How a hexagram is made
Casting Methods
The Free I Ching offers two ways to build a hexagram. Both produce six lines from the bottom up, each with a value of 6, 7, 8 or 9.
- Yarrow-weighted digital cast: instant, using the traditional yarrow-stalk odds.
- Three-coin method: you toss three coins six times and enter the result.
| Line value | Meaning | Yarrow | Three coins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Old yin (changing) | 1/16 | 1/8 |
| 7 | Young yang | 5/16 | 3/8 |
| 8 | Young yin | 7/16 | 3/8 |
| 9 | Old yang (changing) | 3/16 | 1/8 |
In both methods a line changes 25% of the time, about 17.8% of casts have no changing lines, and each of the 64 primary hexagrams has the same 1/64 chance. The methods differ in how often old yin and old yang appear, which changes which relating hexagrams are more common. Exact numbers are in the cast probabilities dataset.
A cast is a prompt for reflection. The odds describe the casting procedure, not events in your life.
Cite this page
The Free I Ching. "Casting Methods." https://thefreeiching.com/methods (updated 2026-10-07).
The I Ching is a tool for reflection, not a prediction. Nothing here forecasts events or replaces professional advice. Short quotations with a link back are welcome. Please do not republish a page in full. The open data files at /data are licensed CC BY 4.0.
Updated October 7, 2026. Markdown version