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Annotation of 43BSDTahoe/man/man6/ching.6, revision 1.1

1.1     ! root        1: .\"    @(#)ching.6     6.1 (Berkeley) 5/20/85
        !             2: .\"
        !             3: .TH CHING 6  "May 20, 1985"
        !             4: .AT 3
        !             5: .SH NAME
        !             6: ching \- the book of changes and other cookies
        !             7: .SH SYNOPSIS
        !             8: .B /usr/games/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.

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