SET OF I CHING STICKS AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

Abstract

A set of I Ching sticks and method of using the same to convey information to a user based on various indicia and groupings of indicia disposed on the sides and ends of each of the I Ching sticks.

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a set of I Ching sticks and method of using the same, e.g., to consult an oracle according to I Ching.

BACKGROUND

The I Ching is a Chinese system of philosophy and divination contained in a book that is over 3000 years old. The I Ching has and continues to have a major influence on Chinese cultural development. Initially, two methods of approaching the I Ching as a divination tool emerged: the yarrow stalks method and the coins method. A variety of different methods are currently utilized.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a set of I Ching sticks and method of using the same, e.g., to consult an oracle according to I Ching.

A set of I Ching sticks in accordance with the present disclosure includes six I Ching sticks, each defining an elongated body including first, second, third, and fourth rectangular side faces. Each rectangular side face includes a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first and second portions. The first and second rectangular side faces oppose one another and the third and fourth rectangular side faces oppose one another. A first indicium, configured to convey information, is disposed on each of: the first and second portions of the first rectangular side face, one of the first or second portions of the third rectangular side face, and one of the first or second portions of the fourth rectangular side face. A second indicium, configured to convey information and different from the first indicium, is disposed on each of: the first and second portions of the second rectangular side face, the other of the first or second portions of the third rectangular side face, and the other of the first or second portions of the fourth rectangular side face. The elongated body of each I Ching stick further includes first and second end faces. A third indicium is disposed on the each of the first and second end faces. The third indicium is different from each of the first and second indicia and includes four distinguishable orientations, each configured to convey information.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the first indicium is a yin line and the second indicium is a yang line.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the third indicium is a yin-yang symbol.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the intermediate portions of the third and fourth rectangular side faces each include a fourth indicium. The fourth indicium may be a change symbol.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the intermediate portions of the first and second rectangular side faces each include a fifth indicium. The fifth indicium may be a logo.

In still yet another aspect of the present disclosure, each stick is wood dowel and each of the indicia is burned into the wood dowel.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the I Ching sticks are separate from one another to enable individual manipulation of each I Ching stick relative to any other I Ching stick.

A method of using a set of I Ching sticks in accordance with the present disclosure includes positioning six I Ching sticks in an initial orientation wherein a first rectangular side face of each I Ching stick is displayed; manipulating one or more of the six I Ching sticks; and repositioning the six I Ching sticks in a final, side-by-side orientation wherein the first rectangular side face, a second rectangular side face, a third rectangular side face, or a fourth rectangular side face of each I Ching stick is displayed, depending upon the manipulating. The method further includes determining information from indicia disposed on first portions of the displayed faces of each of the six I Ching sticks; determining other information from indicia disposed on second portions of the displayed faces of each of the six I Ching sticks; and determining still other information from an orientation of end indicia disposed on end faces of at least one of the six I Ching sticks.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the end indicium disposed on each end face includes four distinguishable orientations that convey different information.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the indicia on the first and second portions of the first rectangular side face of each of the six I Ching sticks are the same as one another and the indicia on the first and second portions of the second rectangular side face of each of the six I Ching sticks are the same as one another and different from the indicia on the first and second portions of the first rectangular side face of each of the six I Ching sticks.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the third and fourth rectangular side faces of each of the six I Ching sticks each include one indicium that is the same as the indicia on the first and second portions of the first rectangular side face of each of the six I Ching sticks and one indicium that is the same as the indicia on the first and second portions of the second rectangular side face of each of the six I Ching sticks.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes further repositioning the six I Ching sticks in a spaced-apart, further orientation such that an additional one of the first rectangular side face, the second rectangular side face, the third rectangular side face, or the fourth rectangular side face of each I Ching stick is additionally displayed, and determining information based upon the indicia provided on the additionally displayed rectangular side faces.

In still yet another aspect of the present disclosure, four different areas of information are provided: a first area including the indicia on the first portions of the displayed faces and indicia on first portions on the additionally displayed faces of a first group of three of the six I Ching sticks; a second area including the indicia on the second portions of the displayed faces and indicia on second portions on the additionally displayed faces of the first group of three of the six I Ching sticks; a third area including the indicia on the first portions of the displayed faces and indicia on first portions on the additionally displayed faces of a second group of three of the six I Ching sticks; and a fourth area including the indicia on the second portions of the displayed faces and indicia on second portions on the additionally displayed faces of the second group of three of the six I Ching sticks. The first and second areas may constitute an inner world and the third and fourth areas may constitute an outer world.

The details of one or more aspects of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the techniques described in this disclosure will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become more apparent in view of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a set of I Ching sticks in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2A-2D are plan views illustrating the various side faces of each I Ching stick of the set of I Ching sticks of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are plan views illustrating the end faces of each I Ching stick of the set of I Ching sticks of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate a method of using the set of I Ching sticks of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the set of I Ching sticks of FIG. 1 in a laid out, final orientation;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the set of I Ching sticks of FIG. 1 in a spaced-apart, further orientation

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the set of I Ching sticks of FIG. 1 in the spaced-apart, further orientation, highlighting the various worlds, forces, and hexagrams provided; and

FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate the various orientations of the end faces of each I Ching stick of the set of I Ching sticks of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring generally to FIG. 1, a set of I Ching sticks 10 provided in accordance with the present disclosure includes six (6) I Ching sticks 110,120,130,140,150, 160. Each I Ching stick 110-160 is separate from each of the other I Ching sticks 110-160 and is unconstrained relative to each of the other I Ching sticks 110-160 to enable independent manipulation of each I Ching stick 110-160 relative to any other I Ching stick 110-160. Each I Ching stick 110-160 is made from wood dowel and defines an elongated rectangular configuration. The I Ching sticks 110-160 are identical to one another and may be handcrafted. The various indicia disposed on each I Ching stick 110-160, detailed below, are formed via selectively burning appropriate portions of the various faces to form the desired indicia.

With additional reference to FIGS. 2A-3D, each I Ching stick 110-160 defines four (4) rectangular side faces 210, 220, 230, 240 and two (2) square end faces 250, 260. Each rectangular side face 210-240 includes two indicia, a first disposed towards a first end of the I Ching stick 110-160 and a second disposed towards a second, opposite end of the I Ching stick 110-160. An intermediate area is defined between the first and second indicia on each rectangular side face 210-240. The first and second square end faces 250, 260 of each I Ching stick 110-160, disposed at the first and second ends, respectively, thereof, each include an end indicium 252, 262.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the first and second indicia 212, 214 of the first side face 210 of each I Ching stick 110-160 are each yang lines, e.g., formed as single, relatively long rectangles 212, 214. With reference to FIG. 2B, the first and second indicia 222, 224 of the second side face 220 of each I Ching stick 110-160 are each yin lines, e.g., formed as pairs of spaced-apart, relatively short rectangles 222, 224. In embodiments, the intermediate area 216 defined between the first and second indicia 212, 214 of the first side face 210 of each I Ching stick 110-160 may be blank or may include any suitable marking such as, for example, a logo. Likewise, the intermediate area 226 defined between the first and second indicia 222, 224 of the second side face 220 of each I Ching stick 110-160 may be blank or may include any suitable marking such as, for example, a logo.

Turning to FIG. 2C, the first indicium 232 of the third side face 230 of each I Ching stick 110-160 is a yin line and the second indicium 234 of the third side face 230 of each I Ching stick 110-160 is a yang line. As shown in FIG. 2D, the first indicium 242 of the fourth side face 240 of each I Ching stick 110-160 is a yang line and the second indicium 244 of the fourth side face 240 of each I Ching stick 110-160 is a yin line (although this may be reversed to match the third side face 230). In embodiments, the intermediate areas 236, 246 defined between the first and second indicia 232, 234 and 242, 244, respectively, of the respective third and fourth first side faces 230, 240 of each I Ching stick 110-160 may include a change indicium 238, 248, e.g., solid black circles 238, 248, respectively, as the third and fourth first side faces 230, 240 represent changes (with each including one yin line and one yang line).

The first and second side faces 210, 220 oppose one another, e.g., the first and second side faces 210, 220 are disposed on opposite sides of the I Ching sticks 110-160. Likewise, the third and fourth side faces 230, 240 oppose one another, e.g., the third and fourth side faces 230, 240 are disposed on opposite sides of the I Ching sticks 110-160. In this manner, rolling an I Ching stick 110-160 may sequentially present the first side face 210, followed by the third side face 230, followed by the second side face 220, followed by the fourth side face 240, followed by a return to the first side face 210. However, the above may be modified by reversing the first and second side faces 210, 220, and/or the third and fourth side faces 230, 240.

With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the end indicia 252, 262 on the first and second square end faces 250, 260, respectively, of each I Ching stick 110-160, are yin-yang symbols 252, 262. The black circle in each yin-yang symbol 252, 262 shows a movement towards yin, while the white circle in each yin-yang symbol 252, 262 shows a movement towards yang. The end indicia 252, 262 on the end faces 250, 260 of each I Ching stick 110-160 may be oriented in the same direction such that, for example, whether viewing the first end face 250 or the second end face 260, the same orientation of the indicia 252, 262, respectively, is provided.

Turning to FIGS. 4A-4D, in conjunction with FIGS. 2A-2D, in use, with initial reference to FIG. 4A, the set of I Ching sticks 10 are held in the user's hand in an initial orientation wherein the first side face 210 of each I Ching stick 110-160 is facing upwardly, displaying the yang lines 212, 214. Thus, the second side face 220 of each I Ching stick 110-160, including the yin lines 222, 224, are facing downward towards the user's hand. The I Ching sticks 110-160 are positioned side-by-side in this initial orientation illustrated in FIG. 4A.

Referring to FIG. 4B, in conjunction with FIGS. 2A-2D, when ready, the user rotates, shuffles, mixes, and/or otherwise manipulates the set of I Ching sticks 10 with one or both hands to reorder and/or reorient the set of I Ching sticks 10. With additional reference to FIGS. 4C-4D, when ready and once manipulation of the set of I Ching sticks 10 is complete, the I Ching sticks 110-160 are laid out in a side-by-side, touching or closely approximated, final orientation. As a result of the manipulation of the I Ching sticks 110-160, a different order of the I Ching sticks 110-160 and/or orientation of one or more of the I Ching sticks 110-160 are presented.

Turning to FIG. 5, in conjunction with FIGS. 2A-2D, in the laid out I Ching sticks 110-160 in the side-by-side, touching or closely approximated, final orientation, only the upwardly-facing side faces of the I Ching sticks 110-160 are readily visible. These six (6) side faces, one from each of the I Ching sticks 110-160, display a six (6) line hexagram, numbered 1-6 in FIG. 5, each line 1-6 including a left side indicium (e.g., one of the first indicia 212, 222, 232, 242 depending upon the side face 210, 220, 230, 240, respectively, that is displayed for each I Ching stick 110-160) and a right side indicium (e.g., one of the second indicia 214, 224, 234, 244 depending upon the side face 210, 220, 230, 240, respectively, that is displayed for each I Ching stick 110-160). The left side indicium displayed for each I Ching stick 110-160 together define the primary force while the right side indicium displayed for each I Ching stick 110-160 together define the relating force.

Referring to FIG. 6, in conjunction with FIGS. 2A-2D, by moving the set of I Ching sticks 10 to transition the I Ching sticks 110-160 from the side-by-side, touching or closely approximated, final orientation of FIG. 5 to a spaced-apart further orientation as illustrated in FIG. 6, a six (6) line hidden hexagram is revealed, numbered 1-6 in FIG. 5. Each line 1-6 includes a left side indicium (e.g., one of the first indicia 212, 222, 232, 242 depending upon the side face 210, 220, 230, 240, respectively, that is revealed for each I Ching stick 110-160) and a right side indicium (e.g., one of the second indicia 214, 224, 234, 244 depending upon the side face 210, 220, 230, 240, respectively, that is revealed for each I Ching stick 110-160).

Turning to FIG. 7, in conjunction with FIGS. 2A-2D, with the set of I Ching sticks 10 disposed in the spaced-apart further orientation, the set of I Ching sticks 10 define an inner world, formed from the bottom three I Ching sticks 110-160, and an outer world, formed from the top three I Ching sticks 110-160. Within each world, a pair of six (6) line hexagrams are provided for a total of four six (6) line hexagrams: an inner world primary hexagram formed by the left indicia on the two exposed faces of each of the three inner world I Ching sticks 110-160; an inner world relating hexagram formed by the right indicia on the two exposed faces of each of the three inner world I Ching sticks 110-160; an outer world primary hexagram formed by the left indicia on the two exposed faces of each of the three outer world I Ching sticks 110-160; and an outer world relating hexagram formed by the right indicia on the two exposed faces of each of the three outer world I Ching sticks 110-160.

An I Ching source (not shown) may be used to determine the meaning of the various hexagrams and/or single lines within one or more of the hexagrams provided by the set of I Ching sticks 10. Further, with reference to FIGS. 8A-8D, in addition to the various hexagrams and lines thereof detailed above, the end indicia 252, 262 on the end faces 250, 260 of each of the I Ching sticks 110-160 may also be utilized to convey information. That is, the end indicia 252, 262 of each of the I Ching sticks 110-160 may be disposed in any one of four different orientations, illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8D. This orientation information may be utilized with the lines and/or hexagrams of the corresponding I Ching sticks 110-160 or may be utilized independently thereof. Further, the orientation for some or all may be considered, individually or collectively.

It should be understood that various aspects disclosed herein may be combined in different combinations than the combinations specifically presented in the description and accompanying drawings. It should also be understood that, depending on the example, certain acts or events of any of the processes or methods described herein may be performed in a different sequence, may be added, merged, or left out altogether (e.g., all described acts or events may not be necessary to carry out the techniques).

Claims

1. A set, comprising: six I Ching sticks, each I Ching stick defining an elongated body including: first, second, third, and fourth rectangular side faces each including a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first and second portions, wherein the first and second rectangular side faces oppose one another and the third and fourth rectangular side faces oppose one another;a first indicium, configured to convey information, disposed on each of: the first and second portions of the first rectangular side face, one of the first or second portions of the third rectangular side face, and one of the first or second portions of the fourth rectangular side face;a second indicium, configured to convey information and different from the first indicium, disposed on each of: the first and second portions of the second rectangular side face, the other of the first or second portions of the third rectangular side face, and the other of the first or second portions of the fourth rectangular side face;first and second end faces; anda third indicium, disposed on the each of the first and second end faces, wherein the third indicium is different from each of the first and second indicia and includes four distinguishable orientations, each orientation configured to convey information.

2. The set according to claim 1, wherein the first indicium is a yin line and wherein the second indicium is a yang line.

3. The set according to claim 1, wherein the third indicium is a yin-yang symbol.

4. The set according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate portions of the third and fourth rectangular side faces each include a fourth indicium.

5. The set according to claim 4, wherein the fourth indicium is a change symbol.

6. The set according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate portions of the first and second rectangular side faces each include a fifth indicium.

7. The set according to claim 4, wherein the fifth indicium is a logo.

8. The set according to claim 1, wherein each stick is wood dowel.

9. The set according to claim 8, wherein each of the indicia is burned into the wood dowel.

10. The set according to claim 1, wherein the I Ching sticks are separate from one another to enable individual manipulation of each I Ching stick relative to any other I Ching stick.

11. A method, comprising: positioning six I Ching sticks in an initial orientation wherein a first rectangular side face of each I Ching stick is displayed;manipulating one or more of the six I Ching sticks; andrepositioning the six I Ching sticks in a final, side-by-side orientation wherein the first rectangular side face, a second rectangular side face, a third rectangular side face, or a fourth rectangular side face of each I Ching stick is displayed, depending upon the manipulating; anddetermining information from indicia disposed on first portions of the displayed faces of each of the six I Ching sticks;determining other information from indicia disposed on second portions of the displayed faces of each of the six I Ching sticks; anddetermining still other information from an orientation of end indicia disposed on end faces of at least one of the six I Ching sticks.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the end indicium disposed on each end face includes four distinguishable orientations, and wherein each orientation conveys different information.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the indicia on the first and second portions of the first rectangular side face of each of the six I Ching sticks are the same as one another and wherein the indicia on the first and second portions of the second rectangular side face of each of the six I Ching sticks are the same as one another and different from the indicia on the first and second portions of the first rectangular side face of each of the six I Ching sticks.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the third and fourth rectangular side faces of each of the six I Ching sticks each include one indicium that is the same as the indicia on the first and second portions of the first rectangular side face of each of the six I Ching sticks and one indicium that is the same as the indicia on the first and second portions of the second rectangular side face of each of the six I Ching sticks.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: further repositioning the six I Ching sticks in a spaced-apart, further orientation such that an additional one of the first rectangular side face, the second rectangular side face, the third rectangular side face, or the fourth rectangular side face of each I Ching stick is additionally displayed; anddetermining information based upon the indicia provided on the additionally displayed rectangular side faces.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein four different areas of information are provided: a first area including the indicia on the first portions of the displayed faces and indicia on first portions on the additionally displayed faces of a first group of three of the six I Ching sticks;a second area including the indicia on the second portions of the displayed faces and indicia on second portions on the additionally displayed faces of the first group of three of the six I Ching sticks;a third area including the indicia on the first portions of the displayed faces and indicia on first portions on the additionally displayed faces of a second group of three of the six I Ching sticks; anda fourth area including the indicia on the second portions of the displayed faces and indicia on second portions on the additionally displayed faces of the second group of three of the six I Ching sticks.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first and second areas constitute an inner world and wherein the third and fourth areas constitute an outer world.