Case Studies: How Others Have Used I Ching for Problem Solving

The I Ching’s wisdom truly comes alive when we see how it has been applied in real-world situations to navigate challenges and find solutions. While individual consultations are deeply personal, exploring hypothetical or anonymized case studies, alongside historical accounts, can illuminate the practical application of its principles. These examples demonstrate how different individuals, both contemporary and from centuries past, have used or might use the I Ching to gain clarity and direction when facing common and uncommon problems.

Hypothetical Contemporary Case Studies

These examples illustrate how individuals today might engage with the I Ching for personal problem-solving.

Case Study 1: The Career Crossroads

The Situation: Sarah, a mid-level manager, felt increasingly unfulfilled in her corporate job. She had an idea for a small online business related to her passion for sustainable crafts but was hesitant to leave the security of her current role. The problem was a mix of fear of the unknown, financial concerns, and uncertainty about her entrepreneurial capabilities.

The Question: “What is the most insightful guidance for me regarding making a significant career change towards starting my own sustainable crafts business at this time?”

The Reading: Sarah received Hexagram 52, 艮 (Gèn) - Keeping Still, Mountain, with the third line changing to become Hexagram 23, 剝 (Bō) - Splitting Apart.

Interpretation and Application:

• Hexagram 52 (Keeping Still, Mountain): This hexagram generally advises stillness, not in the sense of inaction, but of inner calm and ceasing movement at the appropriate time. It suggests keeping the back still, so one no longer feels one’s body – a metaphor for detaching from restless impulses and achieving inner peace.

  • Sarah’s Insight: Sarah realized her anxiety was pushing her towards impulsive decisions. The I Ching seemed to advise her to first find inner stillness and clarity before making any drastic moves. It wasn’t an outright “no” to her business idea, but a call to stop the frantic mental “doing” and cultivate a state of calm observation.

• Changing Line 3: “Keeping his hips still. Making his sacrum stiff. Dangerous. The heart suffocates.” This line often warns against forced stillness or rigidity that suppresses natural movement or vital energy.

  • Sarah’s Insight: This was a crucial nuance. While the overall hexagram advised stillness, this line warned her against becoming too rigid or suppressing her creative desires to the point of “suffocating” her heart’s passion. It suggested that her current state of forced stillness in an unfulfilling job was also a danger.

• Resulting Hexagram 23 (Splitting Apart): This hexagram often signifies a time of decline, where old structures are breaking down. It advises adapting to the situation and not clinging to what is being lost.

  • Sarah’s Insight: This suggested that her current corporate career path might indeed be “splitting apart” or was no longer a viable long-term source of fulfillment. It reinforced the idea that change was inevitable, but the way she approached it was key.

Outcome:

Sarah decided not to quit her job immediately. Instead, she focused on “keeping still” by dedicating time to meditation and journaling to understand her fears and motivations better (addressing Hexagram 52). She also took the warning of the third line seriously and started dedicating small, consistent amounts of time outside of work to develop her business plan and craft prototypes, allowing her “heart’s desire” some expression without drastic action. This was her way of avoiding the “suffocation.” She saw the “Splitting Apart” as a gradual process she could navigate by slowly building her new venture while the old one naturally receded in importance, rather than making a sudden, risky break. The I Ching helped her reframe “problem-solving” from a single decision to a phased approach rooted in inner clarity.

Case Study 2: The Strained Family Relationship

The Situation: Mark was experiencing a painful rift with his adult son. Misunderstandings and unspoken grievances had led to minimal contact. Mark wanted to bridge the gap but felt his previous attempts had been rebuffed or misinterpreted. The problem was how to approach reconciliation effectively.

The Question: “What is the wisest approach for me to take to begin healing my relationship with my son?”

The Reading: Mark received Hexagram 6, 訟 (Sòng) - Conflict, with the fifth line changing to become Hexagram 64, 未濟 (Wèi Jì) - Before Completion.

Interpretation and Application:

• Hexagram 6 (Conflict): This hexagram directly addresses disputes and contention. Its general counsel is that persisting in conflict is perilous, even if one believes they are in the right. It advises seeking mediation or finding a middle ground.

  • Mark’s Insight: This immediately resonated. He realized his past attempts might have been too focused on proving his own perspective or inadvertently prolonging the conflict by rehashing old issues.

• Changing Line 5: “To contend before him brings supreme good fortune.” This line is often considered one of the most auspicious in this hexagram. It suggests that if one’s cause is just and is brought before a fair and wise arbiter or authority (or if one embodies these qualities oneself in the approach), the outcome can be very positive.

  • Mark’s Insight: This was pivotal. Instead of seeing himself as a “contender” against his son, he reinterpreted “contending before him” as presenting his sincere desire for reconciliation in a fair, open, and non-accusatory way, perhaps even with the help of a neutral third party if needed (though he first aimed to embody that fairness himself). It shifted his mindset from “winning an argument” to “presenting a case for love and connection.”

• Resulting Hexagram 64 (Before Completion): This hexagram signifies a time when things are not yet in order, like a fox whose tail gets wet just before crossing the stream. It calls for caution, carefulness, and recognizing that the task is not yet finished.

  • Mark’s Insight: This tempered the optimism of the changing line. It reminded him that reconciliation would be a process, not an instant fix. Even with a good approach, he needed to be patient and understand that healing would take time and continued effort.

Outcome:

Mark decided to write his son a heartfelt letter. Guided by Hexagram 6, he focused on expressing his own feelings and regrets without blaming his son. He emphasized his love and his desire for a better relationship, embodying the spirit of “presenting his case fairly” (line 5). He didn’t demand an immediate response, respecting the “Before Completion” nature of the situation. The letter opened a small door, and while the relationship is still a work in progress (as Wèi Jì suggests), communication has resumed, and the conflict has significantly de-escalated. The I Ching helped Mark shift his approach from one of confrontation to one of sincere and patient peacemaking.

Historical Examples of I Ching in Problem Solving

The I Ching’s application in problem-solving is not a modern invention. History is replete with instances where individuals and leaders turned to its wisdom for guidance in critical situations.

• Ancient China:

  • Records in the Tso Chuan and Kuo Yu detail over 25 instances of I Ching divination. A notable example involves Yang Hu, a refugee sub-Minister, who consulted the yarrow stalks about relieving the Cheng state from an attack by Sung. He received Hexagram 11 (T’ai - Peace) transforming into Hexagram 5 (Hsü - Waiting). Quoting the text, Yang Hu argued against intervention, leading the Minister of War of Chin, Chao Ts’ang, to abandon his plan.
  • Li Si, Prime Minister in the Qin dynasty and an expert in the Yijing, applied its wisdom to assist Emperor Qin Shihuang in the monumental task of unifying the six other kingdoms of China.
  • In the Tang dynasty, Yijing specialist Xu Maogong aided Emperor Li Shimin in establishing a powerful and prosperous nation. The influential commentator Wang Bi (AD 226–249) focused on the I Ching’s utility for solving immediate, pressing human concerns.

• Medieval Japan:

  • Emperors like Hanazono, Godaigo, and Sūkōin studied the I Ching for political philosophy and to legitimize policies. During the Kemmu Restoration, the I Ching’s concept of change provided ideological backing for reforms.
  • Scholars and supporters of the Restoration, such as Hino Suketomo, Hino Toshimoto, and Chūgan Engetsu, utilized the I Ching in significant policy decisions. Hino Suketomo even used I Ching-based arguments to request changing an era name.
  • Tōgen Zuisen, a master of divination, not only lectured on using the I Ching for life readings but also consulted it before battles.

• Tokugawa Japan:

  • The practical aspects of the I Ching were heavily emphasized. Early entrepreneurs drew wisdom and confidence from its philosophy and divination methods.
  • Takashima Donshō, a self-made businessman, credited his success across various industries to I Ching principles.
  • Kusama Naokata, a merchant and economic advisor, used the I Ching’s yin-yang principle to advocate for a free-market economy.
  • During crises in the late Tokugawa period, people widely turned to the I Ching for solutions.

• Psychological and Inner Problem-Solving:

  • Qing dynasty scholar Li Guangdi (1642-1718) elaborated on the concept from the Commentaries that “the sages use I Ching for washing the heart,” highlighting its role in addressing emotional and psychological issues, rejoicing the heart, and healing anxiety.
  • Psychologist C.G. Jung famously explored the I Ching’s psychological dimensions, connecting it to his concept of synchronicity and finding it a powerful tool for understanding the psyche.
  • Dr. Shen (as mentioned in some modern accounts) experienced the I Ching as a potent psychological tool, consulting it for real-life situations and observing how images from the hexagrams manifested in his experiences.

These historical and contemporary examples illustrate that the I Ching doesn’t provide magical answers but offers a framework for deeper understanding, strategic thinking, and aligning one’s actions with the prevailing energies. By engaging thoughtfully with its wisdom, individuals across time have found creative and effective ways to overcome their obstacles.