The model of the I Ching proposed to date deals with the fixed text and context for each hexagram position. The use of the randomisation process enables one to discover a finer level of refinement, namely the 4096 possible states in which text can exist in any of the other contexts. (64 * 64 = 4096). This works on the principle outlined in the discussion on context that since the hexagrams are supposed to encapsulate all that there is, then line changes are caused by the influences of other hexagrams being placed as context, for it is a change in context that can ellicit a change in the text.
The intention is for the user to consider the text/context dichotomy applied to the hexagrams of the I Ching. For example, a 'pure' hexagram 01 exists only in it's own context, but the root of 01 has a different context, namely that symbolised by hexagram 28 - exceeding. (excessive yang). So as we work our way through a hexagram, we are in fact working our way through contextual changes with the text held constant. With 28 as introduced context it affects the line 1 position which in turn introduces hexagram 09 as the contextual line change influence and the system then transforms in hexagram 44.
What this introduces is the specific paths into and out of hexagrams through the process of changing contexts; for it is contextual change that forces text to adapt and also change - just as with one's own persona, change your immediate environment and 'you' change to deal with it.
Another, and 'deeper', example would be how to get hexagram 01 to change into hexagram 33. This requires the transformation of the bottom two lines and the context position list given at the end of this page gives hexagram 31 as the influence. Thus, by introducing a context of 31, it influences the 1 & 2 line positions of hexagram 01 and that leads to the line change influence of 26 that gives us hexagram 33. (If the middle step seems complicated you can ignore considering it - just note that a context of 31 leads to a change of the text, anytext, to 33).
The hexagram questions at this site enable the generation of a hexagram that 'describes' a particular situation. To change specific lines in the hexagram to something else requires a change of the current context and this is delt with by introducing a context that will influence one or more lines to change. There are 64 possible combinations for any one hexagram, giving 4096 possible states in total.
There is a price for this, however, for the lines to be changed require energy to do so. The hardest line to change is the bottom line and the easiest the top line. Multiple line changes increase the amount of energy required, unless they are in the process of change already.
For each hexagram 'required' there is a hexagram that works as context to change the lines of the current hexagram to those of the 'required' hexagram. This contextual hexagram encapsulates a process, namely the interaction of one hexagram's transformation into it's opposite. In the context of, say, hexagram 31, the influence is to change the bottom two lines of hexagram 01 giving hexagram 33. This change is driven by one of the hexagrams that 31 encapsulates - namely hexagram 26.
At the line change level we are dealing with the 45/26 pair and 26 - holding firm - implies a change and a favouring of values as well as a time factor of what will be. 31 encapsulates the meaning for this pair which is a gross state of joining (or re-joining) together) Consider: this -
31 HSIEN : Contact, influence, move; excite, mobilize, trigger; all, totally, universal, continual, entire; unite, bring together the parts of a previously separated whole; come into conjunction, as the planets; literally: A broken piece of pottery, the two halfs of which we used to identify partners." p102 (KARCHER 1995)
encapsulates the overall generic meaning behind these two going from 45 to 26 (41 - concentrating - does the reverse in hex 02) -
"45 T'SUI : Gather, call or pack together; tight groups of people, animals and things; assemble, concentrate, collect; reunite, reassemble; crowd, multitude, bunch; dense clumps of grass. The ideogram portrays a bunch of grass and a servant. It suggests gathering the capacity to do things" p136 (KARCHER 1995)
"26 TA CH'U : TA - Big, noble, important; able to protect others; orient your will towards a self-imposed goal; the ability to lead or guide your life; yang energy.
CH'U - Gather, collect, take in, hoard, retain; control, restrain; take care of, support, tolerate; tame, train or pasture animals; raise, bring up, domesticate; be tamed or controlled by something. The ideogram portrays fertile black soil accumulated by retaining silt." p90 (KARCHER 1995)
This overall context is behind the change from 01 into 33 Retreat, the hexagram we get when we change the bottom two lines of 01:
"33 TUN: Withdraw, run away, escape, flee, hide yourself; disappear, withdraw into obscurity, become invisible; secluded, anti-social; fool or trick someone. The ideogram portrays a pig (the sign of wealth and good fortune) and the sign for walk away. It suggests satisfaction, luck and wealth through withdrawing." p107 (KARCHER 1995)
The emphasis on group ('whole') formation/re-formation runs through all of these hexagrams. Hex 33 is more often concidered symbolising a structured withdrawl of forces to fight another day; uniting the emphasis on withdrawl with that of trickary.
The question is now raised as to how do I stop a system from changing? The answer is to introduce the opposite context to the change. In the discussion so far we have been concerned with changing 01 into 33 by introducing an overall context of 31 that 'lets loose' 26 that makes the changes to lines 1 & 2 of hexagram 01. If you describe a system that is already in the process of change (line 1 & 2 are changing lines) then to abort the change introduce the context of 31's opposite - 41, this will 'let loose' 45 to neutralise the influence of 26. BUT, this could lead to the emergence of 19, the opposite of 33, if allowed to go too far. As you can see, it is all a matter of maintaining balance. Once balance is maintained, use a context of hexagram 43 that should make the system stable leading to a 'clean' 01.
This system gives a hierarchic format (and there are 4096 of these):
01 (text)
31 (context for combination of positions 1&2)
/ \
45 26 (line no-change/change influences)
/ \
19 33 (change)
(by implication)
What this means is that, in a situation of pure yang, as symbolised by hexagram 01, to get it to change to 33 requires the change of context from 01 to 31; this contextual change forces the transformation of 01 (text) into 33 by influencing the bottom two lines of 01.
It should be noted that this is not an easy task since other forces will also be trying to change (or maintain) the current situation to a state of their liking, and the more the number of lines to change the more energy required (unless some are already changing which means they just need a 'push').
Due to the potentially large size of this section, the process is applied only to hexagram 01, thus showing the many possibilities for the reader to study. In the context list below it is only the line positions that change for each hexagram (under the 'Change Positions' column) - the other data is constant. (e.g. to change *anything* into 01, introduce a context of 43 - to get the hang of things, try just working on one line).
For interest here are the possible single position associations for a hexagram as used in the traditional I Ching:
(6) Sage , Refined, Ending
(5) Ruler
(4) Minister
----(INNER/OUTER TRANSITION POINT)---
(3) Noble
(2) Supervisor
(1) Worker, Raw, Beginning
In summary, what should be noted is that here you have all of the 64 possible states of the hexagram 01 - as it appears in all of the possible contexts. The traditional line commentries are restricted to 6 lines; there should in fact be 64 commentaries per hexagram! The best way of getting a 'feel' for the missing material is to imagine the context hexagram here listed and then the text hexagram (01) 'within' that context; you combine text and context to give possibly 'enhanced' meaning.
For example, the overall influence on the line 1 position, irrespective of change or no change, is the root context of hexagram 28 - excess. 01 in this context helps to express the raw excessiveness of yang, to the extent that we change into an 'excessive' hexagram, 44, that deals with extremes of persuasion/seduction.
As we move through all of the possiblities so we find we are part of a cycle, moving from the gross nature of the hexagram to it's peak and then transforming into it's opposite; encaspsulated here by 01 being in the context set by hexagram 23 - cutting-back/pruning - that transforms 01 into 02.
For those interested in a a finer level of analysis we have, for example, the pair 16/09 that affect the non-change/change status of line 1 rather than the position.
From this model we see that the positional context hexagram serves as a static aspect of the whole - it is invarient over change - whilst the line hexagram pairs are more related to dynamic aspects - so we move from the whole (01) and into analysis of it's static and dynamic aspects.
If the below seems complex, just note the 'Position context' and 'Result' columns. These say that to change any hexagram into the hexagram whose number appears in the Result column, just change the context to a context symbolised by the hexagram number in the 'Position Context' column.
This may seem 'easy' but it is not, since for each hexagram, the number of lines requiring change can be excessive and thus require a lot of energy - be warned :-)
Change Position(s) Hexagram of line influence Position Result
context
0 01 The Creative 43 01
1 09 The Taming Power of the Small 28 44
1/2 26 The Taming Power of the Great 31 33
1/3 05 Waiting 47 06
1/4 57 The Gentle 48 57
1/5 37 The Family 32 50
1/6 61 Inner Truth 44 28
2 14 Possession in Great Measure 49 13
2/3 34 Power of the Great 17 25
2/4 50 The Caldron 63 37
2/5 30 The Clinging 55 30
2/6 38 Opposition 13 49
3 43 Breakthrough 58 10
3/4 28 The Preponderance of the Great 60 61
3/5 49 Revolution 54 38
3/6 58 The Joyous 10 58
4 44 Coming to Meet 05 09
4/5 33 Retreat 11 26
4/6 06 Conflict 09 05
5 13 Fellowship with Men 34 14
5/6 25 Innocence 14 34
6 10 Treading 01 43
1/2/3 11 Peace 45 12
1/2/4 18 Work on what has been Spoilt 39 53
1/2/5 22 Grace 62 56
1/2/6 41 Decrease 33 31
1/3/4 48 The Well 29 59
1/3/5 63 After Completion 40 64
1/3/6 60 Limitation 06 47
1/4/5 53 Development 46 18
1/4/6 59 Dispersion 57 48
1/5/6 42 Increase 50 32
2/3/4 32 Duration 03 42
2/3/5 55 Abundance 51 21
2/3/6 54 The Marrying Maiden 25 17
2/4/5 56 The Wanderer 36 22
2/4/6 64 Before Completion 37 63
2/5/6 21 Biting Through 30 55
3/4/5 31 Influence (Wooing) 19 41
3/4/6 47 Oppression 61 60
3/5/6 17 Following 38 54
4/5/6 12 Standstill 26 11
1/2/3/4 46 Pushing Upward 08 20
1/2/3/5 36 Darkening of the Light 16 35
1/2/3/6 19 Approach 12 45
1/2/4/5 52 Keeping Still 15 52
1/2/4/6 04 Youthful Folly 53 39
1/2/5/6 27 The Corners of the Mouth 56 62
1/3/4/5 39 Obstruction 07 04
1/3/4/6 29 The Abysmal 59 29
1/3/5/6 03 Difficulty at the Beginning 64 40
1/4/5/6 20 Contemplation 18 46
2/3/4/5 62 Preponderance of the Small 24 27
2/3/4/6 40 Deliverance 42 03
2/3/5/6 51 The Arousing 21 51
2/4/5/6 35 Progress 22 36
3/4/5/6 45 Gathering Together 41 19
1/2/3/4/5 15 Modesty 02 23
1/2/3/4/6 07 The Army 20 08
1/2/3/5/6 24 Return 35 16
1/2/4/5/6 23 Splitting Apart 52 15
1/3/4/5/6 08 Holding Together (Union) 04 07
2/3/4/5/6 16 Enthusiasm 27 24
1/2/3/4/5/6 02 The Receptive 23 02