Yi Jing Rumination: Mathematical Metaphysics

Consider this master diagram (from William Horden’s Mathematical I Ching) depicting all 64 Hexagrams. The numbers on the inside are the binary count, on the outside the traditional King Wen Sequence Hexagram numbers.

This particular rumination is just marvelling at the elegance of the yin-yang proposition which is perhaps the most succinct symbolic representation ever formulated of the relative world we inhabit and co-create. The world of duality, of both appearing forms and the emptiness from which they arise, that open space which allows form to be. And as with the above method of counting. As you can see, there are 64 different hexagrams each with its own unique numerical value. This is calculated by a neat trick which some genius twigged to I think well over a millennium ago, namely:

The solid lines are worth 0.

The broken lines are worth different points depending on where they are situated. From the bottom to top it goes:

Bottom line = 32 points

2nd line = 16 points

3^rd line = 8 points

4^th line = 4 points

3^rd line = 2 points

Top line = 1 point.

This is very simple but it took someone to realize that the solid lines needed to count as zero for there to be 64 different numerical values, no more no less.

This parallels our reality in that we do indeed have form and emptiness coexisting. For everything visibly manifest there is an invisible mind-level emanation that is without form or even location. Yes, we have a mind and it identifies with our body, but you cannot say how big or small it is nor where exactly it is located any more than you can say where our experience of sight, sound, smell or taste is located. In other words, there is always a yin and yang simultaneous dynamic ongoing with any and all phenomena in this our experiential universe.

Put another way: without acknowledging the solid lines as emptiness, the counting method – using only broken lines with different values based on position – would not work. This is such a clear demonstration of the profound accuracy of yin and yang insight that I wonder how many have noticed it as such. Too obvious to be recognized perhaps.

In any case: food for thought!