set of stalks (50) of the yarrow plant (Achillea millefolium) used in Chinese divining technique, I Ching; woody stems have flower and root removed, excrescences cleaned off; tied in bundle with leather thong (1) ; used in the Chinese divination technique, I Ching (The Book of Changes); stalks are divided in the prescribed manner, after 1 is first laid aside; after complicated series of stalk division, hexagrams (as described on card for 9-11968) are arrived at which refer to specific answers in the I Ching, which is consulted; this method takes longer than the coin oracle (9-11968), but it is considered far more accurate and trustworthy as a method of obtaining prediction from I Ching
Donor:
Mike Stephens and University Appropriation
Collection place:
China
Culture or time period:
Chinese
Object type:
ethnography
Function:
5.1 Religion and Divination: Objects and garb associated with practices reflecting submission, devotion, obedience, and service to supernatural agencies
Accession date:
1972
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Loans:
S1974-1975 #58: California State University, East Bay (February 19, 1975–March 13, 1975)