The ancient Chinese I Ching builds 64 hexagrams from broken and solid lines. In 1703, mathematician Gottfried Leibniz, who developed binary numbers, saw his system of 0s and 1s mirrored in them. Binary now runs every computer.
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Yin and yang lines
Each line is broken (yin) or solid (yang). Six lines give 64 possible combinations, which is 2 to the power of 6.
A book of change
The I Ching has been used for divination and reflection for around 3,000 years.
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- How a reading works. Coins or yarrow stalks are cast six times to build a hexagram, which points to a passage of text.
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How many hexagrams are in the I Ching?
64. Six lines, each with two options, make 64.
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