When we analyse the traditional I Ching sequence of hexagrams we come across the fact that the sequence is made-up of 32 pairs of hexagrams where a structural relationship binds the elements of each pair.
This format of a sequence implies that the sequence is in fact derived using the process of recursion where the process of recursion of a dichotomy (as in yin/yang or any other form of dichotomy) will ensure the final level of derivation is in the form of a sequences of pairs, as show in the below diagram:
The hexagrams of the traditional I Ching form the pairs identified at level 6 in the above diagram (as do the hexagrams of the binary sequence but in a different order).
Since each hexagram pair stems from a single cell at level 5 so the elements of the pair at level 6 must reflect aspects of some common theme. Furthermore, we should be able to link pairs as opposites where, for example, pair 01 and 02 must 'oppose' or 'complement' pair 63 and 64. These associations reflect the ability to fold the above diagram down the middle and so the left side complements the right side.
Below we here show the shared qualities of the elements of each pair, as well as the link to the complements as well as an associated hexagram describing by analogy the raw context out of which a hexagram has developed, and as such the analogy is to the raw quality of the given hexagram. This latter feature derives from an analysis on some properties of the process of recursion, all described elsewhere. Furthermore, the hexagram serving as a source of analogy to describe the raw context from which something comes also serves as analogy to describe the state a hexagram can transcend into. For example. for hexagram 01, pure yang, hexagram 28 describes by analogy the raw context from which hexagram 01 emerged, i.e. 'too much yang, excess'. At the other end of the scale hexagram 28 also describes by analogy going beyond the peak of hexagram 01, the ability to Transcend - to go beyond, to exceed.
The hexagram descriptions are general and so vague, reflecting the general nature of the hexagrams where local context will skew a hexagram's meaning - as covered in chapter VI of the "Great Treatise", one of the ten commentaries associated with the I Ching (taken from Wilhelm's translation (pp343-345 RKP paperback 1970) with my comments in italics):
Chapter VI : On the Nature of The Book of Changes in General
"1. The Master said The Creative and the Receptive are indeed the gateways to the Changes. The Creative is the representative of light things and the Receptive of dark things. In that the natures of the dark and light are joined, the firm and yielding receive form. Thus do the relationships of heaven and earth take shape, and we enter into a relation with the nature of the light of the gods."
The focus in 1 above is on the dual interpretations of the hexagrams in the I Ching where initially they manifest absolute light (pure yang) and absolute darkness (pure yin) and as such reflect the archetypal where the focus on purity and on androgyny ensure that all is an eternal war with battles reflecting different partnerships solely for the sake of self-interest. The bringing-around of darkness to sit beside light reflects the movement from archetypal to typal where dark/light is transformed into female/male and so cooperation that goes beyond self-interest develops.
"2. The names employed are manifold but not superfluous. When we examine their kinds, thoughts about the decline of an era come to mind."
The focus in 2 above is on the many labels that can be associated with one hexagram. Wilhelm comments that " the names of the sixty-four hexagrams are diverse, but they all keep within the sphere of the necessary". These hexagrams, being manifestations of general 'laws' applied to the species regarding the properties and methods of deriving meaning, and so elements of the realm of laws, the realm of the neccessary, require a context for the hexagrams to function properly - otherwise they are 'sterile' - nice to look at but going nowhere. Giving them a context will start to elicit 'meaning', for example 'thoughts about the decline of an era come to mind'.
"3. The Changes illumine the past and interpret the future. They disclose that which is hidden and open that which is dark. They distinguish things by means of suitable names. Then , when the right words and decisive judgments are added, everything is complete."
The hexagrams within the I Ching, being symbols that describe 'all there is', allow one to flesh-out properties missed in past events as well as flesh-out the set of all possible interpretations of future events. As such there is no prediction of the future, more so a listing of all possibles and all probables given a context. By clear understanding of the choices available one makes the correct choice and so 'everything is complete'.
"4. The names employed sound unimportant, but the possible applications are great. The meanings are far reaching, the judgments are well ordered. They words are roundabout but they hit the mark. Things are openly set forth, but they contain also a deep secret. That is why in doubtful cases they may serve to guide the conduct of men and thus to show the requital for reaching or for missing the goal."
The names given to hexagrams hide a wide range of applications and the generality of the text still hits the mark in eliciting a sense of meaning in the reader. The 'deep secret' is the fact that these hexagrams reflect the manner in which our species' brain processes information and as such the I Ching is a metaphor for those processes - see the IDM material for more on this. Thus many see so much in the IC - what they are in fact seeing is the underlying invarient set of qualities we use as a species to derive meaning.
Below are the hexagrams of the I Ching in their traditional sequence but I have emphasised the pairs and their relationship to 'complementary' pairs. For a focus on this sequence applied to octets see the code cracked page. or more on pairs
01, 02 - 63, 64
01 : purity, mindedness - through singlemindedness (total trust in self)
01 purity comes out of a context described by hexagram 28 - excess (too much yang)
02 : purity, mindedness - through dualmindedness (total trust in another/others)
02 purity comes out of a context described by hexagram 27 - hungering (too little yang)
03, 04 - 61, 62
03 : beginnings - through sprouting (pierce the earth)
03 sprouting comes out of a context described by hexagram 20 - admiring(encouragement)
04 : beginnings - through socialising (masking) (beneath the surface)
04 masking comes out of a context described by hexagram 19 - approach (defer)
05, 06 - 59, 60
05 : compromise - through wait in expectation (wade the great river)
05 waiting comes out of a context described by hexagram 57 - cultivating, become influencial
06 : compromise - through meet half way (not wade the great river)
06 compromise comes out of a context described by hexagram 58 - intense reflection
07, 08 - 57, 58
07 : uniformity - through structure
07 uniformity comes out of a context described by hexagram 41 - concentrating, distilling
08 : uniformity - through unify
08 unify (passive attraction) comes out of a context described by hexagram 42 - augmenting
09, 10 - 55, 56
09 : gain - through achievements
09 small gains comes out of a context described by hexagram 48 - a well, foundation setting
10 : gain - through following a path
10 treading comes out of a context described by hexagram 47 - forced enclosure
11, 12 - 53, 54
11 : balance - through (non development) - harmonise
11 harmonising comes out of a context described by hexagram 18 - correcting (restore balance)
12 ; balance - through (non development) - neutralise
12 neutralising comes out of a context described by hexagram 17 - following, gain a belief
13, 14 - 51, 52
13 : impose directions through associations - passive
13 loose associations comes out of a context decribed by hexagram 31 - wooing, restrained structuring
14 : impose directions through associations - active
14 centered, directing associations comes out of a context described by hexagram 32 - strong commitment
15, 16 - 49, 50
15 : reduce exaggerations - through re-distribution, even-out
15 modesty comes out of a context described by hexagram 22 - facading, gloss over, cover up
16 : reduce exaggerations - through planning, think beforehand
16 foresight, planning comes out of a context described by hexagram 21 - problem solving, to chew over
17, 18 - 47, 48
17 : belief - through establishing to follow
17, following comes out of a context decribed by hexagram 12 - neutralising
18 : belief - through re-establish through correcting errors
18, correcting comes out of a context described by hexagram 11 - balancing
19, 20 - 45, 46
19 : admiration (low-of-high) - through approach [defer]
19 approaching/defer comes out of a context described by hexagram 04 - masking, socialising
20 : admiration (low-of-high) - through motivate (set an example)
20 admiration/encouragement comes out of a context described by hexagram 03 - sprouting, initial difficulties
21, 22 - 43, 44
21 : problem solve - through chew over
21 problem solving comes out of a context described by hexagram 16 - foresight, plan, enthuse
22 : problem solve - through gloss over
22 facade, beautify comes out of a context described by hexagram 15 - modesty, to level-out
23, 24 - 41, 42
23 : return to the faith - through refurbishing, pruning
23 refurbish, prune, comes out of a context described by hexagram 24 - returning
24 : return to the faith - through come back to
24 returning comes out of a context described by hexagram 23 - pruning
25, 26 - 39, 40
25 : holding firm - through expressing personal beliefs, disentangle
25 disentangling comes from a context described by hexagram 45 - congregating, celebrating
26 : holding firm - through staying with traditional beliefs
26 hold firm comes out of a context described by hexagram 46 - entangling, pushing upwards
27, 28 - 37, 38
27 : excess - through too little, too empty, needs filling, hungering
27 hungering comes from a context described by hexagram 02 - devoting, trusting others, dualmindedness
28 : excess - through too much, to full, needs emptying
28 exceeding comes from a context described by hexagram 01 - singlemindedness, trust in self
29, 30 - 35, 36
29 : enclosure (surround) - through water, contain/control
29 containment/control comes from a context described by hexagram 61 - sympathise, empathise, hard exterior-soft core
30 : enclosure (surround) - through fire, guide/direct (ideology)
30 guide/direct comes from a context described by hexagram 62 - exaggerate tradition, act
31, 32 - 33, 34
31 : commit (gradual) - through to someone
31 wooing comes from a context described by hexagram 13 - loose associations
32 : commit (sudden) - through to something
32 commiting comes from a context described by hexagram 14 - centered associations, directing
33, 34 - 31, 32
33 : push by pull, drive (deceitful) - through withdrawal/trick
33 withdrawal/trick comes from a context described by hexagram 49 - revolution, unmask, revelation
34 : push, drive (open) - through invigorate, motivate
34 invigorate comes from a context described by hexagram 50 - transforming
35, 36 - 29, 30
35 : light - through bring into (uncover)
35 progressing comes from a context described by hexagram 51 - arousing
36 : light - through darken of (cover), uncompromising
36 uncompromising comes from a context described by hexagram 52 - self-restraint/discerning
37, 38 - 27, 28
37 : ridgidity - through structure (tension releasing)
37 rigid structure (family) comes from a context described by hexagram 39 - obstacles, bypassing
38 : ridgidity - through perspective (tension reducing)
38 mirroring comes from a context described by hexagram 40 - relaxed structuring
39, 40 - 25, 26
39 : loosen - through bypassing obsticles
39 bypassing comes from a context described by hexagram 37 - rigid structure (family)
40 : loosen - through relaxing structure
40 relaxed structure (releasing) comes from a context described by hexagram 38 - mirroring, obstructions
41, 42 - 23, 24
41 : refine - through distill [concentrate]
41 concentrating comes from a context described by hexagram 07 - uniforming, the army
42 : refine - through augment [add]
42 augmenting comes from a context described by hexagram 08 - unifying
43, 44 - 21, 22
43 : draw attention - through spread the word
43 spread the word comes from a context described by hexagram 44 - persuade, seduce, put the word
44 : draw attention - through put the word
44 put the word, persuade, comes from a context described by hexagram 43 - spread the word
45, 46 - 19, 20
45 : entanglement - through (low to high); a crowd
45 congregating, massing comes from a context described by hexagram 25 - disentangle, stand-up to express
46 : entanglement - through (low to high); self
46 entangling, push upwards comes from a context described by hexagram 26 - hold firm
47, 48 - 17, 18
47 : enclosure - through force attachment, foundations
47 forced enclosure comes from a context described by hexagram 10 - treading, follow a path
48 : enclosure - through well, nourishment, foundations setting
48 a well, founding comes from a context described by hexagram 09 - small gaining
49, 50 - 15, 16
49 : transformation - through revolution (sudden), unmasking, revelation
49 unmasking comes from a context described by hexagram 33 - trick, suck-in, withdrawal
50 : transformation - through evolution [cook] (gradual)
50 transforming comes from a context described by hexagram 34 - invigorating
51, 52 - 13, 14
51 : passages - through begin, new, raw, birth, arouse
51 arousing comes from a context described by hexagram 35 - progress, bring into light
52 : passages - through end, old, refined, death, self-restrain
52 discerning, self-restraining comes from a context described by hexagram 36 - uncompromising, hide light
53, 54 - 11, 12
53 : development - through gradual, maturing, conserve energy
53 gradual development, maturing, comes from a context described by hexagram 63 - closure, correct sequence
54 : development -through sudden, immaturing, expend energy
54 sudden development, immaturing, comes from a context described by hexagram 64 - non-closure, incorrect sequence, remain open
55, 56 - 09, 10
55 : going beyond - through overflow, abundance, diversity
55 abundance, diversity comes from a context described by hexagram 56 - loyalty
56 : going beyond - through loyalty, stay focused
56 loyalty comes from a context described by hexagram 55 - diversity
57, 58 - 07, 08
57 : influencial - through cultivation (gradual, diffuse, implicit)
57 cultivating/becoming-influencial comes from a context described by hexagram 05 - calculated waiting
58 : influencial - through reflection (immediate, intense, explicit)
58 self-reflecting/intense expression comes from a context described by hexagram 06 - compromising
59, 60 - 05, 06
59 : make things clear - through dispel illusions
59 dispell illusions comes from a context described by hexagram 60 - standardisations
60 : make things clear - through standardisations
60 standardisations comes from a context described by hexagram 59 - dispel illusions
61, 62 - 03, 04
61 : exaggerate through yielding, softening, hard core-soft centre
61 softening comes from a context described by hexagram 29 - containment/control
62 : exaggerate through traditions
62 exaggerate traditions comes from a context described by hexagram 30 - guiding, directing (an ideology)
63, 64 - 01, 02
63 : mixing - through closure, completion, correct sequence
63 completion, closure, comes from a context described by hexagram 53 - maturing
64 : mixing - through open, non-closure, incorrect sequence
64 non-completion, remain open comes from a context described by hexagram 54 - immaturing