ASCII-CHING
PROCESS & METHOD
// OVERVIEW
ASCII-Ching is an I Ching Oracle illustrated entirely with ASCII art. 448 images total, created by synthesizing 11 translations spanning 3,000 years of interpretation.
This page documents the process: how translations were distilled, how images were chosen, and why certain decisions were made.
// THE FULL CIRCLE
The Oracle begins with lines. The Oracle ends with lines. Full circle.
The I Ching uses:
— — (yin)
——— (yang)
ASCII art uses:
/ \ | - _ ~ . ,
// TRANSLATION DISTILLATION
Each hexagram draws from 11 different translations, spanning scholarly, spiritual, and practical interpretations:
Wilhelm/Baynes, Legge, Blofeld, Liu, Ritsema/Karcher, Shaughnessy, Cleary (Taoist), Cleary (Buddhist), Wu, Crowley, Empowered
When 8 of 11 translations say essentially the same thing, that's the core teaching.
"Frost crunches underfoot." "The dragon flies too high." "Hunting deer without a guide." These phrases are unanimous. They stay.
Make implicit teachings explicit. Modern language, ancient depth.
If someone pulls Hexagram 29 (The Abyss) at 3:00am, terrified about their life falling apart, does this translation meet them where they are and give them something real to hold onto?
Example: Hexagram 50, Line 6
Unanimous agreement: Jade rings. Supreme fortune. The vessel perfected.
The cauldron is THE central image of Hexagram 50: the vessel of transformation, nourishment, and sacred offering. Line 6 represents the cauldron perfected, with jade rings (the handles) that make it complete. This jgs piece captures both the vessel's form and its sense of completeness. The image IS the teaching.
// IMAGE SELECTION
For each hexagram and line, the process was:
What is this line REALLY saying? Not the words, the teaching.
Not vague ideas like "transformation", but concrete images like "snake shedding skin" or "cocoon opening."
60+ years of ASCII art. Joan Stark's collection. Community archives. Original creations.
Does it match the energy? Is it readable? Is simpler better? Will it work universally?
Example: Hexagram 5, Line 2
The teaching: You're close to danger (the water) but not in it yet. Small irritations arise: rumors, restlessness. Stay patient. It resolves well.
The figure sits at the water's edge, on the sand, not yet in the water. This is exactly Line 2's position: close to danger but not engulfed. The posture is patient, contemplative. The water stretches out ahead. The image captures both the waiting and the proximity to what's coming.
// DESIGN PRINCIPLES
When the meaning calls for stillness, the image should be still. When the meaning is stark, the image should be stark. Not every line needs a complex illustration.
When lines tell a story, images should too. Hexagram 23 (Splitting Apart) shows a bed being destroyed: legs → frame → mattress. The visual progression mirrors the textual one.
Active images for action lines. Still images for stillness. Crowded images for abundance. Empty images for loss.
The I Ching is concrete. "A cart with no wheels" means a cart with no wheels. Don't over-interpret.
Some images were chosen because they connected to the builder's own journey.
Example: Hexagram 22, Line 2: The 222 Wizard
Line essence: "Lends grace to the beard on his chin." Adornment that adds dignity, not vanity.
The sync: Hexagram 22, Line 2 = 22-2. The builder's significant number is 222.
A wizard with a long beard was selected: someone whose "beard" represents earned wisdom, not mere decoration. The 222 alignment wasn't planned. It was discovered. The image honors both the line's teaching and the synchronicity.
// WHY ASCII
Consider format lifespans:
- Flash apps: Dead
- Proprietary software: Obsolete in decades
- Images (jpg, png): Dependent on viewers
- Video: Codec rot
- Plain text / ASCII: As long as computers exist
ASCII art began in the late 1950s. It has survived every technological shift since. It will survive the next ones too.
The Oracle needed a vessel that would last. Text survives. Text is universal. Text is eternal.
// THE ARTISTS
This project stands on the shoulders of ASCII artists who've been creating for over 60 years. Special recognition to:
Joan Stark (jgs): "The Queen of ASCII"
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The most prolific ASCII artist in history. Her work forms the backbone of this Oracle. Every jgs piece used is a small tribute to her legacy.
The Community
Dozens of artists contributed pieces that found their way into ASCII-Ching: VK, mrf, ldb, ctr, mic, hjw, ejm, fca, Normand Veilleux, and many others. Some are known only by initials, some anonymous.
Each image credits its artist. Each artist is honored.
// THE VISION
What you're actually experiencing:
- Visual koans: Each image isn't illustration, it's interpretation
- 448 acts of contemplation: Every hexagram and line deeply considered
- Distilled translations + curated ASCII art + terminal aesthetics
- A sincere offering: a spiritual practice made visible
Ancient meets Digital.
Sacred meets Terminal.
3,000-year-old wisdom in a new Vessel.
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