Taoism, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fengshui and fortune telling all originated from Yi Jing. Most people understand Yi Jing as a book, but it is actually a collection of philosophies by many authors including mythological Fuxi, Zhou Yi and Confucius.
All the words and explanations associated with Yi Jing were actually the ancients’ interpretations of a kind of cosmic code that supposedly unlocks all the mysteries of the universe. It sounds mystical and complicated. And it is. Hence, many laypeople refer to the “experts” for answers and interpretations on Yi Jing. They wish to know their fortunes or find ways to tap on mysterious energies in the universe to enhance their well-being.
Prof Zeng Shi Qiang is an authority on the Yi Jing. He has delivered many lectures on the subject. I have watched most of the recorded videos. It might have been a bit difficult if I had no background in TCM, but I find Prof Zeng to be a very good speaker, able to explain the concepts and “mathematical” derivation of Yi Jing codes in simple, everyday language.
There is nothing mystical or magical about Yi Jing. Disappointing as it may sound to many hopefuls, Yi Jing is really all about nature and science based on observation rather than experimentation. Things run smoothly when you follow nature’s course. Disaster strikes when you go against it.
The foundation of these concepts lies in the Bagua code. There are no words, only a binary yin/yang code. The derivation goes like this: Taiji yields Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang yield 4 estates. The 4 estates (earth, heaven, sea, mountain) yield the 8 phenomena, all represented by 3 strokes. Some call them trigrams. Arrange the 8 phenomena back to back and you’ll get the familiar bagua octagon. If the 3-stroke phenomena were added to each other to form 6-stroke “gua” or hexagrams, there are a total of 64 combinations. The 64 combinations were not just added in at random. Their inclusion and positions are dictated by a certain “mathematical” order of nature as observed by the ancients for 7000 years long before the Chinese invented writing. That’s why these codes are sometimes referred to as the “heavenly book without words”. As there were no words and its function was not immediately clear, this book was not burned by Emperor Qin Shi Huang. In later dynasties, these codes were used by emperors and warlords to predict the outcome of war, but Yi Jing is actually much more than that.
Believe it or not, the answers to every question, advice for any situation in the universe can be found in this cosmic code. And there are numerous ways to decipher it. The “accuracy” lies in the vagueness and ambiguity of the embedded “messages”. Let’s take one of the hexagrams, something that represents heaven or dragon.
It gives advice to talented people born in the year of the dragon. Our Prime Minister is one example and I’m exactly 12 years his junior. The first “yao” or stroke says “qian” which actually means to quietly cultivate when young. Do not show your talent. The second stroke says “xian”. The dragon should show off his abilities in his 30s. Soon after showing his abilities, the dragon must “ti” or be on guard against human jealousy and natural misfortunes which may hit around age 40. If all goes well, 50 is the make or break age when the dragon must “fei” or soar. If the dragon can’t take off at this age, he must retire quietly. If he continues to be ambitious after 60, he will meet with misfortune again.
How accurate is this? Superstition or science? Prof Zeng has a simple yet not so simple answer: both. Everything in the universe has a yin side and a yang side. Believe it 100% (pure yang) and you’re in trouble. Reject it 100% (pure yin) and you’ll meet with misfortune. Just like in TCM, there are well-versed practitioners and there are quacks. People who know or claim to know Yi Jing come with a multitude of abilities and motives. Some have added their own insights, beliefs, rituals and practices. What are we to do? Well, as Prof Zeng says, “at your own risk”.
Prof Zeng warns that Yi Jing cannot accurately predict the future as the future is still in the making. It only provides advice on how we should go about plotting our own futures and when we should do certain things so we do not get into too much trouble. Yin and yang again, every gain has a price. Those who plot for riches will have to pay a heavy price somewhere, somehow if the riches are not shared.
I tend to see it a little like TCM. With modern medicine, it would be a shame if we still resort to TCM in an emergency that requires IV drugs and surgery. As Prof Zeng readily admits, the MET station probably gives better weather forecasts than what a fortune teller might read from the codes. Yi Jing comes in when there is insufficient data and when you’re totally at a loss. Similarly, TCM comes in when issues cannot be resolved with surgery or a few courses of medication. Persistent aches, pains, weakness etc. That’s when TCM comes in. Similarly, I think Yi Jing should only come in when we have nagging problems without clear solutions.
A renowned fortune teller in Taiwan once told Prof Zeng that there are 3 kinds of clients he would reject.
1. The young.
2. The old
3. The confident and successful.
Even an expert like him would not dare predict the future of a child. He would not even dare offer advice as nobody know what sort of interests or talent the child will develop in future. The old should already know what has happened or will happen in the remaining years. There is no point in consultation. Those who are confident and successful already know what to do. The renowned fortune teller only serves uninformed, undecided and rudderless people who have achieved little in life. Why not? These are the people who are sure to benefit from any sort of advice from a fortune teller. Success in this profession also lies with case selection.
