update

finally cleaned up this old blog. i miss school and experimental class. anyway the links are all fixed and working now. thanks martin rose for all the teachings and inspirations!

sketch for accumulation

sketches for degeneration

18 degeneration

26 accumulation

play
(right click to download 6.6 mb)

26

(see above)

18 degeneration

play
(right click to download - 11.7 mb)

started from scratch due to lighting problems with the first one.

how to use the i-ching

The simplest method* is by casting three coins, six times. Heads=3, Tails=2. Each time you toss the coins, you add the sum total of the three and you'll get either a 9,8,7 or 6. 9 represents old yang (straight line), 8 is young yin (broken line), 7 is young yang (straight) and six is old yin (broken). 7 and 8 are young and do not change. 6 changes to 7 and 9 change to 8. These six lines create a symbol. The whole I ching is made up of sixty four six line thematic symbols. When you get a changing line, you will have two hexagrams to read.

There are eight possible sets of three lines, symbolizing elemental qualities. They are paired in the sixty four different combinations. The eight elements include: heaven, earth, fire, water, thunder, wind, mountain and lake. The top element is the 'outside' and the bottom element is the 'inside'.

A chart with all the eight elements in all their combinations is consulted to find the number of your fortune, so to speak.

For more information, see the I ching links below.

*the traditional method uses 50 yarrow stalks:
view instructions

18 degeneration

play
(right click to download-5.6 mb)
First attempt at new system. Got a changing hexagram.

18. degeneration (mountain over wind)
26. great accumulation (mountain over heaven)

i ching links

here's an online i-ching. i believe its the same version that Phillip K. Dick used for The Man in High Castle.

an interview with Phillip K. Dick.

funny thing: my copy of the iching (published by Shambhala, 2003) has a grave error! the chart which corresponds each hexagram to its explantion had two of the same number 27s but 'lake' over 'thunder' is 17. misprint.

design brief

In a personal attempt to use the I Ching in this project, I am planning to create little vignettes that play out some aspect of meaning from the hexagrams. By tossing coins, i can determine the theme of each session. At the same time, I am still learing how to animate on the chalkboard, which is a challenge because I can't fix my many mistakes.

Music plays an important role but given the element of chance, I cannot plan ahead to create the soundtracks. Perhaps i will string them together as I go. It will have a defined narrative though constructed in a non-linear way.

The first story reel consists of a man walking into a room and removing his hat. Close up of a face (the man) with triangles forming patterns all over. Someone washing the dishes. The man walks into another room with a table and demands a glass of water. He drinks it and leaves. He puts his hat back on and says 'more'.

From my initial story reel, i will be exploring other characters who exist in this world. The latest test (see 'apricot tree') is of a child jumping into the screen and running. Close up of little girl looking surprised and laughing. The soundtrack is temporary but fits, sort of.

Guess that's it for now. Just an update on the project.

apricot tree

play
(right click to download-3.9 mb)

a practice for animating walk. not very smooth : ( but its a start..
the sound is from "Party Fun with Recorders Volume 1" which might be found on archive.org but i'm not sure.

#4

This one was done using willow charcoal on an old notebook I had. I like this method because I draw something and save it for animation later. Willow charcoal erases really well and is similar to chalk in its softness. However, I need to find a good way to mount my camera to shoot horizontally.

#3

Another stab at it, in the dark (ha). It was a little too hard to see to make this work. But the color is kinda nice.

#2

#1

This is from my first attempt at the story reel. The lighting/color balance is different, much warmer.

story reel #1

play
(right click to download-5.7 mb)

This is the first story reel I completed although there are earlier versions which I will post later. Please click on the broken link which will take you to the eciad site to view the reel.