Questions & Insights
Understanding Six Lines, the I-Ching, and the Chinese almanac
What is Six Lines?
Six Lines is a native iOS app for I-Ching (易經) hexagram reference and Chinese almanac (黃曆) with Gua interpretation. It's a daily-use reference tool — not a fortune-telling app. The almanac evaluates days per-activity from classical source texts, and the I-Ching reference includes all 64 hexagrams with original interpretive essays, classical Chinese text, and character-by-character Hatcher Matrix translations.
How does the almanac work?
Every competing almanac app gives generic star ratings or “lucky/unlucky day” labels. Six Lines is the only app that evaluates days per-activity with transparent reasoning from classical source texts. The traditional system was designed to evaluate activities individually (宜/忌) — even the 1739 imperial source text says generic ratings are unreliable.
What is the Yilin?
The Yilin (焦氏易林 / Forest of Changes) is Jiao Yanshou's complete dataset: 4,096 poetic verses covering every possible hexagram transformation. Each verse is illustrated with original Chinese ink brush artwork — 4,096 individual pieces. No other app has this content.
How does hexagram casting work?
Describe your situation, then cast with your choice of three-coin method or the authentic 49-stalk yarrow process. Procedural generative artwork — unique each time — serves as a contemplative interstitial between question and answer. Haptic feedback throughout creates a practice, not a button press.
What are the guides?
Six Lines has two guides with different philosophies. Gua (cloud-based) provides deep consultation for life decisions — severe when hexagrams are severe, never sugarcoating. Yao (on-device) is a line translator and study guide that explains individual lines in context. Both are source-grounded, not fortune-cookie shallow.
Is Six Lines free?
The daily almanac, full hexagram reference, Yao on-device guide, Date Finder, and one free Gua consultation are all free. The Master tier ($9.99/month or $79.99/year) adds unlimited Gua consultations, follow-up questions, Journal, and Reflections. The philosophy: gate the guides, not the content.
Join TestFlight Beta↗Does Six Lines respect privacy?
Yes. Yao runs entirely on your device — private by design. All preferences are stored locally. This is contemplative software designed for reflection, not surveillance.
Read our Privacy Policy →What makes the design different?
Every competing Chinese almanac app looks like a temple utility from 2010 — garish colors, cluttered layout, ad-stuffed. Six Lines is contemplative minimalism: Goudy Old Style serif typography, warm ivory palette, generous whitespace. The only almanac app that treats the tradition with the design quality it deserves.