Why?
Chapter 1.
Repeatedly I have been asked – “Why should anyone care about the I Ching?”. That is an excellent question and it definitely deserves a proper answer! Amazingly, it can be answered in one sentence, but unfortunately most people would not accept, believe or understand the short answer. Rather than being foolish and answering with “Why not?” or “Because it's there!” or “E=mc2”, I will attempt to give you an honest and actual answer. Most people are unfamiliar with the background information needed to understand the short answer. I will therefore take the time necessary to explain the details, so that answer can be clearly understood. I will also raise some general questions to ponder. Using many words to finally arrive at the short answer may seem like a waste of time, but if the short answer isn’t properly understood then all efforts are wasted and ignorance prevails. There is a lot of information here. Please relax and take your time to think about it and view some of the other pages on this site. Of course visiting other related or non-related sites, eating, drinking, breathing, exercising, going to your job, watching TV, reading a book, taking a bath, sleeping or personally relating positively with one or more living beings are also generally good options. Just joking.
First, the question must be clearly defined. To start with “What is the I Ching?”. The I Ching is simply the numbers 1 through 64 (or 0 to 63) written with archaic graphic symbols. It is the first known system of binary math. Big deal. Some silly old men scribbled some words next to each number. The numbers and words are supposed to contain some kind of “Deep Wisdom” and might even have “Spiritual Significance”. That may be of some historical and philosophical interest, but otherwise, so what? If one is seeking Spiritual Knowledge, there are many other ancient sources and many that are more modern, more cultural familiar and possibly easier to understand. These days we can use binary math to count a lot higher than 64, why not scribble more silly words next to a few more of those numbers and pretend that because the numbers are higher that the meaning must also be greater? Consider the Tao Te Ching for example. For people to count to 64 many thousands of years ago might have been impressive, but today the general population can do that easily. The I Ching is a very old book, why should anyone still care about counting to 64 using cumbersome ancient graphics? Those are valid questions! To begin with, anyone who bothers to read the old men’s scrawls will find that they were really quite intelligent, perceptive, knowledgeable, talented, sensitive and thoughtful people. Some of those folks were most probably wise old women. Physically, emotionally and socially we are about the same as people were a million years ago. Our DNA has exactly the same structure, some things never change much. The wise old men’s keen insights into human behavior and into the way the Universe works, still make excellent sense even today. They will still make excellent sense tomorrow and the next day too. For those reasons alone the I Ching qualifies as a masterpiece of world literature, however there is much more!
Now for a little relevant math and music. Binary math first became well known in the West through the work of Gottfried Leibniz (1646–1716). He was a brilliant and multitalented man, He knew of the I Ching and translated Yin and Yang into 0’s and 1’s. Binary math is also known as Base Two math, as opposed to the decimal math (Base Ten math) that is generally used by people now. It is well known that binary math is what modern computers use for all their digital calculations. When the two Yin and Yang line symbols are each combined with themselves and with each other, four different symbols are formed, they are named the Four Hsiang. Using four symbols to count is called quaternary math (Base Four math). As with all the different counting systems of math (Number Basis), quaternary math has special properties too. When another Yin or Ying line is combined with the other four symbols, eight new symbols are formed. They are called the Eight Trigrams. Octal math (Base Eight math) opens many more possibilities. Although a Magic Square can’t be made from eight numbers other things can be done! The most important of these is applying them to music. I believe this website strongly supports that belief. The eight note Diatonic scale used in music is based on an octal system. Of course other notes can be added or subtracted from this basic scale. Despite the name, the Pentatonic Scale is actually based on six notes when the top note completing the octave is properly taken into account. It therefore relates to senary math (Base Six math). Then there is the Chromatic Scale based on twelve notes that works with duodecimal math (Base Twelve math). The Chromatic Scale is the fundamental musical scale. The Babylonians had twelve hours in a day; at some point this was changed to 24 (2x12). Both traditional Western and Chinese calendars as well as clocks are based on duodecimal math. Magic Square math is directly related to these different number systems and is reasonably addressed on different pages of this website. Ancient people were well aware of all of this. Perhaps you have heard this before, “Music is the Universal Language”. Personally, I would revise that statement to read “Music, Color, Math and Geometry are the Universal Languages”
Next is a bit of general philosophy and science. It may seem like an irrelevant change of subject, but it is not. It is important to understand the definition of life. Please look it up and independently decide what you think. My understanding is that life is defined as anything that is “born, lives and dies”. Everything is in the process of “Changing”. In reality, Everything moves - on the sub-atomic scale, the galactic scale and everywhere else in between and beyond. The Earth is moving and therefore everything on it and in it is too. It receives warmth and nourishment from the Sun and the Suns Gravity directs it’s path. The Earth was born, geologically it is constantly changing, and at some time it will die. The Sun was born, it’s living now, it will die and take all the planets with it. It seems to feed upon itself. I believe that Everything is alive! The Universe is thought to have been born with a “Big Bang” – wow, that must have been really fun! What existed before that though, “Nothing”? Define that word exactly please and think; can Nothing ever really exist? Logically speaking, Nothing cannot exist because then it would no longer be Nothing. By the way, how can Something come from Nothing? What is Something anyhow? What is Existence? What is Space and where is it? What exactly is Time, and how does it work? What is Gravity? What is Electromagnetic Energy? What are the Strong and Weak Nuclear Forces? Is it all just “Relative”? Am I dreaming or am I awake? What is Reality? Are we There yet? Does anyone care? I’m so confused! Why should anyone care? Why? Why? Why? Ha ha ha ha ha! Just think about it for a while if you will. Chapter 2 may take a little time to create because proving, defining, explaining, and justifying existence isn't easy. Enriching people’s lives by using beautiful designs and strange music is much easier than helping people to think about philosophy. If you care to discuss and/or debate these basic concepts, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
D. Harvey
05/20/2012
Chapter 2
This part is very complex and very important. Fortunately it’s won’t be that difficult for you to gain a general understanding of the subjects! The point is that all this information can be independently verified and proven beyond reasonable doubt. I didn’t have to work as hard on this part, because other people have done so much already. I did brief web searches on the various topics and chose the sites I liked the best. I relied on Wikipedia a lot because it is certainly objective and it’s reasonably good with these kinds of topics. Please visit all these sites and yes, they do relate to the I Ching although they may not seem to at all. I’m not kidding! Without this kind of general background knowledge though, you simply won’t understand why the I Ching is so very important. You can just skim through these sites or study them intently, either way I hope you will understand the basic concepts so that you will understand Chapter 3. Search the web for these topics yourself or read some books about them if you like. If you do, you may easily find both excellent and strange ideas that you may or may not agree with – such is life!
The Universe and Phi, the Golden Ratio in Dodecahedrons
New findings in 2003 reveal that the shape of the Universe is a Dodecahedron based on PhiIn October 2001, NASA began collecting data with the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) on cosmic background radiation.
http://www.goldennumber.net/universe.htm
Is the Universe a Dodecahedron?
Recent astronomical thinking proposes the over 2000 year-old idea that our material universe and perhaps all of creation is in the basic shape of a dodecahedron.The Dodecahedron is one of five regular or perfect geometric solids, also known as The Platonic Solids, that compose or structure the fabric of our universe or creation. The others are the tetrahedron, the cube, the octahedron, and the icosahedron.
http://www.librarising.com/space/dodecahedron.html
Earth Grid Research – The Earth as a Dodecahedron
Neutral centers can be created electromagnetically via radially converging or diverging electric current pulses, spherical standing waves in piezoelectric materials, or via the radial null vectors of large masses.
http://montalk.net/science/115/earth-grid-research
Dodecahedron
The Dodecahedron has been a source of metaphysical interest for at least 2000 years. Like a crystal or gem, its facets and symmetries compel our eyes and hearts to observe life more deeply. Some have believed that the Dodecahedron represents an idealized form of Divine thought, will, or idea. To contemplate this symbol was to engage in meditation upon the Divine. Today many people believe there is a lost knowledge residing in the past, slowly being rediscovered. It is known that figures like Pythagoras, Kepler, and Leonardo, among many, were educated in these Sacred Geometries, and held many beliefs about them and their role in the Universe.
http://www.dodecahedron.us/Dodecahedron.html
Pentagram & the Golden Ratio
The 'ratio' has become known as the golden ratio or golden section. This ratio can be found in many places: in art, architecture, and mathematics.
http://www.contracosta.edu/legacycontent/math/pentagrm.htm
Fibonacci Numbers, the Golden section and the Golden String
Fibonacci numbers and the golden section in nature, art, geometry, architecture, music and even for calculating pi! Puzzles and investigations.
1. http://www.maths.surrey.ac.uk/hosted-sites/R.Knott/Fibonacci/fib.html
The Golden Section in Art, Architecture and Music
2.<"http://www.math.vt.edu/people/gao/math/godensection/
Some Solid (Three-dimensional) Geometrical Facts about the Golden Section
3.http://www.maths.surrey.ac.uk/hosted-sites/R.Knott/Fibonacci/phi3DGeom.html
Golden Section in Art and Architecture - Jill Britton's Website
The following comprises a set of slides on "Golden Section in Art and Architecture". In the commentary, it is presumed that the user is familiar with the geometry of phi.
http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/goldslide/jbgoldslide.htm
The Golden Section and The human body
The Golden Section, also known as Phi, is manifested in the structure of the human body. If the length of the hand has the value of 1, for instance, then the combined length of hand + forearm has the approximate value of Phi. Similarly the proportion of upper arm to hand + forearm is in the same ratio of 1: Phi .
http://milan.milanovic.org/math/english/golden/golden2.html
The Human Hand and Foot
Your hand shows Phi and the Fibonacci Series. There are many examples of the Divine Proportion found throughout the design of the universe and everything in it, but let's take a look at one of the most important things first: You!
http://www.goldennumber.net/hand.htm
Fibonacci Numbers in Nature & the Golden Ratio
The Fibonacci numbers are Nature's numbering system. They appear everywhere in Nature, from the leaf arrangement in plants, to the pattern of the florets of a flower, the bracts of a pinecone, or the scales of a pineapple.
http://www.world-mysteries.com/sci_17.htm
Fundamental interaction - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In particle physics, fundamental interactions (sometimes called interactive forces or fundamental forces) are the ways that elementary particles interact with one another.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_force
Fundamental Forces
The role of the weak force in the transmutation of quarks makes it the interaction involved in many decays of nuclear particles which require a change of a quark from one ...
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/forces/funfor.html
E=mc2 Mass–energy equivalence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In physics, mass–energy equivalence is the concept that the mass of a body is a measure of its energy content. In this concept, mass is a property of all energy ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass-energy_relationship
Introduction to Quantum Mechanics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Quantum mechanics is the body of scientific principles that explains the behavior of matter and its interactions with energy on the scale of atoms and atomic particles.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduction_to_quantum_mechanics
Albert Einstein Quantum Physics: Explaining Albert Einstein's Theory
Quantum Physics / Quantum Theory: Albert Einstein. The Spherical Standing Wave Structure of Matter (WSM) explains Albert Einstein's Light Quanta 'Photon' / Photoelectric Effect of Quantum Theory
http://www.spaceandmotion.com/albert-einstein-quantum-physics.htm
Gravitation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gravitation, or gravity, is a natural phenomenon by which physical bodies attract with a force proportional to their masses. Gravitation is most familiar as the agent that gives weight to objects with mass and causes them to fall to the ground when dropped.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity
Quantum Gravity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Quantum gravity (QG) is the field of theoretical physics which attempts to develop scientific models that unify quantum mechanics (describing three of the four known fundamental interactions) with general relativity (describing the fourth, gravity)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_gravity
World Mysteries - Bjarne Lorenzen
Gravity Mysteries Solved: Science Mysteries: A simple law of nature, reveals the cause behind all of these mysteries… A new expression of gravity, "Space Curves" was introduced 100 years ago and has since been a famous and usable expression, especially for a pure geometric/mathematical understanding. The main problem is that we don't know much about what space really is. Our immediate impression is that space is nothing. How can 'nothing' curve?
1.http://www.science27.com/index.html
2.http://www.world-mysteries.com/newgw/sci_27_gms.htm
Explaining Light 'Photons' with the Wave Structure of Matter (WSM)
Physics: Light Quanta (Photons): Wave Structure of Matter (WSM) and Standing Wave Interactions (Resonant Coupling) only occur at Discrete Frequencies which explains the Discrete Energy Exchanges of Light
http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Physics-Light-Quanta-Photon-Photons.htm
Electromagnetic radiation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Electromagnetic radiation (EM radiation or EMR) is a form of energy emitted and absorbed by charged particles, which exhibits wave-like behavior as it travels through space.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_radiation
Electromagnetic radiation/Sound waves - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
“Sound waves are not electromagnetic radiation. At the lower end of the electromagnetic spectrum, about 20 Hz to about 20 kHz, are frequencies that might be considered in the audio range. However, electromagnetic waves cannot be directly perceived by human ears. Sound waves are the oscillating compression of molecules. To be heard, electromagnetic radiation must be converted to pressure waves of the fluid in which the ear is located (whether the fluid is air, water or something else).”
This is the same site as the one above. It is included again to make clear that electromagnetic radiation causes sound waves and is directly related to them.- D.H.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_radiation
Strong interaction - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In particle physics, the strong interaction (also called the strong force, strong nuclear force, or color force) is one of the four fundamental interactions of nature
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong_interaction
Weak interaction - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Weak interaction (often called the weak force or sometimes the weak nuclear force) is one of the four fundamental forces of nature, alongside the strong nuclear force, electromagnetism, and gravity.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weak_nuclear_force
Sacred geometry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sacred geometry is the geometry used in the planning and construction of religious structures such as churches, temples, mosques, religious monuments, altars, ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_geometry
Archaeoastronomy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Archaeoastronomy (also spelled archeoastronomy) is the study of how people in the past "have understood the phenomena in the sky, how they used phenomena in the sky, and what role the sky played in their cultures."[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Archaeoastronomy
Archaeoastronomy
Our planet moves around the sun in an elliptical circuit deviating less than a second from one year to the next. Together we proceed through 8 significant, yet invisible, thresholds within each orbit. These spatial milestones mark the beginning, midpoint and end of each of our seasons. Equinoxes, Solstices and Cross Quarters are moments shared planet-wide, defined by the earth's tilt and the sun's position on The Ecliptic along 45° arcs.
http://archaeoastronomy.com/
