How Fortune Telling Paved the Way for Binary
- Nicole Igarashi
- Jun 23
- 3 min read
Have you ever stopped to think about the fundamental language of our digital world?
It's binary, a system of just two symbols, 0 and 1, that underpins everything from the simplest calculator to the most complex artificial intelligence.
But what if I told you that the roots of this seemingly modern innovation stretch back to ancient Chinese fortune tellers?
The connection between binary code and the I Ching (Book of Changes) and its core principle of Yin & Yang is not just a coincidence; it's a profound testament to the universality of certain logical structures.
The Dance of Duality: Yin & Yang
At the heart of Chinese philosophy lies the concept of Yin and Yang. These two opposing yet complementary forces describe everything in the universe: light and dark, hot and cold, masculine and feminine, active and passive.
They are not seen as absolute opposites but rather interdependent aspects of a whole, constantly interacting and transforming.
The black represents Yin (dark, receptive, yielding) and the white represents Yang (light, active, creative). Crucially, each contains a small dot of the other, signifying that nothing is purely one or the other; within Yin there is the potential for Yang, and vice versa.
The I Ching: A System of Divination and Philosophy
Building upon the principles of Yin & Yang, the I Ching is an ancient Chinese classic, primarily a divination text, but also a profound work of philosophy and cosmology. It consists of 64 hexagrams, each made up of six lines. These lines are either solid (Yang) or broken (Yin).
Solid Line (—): Represents Yang, strength, light, activity.
Broken Line (- -): Represents Yin, yielding, darkness, receptivity.
By combining these Yin and Yang lines in all possible permutations of six, the I Ching generates its 64 hexagrams. Each hexagram has a unique meaning and offers insights into various situations and their potential developments.
The Striking Parallel: From Fortune Telling to Binary Digits
Now, let's make the leap to binary. Binary code, as we know, uses two digits: 0 and 1.
1: Often represents "on," "true," or a high voltage.
0: Often represents "off," "false," or a low voltage.
Do you see the remarkable parallel?
I Ching Element | Binary Digit | Description |
Yang (—) | 1 | Active, On, True |
Yin (- -) | 0 | Receptive, Off, False |
Just as the I Ching uses combinations of Yin and Yang lines to create its hexagrams, binary uses combinations of 0s and 1s to create sequences that represent numbers, characters, images, and instructions for computers.
Consider a trigram from the I Ching (three lines):
☰ (Heaven): Yang-Yang-Yang (corresponds to 111 in binary)
☷ (Earth): Yin-Yin-Yin (corresponds to 000 in binary)
☳ (Thunder): Yin-Yin-Yang (corresponds to 001 in binary)
The resemblance is uncanny. The 64 hexagrams of the I Ching are, in essence, a base-2 system, a direct precursor to the binary system that forms the foundation of all modern computing.
Leibniz's Discovery and the Unveiling of the Connection
While the I Ching had existed for millennia, it was the brilliant German mathematician and philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz who, in the late 17th century, independently developed and formalized the modern binary system.
What's truly astonishing is that Leibniz later became aware of the I Ching through Jesuit missionaries in China and immediately recognized the profound connection between his binary arithmetic and the hexagrams. He saw his own logical system mirrored in the ancient wisdom, further validating his work.
More Than Just a Coincidence
The relationship between the I Ching, Yin & Yang, and binary is more than just a fascinating historical footnote. It highlights a fundamental truth: that complex systems can emerge from the interplay of just two basic elements. Whether it's the philosophical understanding of the universe or the intricate workings of a computer, the principle of duality provides a powerful framework for organization and meaning.
So, the next time you tap on your keyboard or swipe on your phone, take a moment and pause. You just may be connecting to something more ancient than you imagine.
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