Line Weighting

[gregcat]

Right now I'm reading B. F. Hammerslough's THE I CHING MANUAL. He often references Sherrill and Chu's I CHING ANTHOLOGY as well. He suggests that if we have two changing lines, that we should give preference to the top changing line. Does anybody else have experience with this or thoughts about?

Chad

 

[mercury]

I have the same problem

I'm constantly puzzling over this myself, but I've sort of come to the conclusion that you have to go intuitively with each reading. I tend to see if some sort of narrative that I can relate to is present when there's more than one change; Wilhelm seems to endorse this notion in his translation, particularly in terms of Hex 1, if memory serves.

But I also think that some lines are more intended to be taken as warnings or admonitions rather than as predictions or steps in a chain. I really do think it's about an intuitive approach, taking into account what makes sense.

After all, in my experience, yi is nothing if not common-sensical. Hope that's at least some food for thought...

 

[dobro p]

Right now I'm reading B. F. Hammerslough's THE I CHING MANUAL. He often references Sherrill and Chu's I CHING ANTHOLOGY as well. He suggests that if we have two changing lines, that we should give preference to the top changing line. Does anybody else have experience with this or thoughts about?

A higher value to a higher line? Doesn't make sense to me. Why throw out information? It's all useful, no matter what line position it occupies.

The only time I ignore or depreciate individual line meanings is if there are a lot of active lines in a hexagram. Simply for the simplicity, I look only at the primary and related hexagrams in a case like that.

 

[willowfox]

The answer you receive is like a book, each line a separate chapter but still part of the story.

 

[magictortoise]

I have never read the book you mention but I think he has made a serious error in giving that counsel.

He suggests that if we have two changing lines, that we should give preference to the top changing line.

If this is the case then what about those hexagrams where there is a built-in step-wise progression or where meanings are more favorable the higher the line is? (1,53, 48 for example) Say you received hexagram 1(1,5) Are you supposed to give more relevance to the favorable character of line five than the cautionary aspects of line 1? You can't make it to line five without realizing the need to be cautious when the light-giving power is hidden. I think if the oracle meant to emphasize the higher line it would have given only that line in response.

Ken

 

[Sparhawk]

Actually, that method was first described by Zhu Xi (Chu Hsi) back in the 1100's Sung Dinasty. As for the validity of it, well..., is like ice cream flavors...

 

[Sparhawk]

BTW, Bradford Hatcher scanned and PDF'ed Bruce Hammerslough's book and made it available to all. It is quite good. For those interested, I have a copy in my site