.\" $NetBSD: ching.6,v 1.5 2005/07/05 08:48:47 wiz Exp $ .\" .\" Copyright (c) Caldera International Inc. 2001-2002. All rights reserved. .\" .\" Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without .\" modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions .\" are met: .\" .\" 1. Redistributions of source code and documentation must retain the .\" above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following .\" disclaimer. .\" 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright .\" notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the .\" documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution. .\" 3. All advertising materials mentioning features or use of this software .\" must display the following acknowledgement: .\" This product includes software developed or owned by Caldera .\" International, Inc. .\" 4. Neither the name of Caldera International, Inc. nor the names of .\" other contributors may be used to endorse or promote products .\" derived from this software without specific prior written permission. .\" .\" USE OF THE SOFTWARE PROVIDED FOR UNDER THIS LICENSE BY CALDERA .\" INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR .\" IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED .\" WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE .\" DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL CALDERA INTERNATIONAL, INC. BE LIABLE .\" FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR .\" CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF .\" SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR .\" BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, .\" WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE .\" OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN .\" IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. .\" .\" .\" Copyright (c) 1993 .\" The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. .\" .\" Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without .\" modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions .\" are met: .\" 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright .\" notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer. .\" 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright .\" notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the .\" documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution. .\" 3. Neither the name of the University nor the names of its contributors .\" may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software .\" without specific prior written permission. .\" .\" THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE REGENTS AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND .\" ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE .\" IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE .\" ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE REGENTS OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE .\" FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL .\" DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS .\" OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) .\" HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT .\" LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY .\" OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF .\" SUCH DAMAGE. .\" .\" .\" @(#)ching.6 8.1 (Berkeley) 5/31/93 .\" .Dd May 31, 1993 .Dt CHING 6 .Os .Sh NAME .Nm ching .Nd the book of changes and other cookies .Sh SYNOPSIS .Nm .Op hexagram .Sh DESCRIPTION The .Em I Ching or .Em Book of Changes is an ancient Chinese oracle that has been in use for centuries as a source of wisdom and advice. .Pp The text of the .Em oracle (as it is sometimes known) consists of sixty-four .Em hexagrams , each symbolized by a particular arrangement of six straight (\-\-\-) and broken (\-\ \-) lines. These lines have values ranging from six through nine, with the even values indicating the broken lines. .Pp Each hexagram consists of two major sections. The .Sy Judgement relates specifically to the matter at hand .Po e.g. , .Dq \&It furthers one to have somewhere to go. .Pc while the .Sy Image describes the general attributes of the hexagram and how they apply to one's own life .Pq Dq Thus the superior man makes himself strong and untiring. .Pp When 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 and change into their opposites; a second hexagram (and thus an additional judgement) is formed. .Pp Normally, one consults the oracle by fixing the desired question firmly in mind and then casting a set of changes (lines) using yarrow\-stalks or tossed coins. The resulting hexagram will be the answer to the question. .Pp Using an algorithm suggested by S. C. Johnson, the .Ux .Em oracle simply reads a question from the standard input (up to an EOF) and hashes the individual characters in combination with the time of day, process id and any other magic numbers which happen to be lying around the system. The resulting value is used as the seed of a random number generator which drives a simulated coin\-toss divination. The answer is then piped through .Xr nroff 1 for formatting and will appear on the standard output. .Pp For those who wish to remain steadfast in the old traditions, the oracle will also accept the results of a personal divination using, for example, coins. To do this, cast the change and then type the resulting line values as an argument. .Pp The impatient modern may prefer to settle for Chinese cookies; try .Xr fortune 6 . .Sh DIAGNOSTICS The great prince issues commands, .Pp Founds states, vests families with fiefs. .Pp Inferior people should not be employed. .Sh SEE ALSO It furthers one to see the great man. .Sh BUGS Waiting in the mud .Pp Brings about the arrival of the enemy. .Pp If one is not extremely careful, .Pp Somebody may come up from behind and strike him. .Pp Misfortune.