: Sum 6 (Old Yin --- X ---)
• Line 6: Sum 8 (Young Yin --- ---)

Primary Hexagram: Formed by these exact lines. You'd look this up.

Changing Lines: Line 2 (was 9) and Line 5 (was 6). You'd read the specific texts for these two changing lines.

Secondary Hexagram:

• Line 1 remains Yang.
• Line 2 (was 9, Old Yang) becomes Yin.
• Line 3 remains Yin.
• Line 4 remains Yang.
• Line 5 (was 6, Old Yin) becomes Yang.
• Line 6 remains Yin.

You'd look up this new hexagram formed by these transformed lines.

With this understanding, you can now translate your coin tosses into the language of the I Ching. The next step in your journey would be to consult a good version of the I Ching text to explore the wisdom it holds for you.

In our next article, we'll step back from the mechanics and delve into the "Historical Roots of the 3-Coin Method."