.TH ching 6 VAX "" Unsupported.SH Nameching \- the book of changes and other cookies.SH Syntax.B /usr/games/ching[ hexagram ].SH Description.NXR "ching command".NXR "I ching".NXR "Book of Changes".NXA "ching command" "fortune command"The.I "I Ching"or.I "Book of Changes"is an ancient Chinese oracle that has been in use for centuriesas a source of wisdom and advice..PPThe text of the.I oracle(as it is sometimes known) consists of sixty-four.I hexagrams,each symbolized by a particular arrangement of six straight (\-\-\-)and broken (\-\ \-) lines.  These lines have values rangingfrom six through nine, with the even values indicating the broken lines..PPEach hexagram consists of two major sections.  The.B  Judgementrelates specifically to the matter at hand (E.g.,\*(lqIt furthers one to have somewhere to go.\*(rq) while the.B  Imagedescribes the general attributes of the hexagram and how they applyto one's own life (\*(lqThus the superior man makes himself strongand untiring.\*(rq)..PPWhen any of the lines have the values six or nine, they are moving lines;for each there is an appended judgement which becomes significant.Furthermore, the moving lines are inherently unstable andchange into their opposites; a second hexagram(and thus an additional judgement) is formed..PPNormally, one consults the oracle by fixing the desired questionfirmly in mind and then casting a set of changes (lines)using yarrow\-stalks or tossed coins.  The resulting hexagramwill be the answer to the question..PPThe.IR oracle " simply reads"a question from the standard input (up to an EOF)and hashes the individual characters in combination with thetime of day, process id and any other magic numbers which happen to be lyingaround the system.  The resulting value is used as the seedof a random number generator which drives a simulated coin\-toss divination.The answer is then piped through.BR nroff " for formatting"and will appear on the standard output..PPFor those who wish to remain steadfast in the old traditions,Athe oracle will also accept the results of a personal divination using,for example, coins.  To do this, cast the change and then type theresulting line values as an argument..SH See Alsofortune(6)