Return to ching.6 CVS log

Up to [CSRG BSD Unix] / 43BSDReno / games / ching

Annotation of 43BSDReno/games/ching/ching.6, revision 1.1.1.1

1.1       root        1: .\"    @(#)ching.6     6.2 (Berkeley) 10/19/88
                      2: .\"
                      3: .TH CHING 6  "October 19, 1988"
                      4: .AT 3
                      5: .SH NAME
                      6: ching \- the book of changes and other cookies
                      7: .SH SYNOPSIS
                      8: .B ching
                      9: [ hexagram ]
                     10: .SH DESCRIPTION
                     11: The
                     12: .I "I Ching"
                     13: or
                     14: .I "Book of Changes"
                     15: is an ancient Chinese oracle that has been in use for centuries
                     16: as a source of wisdom and advice.
                     17: .PP
                     18: The text of the
                     19: .I oracle
                     20: (as it is sometimes known) consists of sixty-four
                     21: .I hexagrams,
                     22: each symbolized by a particular arrangement of six straight (\-\-\-)
                     23: and broken (\-\ \-) lines.  These lines have values ranging
                     24: from six through nine, with the even values indicating the broken lines.
                     25: .PP
                     26: Each hexagram consists of two major sections.  The
                     27: .B  Judgement
                     28: relates specifically to the matter at hand (E.g.,
                     29: \*(lqIt furthers one to have somewhere to go.\*(rq) while the
                     30: .B  Image
                     31: describes the general attributes of the hexagram and how they apply
                     32: to one's own life (\*(lqThus the superior man makes himself strong
                     33: and untiring.\*(rq).
                     34: .PP
                     35: When any of the lines have the values six or nine, they are moving lines;
                     36: for each there is an appended judgement which becomes significant.
                     37: Furthermore, the moving lines are inherently unstable and
                     38: change into their opposites; a second hexagram
                     39: (and thus an additional judgement) is formed.
                     40: .PP
                     41: Normally, one consults the oracle by fixing the desired question
                     42: firmly in mind and then casting a set of changes (lines)
                     43: using yarrow\-stalks or tossed coins.  The resulting hexagram
                     44: will be the answer to the question.
                     45: .PP
                     46: Using an algorithm suggested by S. C. Johnson, the UNIX
                     47: .IR oracle " simply reads"
                     48: a question from the standard input (up to an EOF)
                     49: and hashes the individual characters in combination with the
                     50: time of day, process id and any other magic numbers which happen to be lying
                     51: around the system.  The resulting value is used as the seed
                     52: of a random number generator which drives a simulated coin\-toss divination.
                     53: The answer is then piped through
                     54: .BR nroff " for formatting"
                     55: and will appear on the standard output.
                     56: .PP
                     57: For those who wish to remain steadfast in the old traditions,
                     58: the oracle will also accept the results of a personal divination using,
                     59: for example, coins.  To do this, cast the change and then type the
                     60: resulting line values as an argument.
                     61: .PP
                     62: The impatient modern may prefer to settle for Chinese cookies; try
                     63: .IR fortune (6).
                     64: .SH "SEE ALSO"
                     65: It furthers one to see the great man.
                     66: .SH DIAGNOSTICS
                     67: The great prince issues commands,
                     68: .br
                     69: Founds states, vests families with fiefs.
                     70: .br
                     71: Inferior people should not be employed.
                     72: .SH BUGS
                     73: Waiting in the mud
                     74: .br
                     75: Brings about the arrival of the enemy.
                     76: .PP
                     77: If one is not extremely careful,
                     78: .br
                     79: Somebody may come up from behind and strike him.
                     80: .br
                     81: Misfortune.

This archive runs on limited infrastructure. Preserving old code on modern bandwidth. Automated agents are requested to crawl responsibly.