CHANGING LINES

the

I-Ching

Card Game

I. Introduction -

            The I-Ching is quite possibly the oldest book in existence, and it is still in print. It dates back to an attempt, made over three thousand years ago, to quantify those patterns of change upon which all existence is based. It stands uniquely as a seminal text of both mathematics and linguistics. It is highly respected around the world as a source of religious inspiration, ancient wisdom, and personal guidance. Regardless of your own philosophy or cultural background, you may find a serious attempt to understand the concepts and patterns of the I-Ching to be rewarding. Currently, no movie version is planned.

            I created Changing LinesTM - The I-Ching Card Game, in an attempt to provide a game that will be both entertaining and educational to a wide range of people. As with any deck of cards, there are numerous games that can be played, and new ones invented. I have included the rules for one, along with suggestions for creating your own, so that each person, from young child to ancient Taoist monk, should find something both diverting and challenging in these cards. It is my hope that this alternative deck of playing cards will expose people to the I-Ching who might otherwise never have encountered it and that people already familiar with the text will find new understanding of the relationships between the hexagrams as a result of game play.

            I strongly encourage those who play with these cards to study the text in its various translations for additional insight into the concepts that exist behind and apart from the symbols as they are used on these cards.

 

                        -Sean Hastings

 

 

II. The Changing Lines TM Deck and the I-Ching

            This section is a brief description of the components of the I-Ching text, and the deck of sixty-four (64) cards that has been derived from it.

 

1. Hexagrams, Trigrams, and Lines (oh my!).

            The I-Ching is composed of sixty-four (64) hexagrams. Each hexagram is made up of two trigrams. Each trigram is in turn composed of three lines.

A line may be one of two types - either broken (Yin) or solid (Yang).

            Groups of three lines together are called trigrams. There are eight possible arrangements of Yin and Yang lines into trigrams. Each of the eight trigrams has its own name, corresponding to an element of nature. On the game cards, this name appears above each trigram.

            A hexagram may be thought of as a grouping of six lines, or alternatively, as a grouping of two trigrams. Each hexagram has a number and a name. Each game card depicts a single hexagram. The name and number of the hexagram may be found at the top left corner of the card.

            The names presented on the cards are simple English translations of the Chinese concepts that each hexagram represents. The English may not reflect the full or accurate meaning of the concept represented by a hexagram. For a closer approximation, you should try reading multiple translations of The Book of Change. By comparing the differences in the English words used in different translations, a better understanding of the original Chinese characters can be reached without native understanding of the Chinese language.

 

2. Changing Lines

            Yin and Yang are symbols of duality. They represent opposite traits of a dualistic world view, and together form a whole. One can not exist without the other, and in each lies the seed of the others formation. Consequently, since change is inevitable, Yin will become Yang and Yang will become Yin. In the I-Ching, lines are therefor classified into two types: Young Lines - which are stable, and Old Lines - which are changing into their opposite.

            On the cards, each line of a hexagram has a number printed to the left of it. This is the number of the hexagram that will be created when only that line changes aspect (Yin becomes Yang or Yang becomes Yin).

 

3. The Text

            Each hexagram of the I-Ching has an associated text (not printed on the cards) describing the nature of the concept the hexagram represents as it relates to nature and to the endeavors of man. The text also includes a description of the meaning of each line of each hexagram when it is changing (is an old line). As with the names of each hexagram, the reading of multiple translations will be helpful in understanding the full meaning of the original text.

 

4. Opposites

 

Duality plays a large role in the philosophy of the I-Ching, and at the root of duality is the concept of opposites. The I-Ching, however, is complex enough that the term opposite can have many meanings.

 

One Example of an opposite is the complete reversal of a hexagram, changing each line from Yin to Yang or Yang to Yin. Another is the physical inversion of the hexagram (flipping it upside-down). Yet another is the reversal of the positions of the two trigrams that make up the hexagram. Each of these in its own way is a kind of opposite.

 

Each card in the deck may be turned upsideown to reveal a different (or is some special cases the same) hexagram. The writing on one side is dark and on the other side light, to allow a fixed orientation to be established. Some games make use of both possible orientations of the cards, while others require that a fixed orientation be maintained (See IV. Games).

 

III. Elements and Concepts

            While many different games may be played with the Changing LinesTM deck of cards, some concepts common to many of the possible variations are:

 

1. Sequence of Play - In games where the players take turns playing, play normally starts with the player to the left of the dealer and proceeds clockwise. In some games, this direction of play may be reversed during the course of the game, and/or players may sometimes be skipped.

 

2. Changing the Orientation - When a player lays a card in the opposite orientation from that of the previously laid card (Switching from dark side up to light side up or visa versa), she or he has changed the orientation of the cards. Orientations are known as light or dark orientations respectively. Since people sitting across from each other at a table will perceive opposite orientations of the cards, where necessary to the rules, the absolute orientation is considered to be that from the perspective of the dealer’s position.

 

3. Changing a Line - When a player lays a card that is identical to the card previously laid except for the change of a single line’s aspect from solid to broken or broken to solid, she or he has changed that line to produce a new hexagram. The numbers on the cards, to the left of each line of each hexagram, indicate the number of the hexagram card which, when played, will change that particular line.

 

4. Changing/Matching a Trigram - When a player lays a card that has a matching trigram in a matching position (Top or Bottom) to the previous card, she or he has changed the trigram that was not matched. There are two trigrams making up the hexagram on any card, and the English names for each are printed above them, allowing easy identification for matching purposes.

 

5. Inverting a Hexagram - When a player lays a card depicting the hexagram that is identical to the one on the previously laid card except that it is turned upside-down, she or he has inverted the hexagram. A hexagrams inversion is depicted on the card as viewed from the opposite orientation. Some hexagrams (called Mirrors) are their own inversion (see 8. Special Cards).

 

6. Inverting the Trigrams - When a player lays a card that contains the same two trigrams as the previously laid card, but in the opposite positions, she or he has inverted the trigrams. The card, which is the trigram inversion of another card, can be spotted by its matching trigram names as printed above each of the two trigrams on the card. Some hexagrams (called Doubles) have matching top and bottom trigrams and are therefor trigram inversions of themselves (see 8. Special Cards).

 

7. Negating (Canceling) a Hexagram - When a player lays a card that is the opposite of another card in every line (i.e. Each broken line is changed to solid and each solid line is changed to broken) she or he has negated the previous hexagram. Hexagrams which negate each other are also known as compliments of each other.

 

8. Special Cards - There are two types of special cards in the I-ching deck. Each type depicts a hexagram that is in some way its own opposite. The first type, known as a “Double”, is any card depicting hexagrams that are made up of two of the same trigram. The second type, called a “Mirrors”, is any card that depict hexagrams that are the same when turned upside-down. There are four (4) cards of the first type, four (4) of the second type, and four (4) that fall into both categories - these last being referred to as a “Double Mirror.” In Some game variations, these cards have special effects (See IV. Games.)

 

IV. The Game (Tao)

 

            While many different games are possible with the Changing Lines deck, the most common is called Tao, and can be played with between two (2) and eight (8) players, with a minimum of four (4) recommended for best play.

 

            Begin the game by dealing each player eight cards.

 

            If any cards remain set them in the center of the table as a draw pile. Turn the first card face up to start the game. If the orientation of the flipped card is Dark then the player to the left of the dealer begins play and the starting direction of play is clockwise. If the orientation is Light then the player to the right of the dealer begins and the starting direction of play is counter clockwise. (If no cards remain after the deal, the player holding hexagram #1 Creation lays it, choosing the orientation, and play proceeds as above - clockwise if laid in Dark orientation, counterclockwise if Light.)

 

During a player’s turn, she or he may play so as to achieve any of the following changes from the previous card:

 

Change a single trigram - The player may lay a card in the same orientation as the previous card, containing one trigram that matches those on the previous card in name and position (top or bottom) and one that does not. Play then continues in its current direction as normal.

 

Match the hexagram - The player may lay a card in the opposite orientation of the previous card, containing a hexagram that exactly matches the one on the previous card. This changes orientation from dark to light or from light to dark, and the direction of play is then reversed. However, before play passes to the next player, the player changing the orientation has the option of playing a second card that can be legally played on the card she or he just laid. This option may not be exercised if the final card laid would be the player’s last card. The next player takes his or her turn as if only the final card had been laid.

 

Cancel the hexagram - The player may lay a card in either orientation that contains a hexagram that differs in every line with the one on the previous card. If the orientation has been changed, the direction of play is reversed as above. The player who’s turn follows must draw two (2) cards before beginning his or her turn, unless she or he has the card that can Re-Cancel the hexagram. If she or he plays this card, then no cards need be drawn, and play passes to the next player, who must then draw four (4) cards. If this player can cancel the hexagram again (for the last possible time), then no cards must be drawn, but the next unlucky player is forced to draw eight (8) cards before continuing his or her turn. Play resumes as normal in the direction currently indicated by the last card laid.

 

 Invert the trigrams - The player may lay a card in either orientation that contains both the trigrams on the previously laid card, but in reverse positions. If and only if the orientation has been changed, the direction of play reverses. The player that would normally play next, however, is skipped over before play continues normally.

 

Effects of Special Cards:

 

            Doubles - A player who lays a Double (a card with matching top and bottom trigrams) has the option to lay an additional card, in either orientation, containing the same trigram in at least one position. This option may not be exercised if the final card laid would be the players last. The next player takes his or her turn as if only the final card had been laid.

 

             Mirrors - Cards which are mirrors of themselves (are the same hexagram viewed from either orientation), when they may be legally played in one orientation, may optionally be played in the opposite orientation, thereby reversing the direction of play.

 

            Double Mirrors - The four (4) double mirrors are specially powerful cards in that they may always be legally laid regardless of the previously laid card (this does not remove the obligation to draw cards when it occurs as a result of canceling). As Mirrors, they may be laid in either orientation (possibly reversing the direction of play), and as Doubles they may (at the players option) be followed immediately by another play. The additional play is, however, unrestricted by the hexagram depicted on the Double Mirror laid. Once again, however, this option may not be exercised if the final card would be the players last card, and the next player takes his or her turn as if only the final card has been played.

 

            When a player may not (or chooses not to) make a legal play, she or he must draw cards until she or he can (or chooses to) do so. If the draw pile is exhausted, the play pile is shuffled and turned over to create the new draw pile, leaving only the last card played face up. If all remaining cards are exhausted, play passes to the next player.

 

            The first player to lay all of his or her cards is the winner.

 

            A player must announce it when she or he has only one card remaining. Failure to do so forces the player to draw a second card at the beginning of his or her turn.

 

V. – Another Possible Game (Pathways)

 

            This game is very different from most card games in that cards are not played from a hand, but rather the deck is passed from player to player and each player chooses his or her next play from the remaining cards in the deck.

 

            The game starts with the cards in the deck ordered for easy location. However, each player must be dealt a single card face down at random to start the game. This is done by cutting the cards (not shuffling) several times between each card dealt from the top of the deck. The players, starting with the dealer and proceeding counter clockwise reveal their cards in turn, fixing the orientation or their card as they do so.

 

            Play starts with the player to the left of the dealer and proceeds clockwise. A players turn consists of choosing a card from those remaining the deck and laying it on his or her discard pile in the orientation she or he has chosen to play. This card must differ by only one line from the current top card on his or her discard pile.

 

            Failure to play a legal card forces the player out of the game. A player forced out of the game is said to have “crashed.” When this happens, the player’s discard pile is returned to the deck so that those cards again become available to the other players, but not until play has cycled around to that starting players position again (I.E. Every player must play on the turn of a player who has failed to do so before that player’s cards re-enter the deck).

 

            The last player left in the game is the winner, provided that that player can make a legal play on his or her final turn. When a player crashes before the cards of a previously crashed player become available, these players are tied in ranking. 

 

Optional Rules:

 

1. Fewer dimensions

 

            Card play in this game takes the form of navigating the corners of a hyper-hyper-hyper-cube. (A six dimensional cubic form) By removing cards from the deck, the number of dimensions can be reduced, thus simplifying the game.

 

            Children can start with an 8 card, single trigram, three dimensional version which is on the level of tic-tac-toe in complexity. More dimensions may be added as the sophistication of the child’s thinking increases. In this way, they may be taught higher dimensional thinking.

 

            The following lists of cards show the numbers of  the cards which may be used for each level of play. Note: Be sure to pick the cards from the deck by number in the same orientation (light or dark):

 

            3D - Chose 8 cards that have the same trigram in the same position. In this way, the line changes are restricted to one trigram. An example set is - 1, 5, 9, 11, 14, 26, 34, and 43.

 

            4D - Fix the aspect of the top and bottom lines and chose all the cards that match in those lines. An example set is - 1, 9, 10, 13, 14, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 30, 37, 38, 41, 42, 61.

 

            5D- Fix any one line. An Example set is 1, 3, 5, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 34, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 43, 49, 51, 54, 55, 58, 60, 61, 63.

 

            6D - All Cards.

 

 

2. No fixed orientation. (advanced)

 

            Allowing the players to play cards in either of the two orientations gives more options for each play. This complicates the required thought processes greatly. Mirrors and the points surrounding them become important, being points where play becomes more restricted.

 

            This option can only be used with the 16 card, 4D set above, or the full 6D game. This 4D version is good practice for understanding the implication of the Mirror cards before graduating to 6D play.

 

VI. Some More Game Ideas

 

1. I-Ching Poker

 

            There are innumerably many variations of the game of poker. Here are some suggestions for possible rules, that do not yet amount to a coherent game. If you invent a good style of poker with I-Ching cards, please contact me, an I will include it in further versions.

 

A. Card Play

 

            As discussed above, a card has two possible orientations (Light or Dark). Poker type games may be played with either fixed or variable orientation. In a fixed orientation game, all cards are faced the same way so that each card in the players hand has the same orientation. In a variable orientation game, however, the player may choose the orientation of each of his or her cards at the time that it is first displayed. When cards are dealt face up, the player chooses the orientation immediately upon having the card dealt to him or her. When cards are dealt face down, the player is only required to fix the cards orientation at such time as it must be displayed. When players are to compare undisplayed cards, each puts their cards on the table face down, fixing the orientation of each; all having done this, they may turn over their cards in such a manor as the orientation is not disturbed. Cards are oriented vertically with respect to the position of the dealer. It is therefore customary for cards that have not yet received a fixed orientation to be laid horizontally with respect to the dealer.

 

B. Hand Rankings

 

The most important part of developing a game of poker is determining how a given set of I-Ching cards may be ranked to determine whether it beats or loses to another. I have yet to think of a good way to do this (or even give it much though, as I am not a poker player) but I think that a good ranking system could be found.

 

 

2. I-Ching Solitaire -

 

            I have not developed rules for I-Ching Solitare, but here again, it would seem that multiple clever variations are possible. Please send me rules that you create.

 

VII. Using the I-Ching Cards for Divination

 

            The I-Ching has been used as a tool of fortune telling for millennia. Many methods have been used for selecting the appropriate hexagram and changing lines. These include tossing coins, rolling rods, selecting sticks from a bundle, and simply opening the book at random. The I-Ching card deck adds a few possible new methods to the list.

 

1. Pick a card - any card

 

            Simply draw a card at random from the deck, and note its number. Then consult the text. If you want to know which lines are changing lines, return the card to the deck, re-shuffle and draw again. Compare each line on the newly drawn card with the previously drawn hexagram. In each case where they differ, the line is considered to be a changing line. (Note that this second card method will average a hexagram with 50% changing lines, as opposed to the 25% normally obtained with traditional methods.)

 

2. Draw three.

 

            Turn over three cards and lay them side to side on the table in front of you. Starting with the bottom line, examine each of the three cards. If there are more Yin lines than Yang, then your “cast” hexagram has a Yin line in that position. If more Yang lines, then note that position as Yang. Move up the hexagram, building your new hexagram in this manor.

 

            If changing lines are desired, mark any occurrence of three of the same type of line (Yin or Yang) in the same position as a changing line of that type.

 

            This method is mathematically related to the method of tossing coins, but easier, as there is no need for a separate toss of coins for each line generated. To make it a mathematically identical, draw a card and note the hexagram, then replace it before drawing again, and repeat a third time. Replacing the cards between draws allows the same card to be drawn multiple times, and therefor creates a totally random situation.

 

            When Performing a reading for someone else, where space is available, you can create an impressive reading by arranging the cards in an eight by eight grid on a flat surface, and then having them turn over any three at random.

 

3. Tarot Cards.

 

            Tarot card readers may use various cards in various positions to describe different aspects of a persons life. No specific methods are given here, but using a method similar to that of a Tarot reading, combined with method 2 above to produce a changing hexagram (made up of 3 cards) in each position might prove interesting, and will certainly look impressive.