CHING(6)						 CHING(6)

NAME
       ching, fortune - the book of changes and other cookies

SYNOPSIS
       /usr/games/ching [ hexagram ]

       /usr/games/fortune

DESCRIPTION
       The  I Ching or Book of Changes is an ancient Chinese ora-
       cle that has been in use for centuries as a source of wis-
       dom and advice.

       The text of the oracle (as it is sometimes known) consists
       of sixty-four 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.

       Each  hexagram consists of two major sections.  The Judge-
       ment relates specifically to the matter at hand (E.g., "It
       furthers	 one  to have somewhere to go.")  while the Image
       describes the general attributes of the hexagram	 and  how
       they apply to one's own life ("Thus the superior man makes
       himself strong and untiring.").

       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.

       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 result-
       ing hexagram will be the answer to the question.

       Using an algorithm suggested by S. C.  Johnson,	the  Unix
       oracle simply reads a question from the standard input (up
       to an EOF) and hashes the individual characters in  combi-
       nation  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 nroff for formatting and
       will appear on the standard output.

       For those who wish to remain steadfast in the  old  tradi-
       tions,  the  oracle will also accept the results of a per-
       sonal divination using, for example, coins.  To	do  this,
       cast the change and then type the resulting line values as
       an argument.

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CHING(6)						 CHING(6)

       The impatient modern may	 prefer	 to  settle  for  Chinese
       cookies; try fortune.

SEE ALSO
       It furthers one to see the great man.

DIAGNOSTICS
       The great prince issues commands,
       Founds states, vests families with fiefs.
       Inferior people should not be employed.

BUGS
       Waiting in the mud
       Brings about the arrival of the enemy.

       If one is not extremely careful,
       Somebody may come up from behind and strike him.
       Misfortune.

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