[ENG]🧿 The I Ching and Binary Code – Part 2: Arranging the 64 Hexagrams Through Binary Logic

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🧿 The I Ching and Binary Code – Part 2: Arranging the 64 Hexagrams Through Binary Logic

🪷 Introduction: From Ancient Symbols to Modern Systems

In the previous post, we examined how the I Ching’s hexagrams—composed of six Yin and Yang lines—can be interpreted as 6-digit binary numbers.
We saw that these 64 combinations (2⁶ = 64) are not only symbolic representations of nature’s change, but also bear remarkable similarity to the structure of digital information.

In this part, we go deeper into how the 64 hexagrams can be systematically arranged using binary logic, and what this means in terms of rational structure rather than random intuition.

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🧱 Building the Binary Ladder: From 000000 to 111111

A 6-line hexagram, when viewed through a binary lens, is simply a number from 0 to 63.

Decimal	Binary	Hexagram (bottom to top)	Traditional Name (English / Chinese)
0	000000	⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋	Earth / 坤 (Kun)
1	000001	⚊⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋	Splitting / 剝 (Bo)
...	...	...	...
63	111111	⚊⚊⚊⚊⚊⚊	Heaven / 乾 (Qian)

🔎 Note: In I Ching, hexagrams are read from the bottom line (rightmost binary digit) to the top line (leftmost).

By assigning binary values to the lines (⚋ = 0, ⚊ = 1), we get a natural ordering of hexagrams from 0 to 63.
This differs from the King Wen sequence, the traditional order, which follows symbolic or cosmological logic rather than mathematical one.

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📊 Binary vs. King Wen Sequence

There are several ways to order the 64 hexagrams:

Method	Logic Used	Purpose
Binary Order	Mathematical (0–63)	Structural clarity, modern analysis
King Wen Order	Symbolic & Philosophical	Traditional divination, yin-yang flow
Fuxi Order	Theoretical/Primordial	Pre-cosmic patterns (先天八卦)

Binary order allows us to see pure logical transitions between hexagrams—how one line flip causes a 1-bit change, similar to computing operations.

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🔁 Bit-Flipping and Transformation

In computing, a bit-flip changes a binary digit from 0 to 1 or 1 to 0.
Similarly, in the I Ching, a changing line transforms one hexagram into another.

Example:

• ⚋⚊⚋⚋⚋⚋ (Binary: 010000 = 16) → ⚊⚊⚋⚋⚋⚋ (Binary: 110000 = 48)
  → Only the top line changes (bit flip at position 6)

This reveals how hexagram transformations are not mystical but structured and trackable, just like binary logic. This concept will be explored further in Part 3.

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🩺 What This Means for Oriental Medicine

Understanding hexagrams in binary terms is not only of philosophical interest—it has clinical implications.

Oriental medical diagnostics often classify symptoms through binary pairs:

• Yin / Yang

• Deficiency / Excess

• Heat / Cold

• Interior / Exterior

This means the diagnostic logic is fundamentally binary, matching the structure of the 64 hexagrams.

By viewing symptom patterns as structured binary configurations, we can potentially approach traditional diagnosis with a more algorithmic mindset, bridging ancient wisdom with modern data systems.

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🔗 Coming Up Next

In Part 3, we will look at how the transformation and progression of hexagrams can be interpreted as cycles, algorithms, and even feedback systems—bringing the I Ching into the digital age without losing its original depth.

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