Music of the Moment
The Coin Throw in the I Ching
With six throws of three coins, we build a hexagram from the bottom up (traditional).
Applying this to the C major diatonic scale:
Comment: Here we have a mode with no dominant-to-tonic relationship, and with
an enharmonic (in well-tempered) A#-Bb relationship. Inasmuch as our ears
are tuned to search for the dominant-tonic, unless there's a drone sounding on C,
our tendency will be to assign tonic-dominant to the F - C relationship, (as in
the classical 'hypo' modes?)
If we now open the I Ching and look up this hexagram, we discover that
it is Number 47 -- titled "Oppression (Exhaustion)" in the Wilhelm/Baynes translation**.
If we wish, we can now use the Judgment as the lyrics for our "song of the moment:"
By using this method, you will end up constructing scales (modes, if you prefer) that
you would never otherwise use. If for no other reason I find this useful, although often
I find an interesting correlation between the "feel" of the mode and the text of the
hexagram it represents.
** More recently I have started using the translation by Taoist scholar Ming-Dao Deng titled "The Living I Ching: Using Ancient
Chinese Wisdom to Shape Your Life." It seems to lend itself better to use as lyrics. For example, the Judgment, called 'the
Statement' in this translation, reads as follows:
And "The Image" reads:
The main reading is also worth considering for lyrics, especially the last stanza:
One can 'personalize' the lyrics further by singing the changing lines as follows.
Third line (Old Yin changing to Yang)
Unchanging Yang, or "7" in the coin throw, equals a "sharp" or augmented note within
the major diatonic scale, which I take as a point of departure.
Unchanging Yin, or "8" in the coin throw, equals a "flat" or diminished note within the
same diatonic scale.
Changing Yin or "6", and Changing Yang or "9" I treat as a "natural" or unchanged diatonic note.
heads = the value "2"; tails = the value "3". Thus the four possible totals are:
9 (three tails -- changing yang) -o-
6 (three heads -- changing yin) -x-
7 (1 tails, 2 heads) -- unchanging yang ---
8 (2 tails, 1 heads) -- unchanging yin - -
value throw #
- - 8 interval 6 diminished
--- 7 interval 5 augmented
--- 7 interval 4 augmented
-x- 6 interval 3 "natural" (old Yin)
--- 9 interval 2,"natural" (old Yang)
-x- 8 interval 1 diminished
The final (uppermost) interval in the scale does not have to be derived, because
the tonic note cannot change.
Oppression. Success. Perseverance.
The great man brings about good fortune.
No blame.
When one has something to say,
It is not believed.
Distress. Continue.
For a pure and great person: fortune.
No fault. What is said is not trusted.
A lake without water;
distress. The noble one
devotes her life
to fulfill her will.
The stranger leaned forward
rolling one eye, and grinned, then asked me
if I would buy him wine.
Second line (Old Yang changing to Yin)
Distressed with wine and food,
Vermillion sashes come from all direstions.
Gain by making offerings and worshipping.
Going: misfortune. No fault.
Distressed by rock, seized in thistles.
Entering into his palace, not seeing his wife.
Misfortune.