Patent Publication Number: US-2011057388-A1

Title: Chosun prophecy game

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to a fortune telling game and particularly to a game having a board with eight prognosticative sites, each divided into an upper and lower section. Eight Chosun Prophecy Coins are used as organizational identifiers to randomly place two sets of eight or sixteen randomly selected trigram cards, forming eight hexagrams, onto a Tarot inscripted game board. A psychic reading is formulated from the created hexagram pattern for fun and entertainment. 
     The following patents U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,818 issued to Allal (1995), U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,870 issued to Nichols, U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,432 issued to Beakley, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,852 issued to Tallian (2002) all have a game board with specific locations and a set of cards signifying these locations for the placement of other playing cards. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,282 issued to Portela has coins or chips with data on their surfaces indicating card placement. In our game the eight prophesy-Identifier coins have a similar function in that they not only signify eight numerical game board sites for sixteen selected trigram cards and also designate how these trigram cards are placed to either an upper or lower section, however in doing so a hexagram figure in each of the eight numerical game sites is formed, thereby, creating a hexagram pattern that is unique and essential for a one of a kind psychic reading. No other fortune-telling game has this feature. U.S. Pat. No. 3,603,593, issued to Chew (1971), and others such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,452 issued to Patton (1999), U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,682 issued to Blok et al. (1997), U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,564 issued to Brozas (1993), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,930 issued to Griffith (1990), have specific methods for composing each line in the formation of an I Ching hexagram, which include both the yin and yang type lines. However, in the Chosun Prophecy Game after the eight hexagrams are formed by the random unification of two trigrams each, a specific line in each hexagram is randomly chosen and evaluated, creating an even more relevant and precise prognosticative reading for the querant. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The Chosun Prophecy Game is a unique, fortune-telling game played with sixteen sets of eight different I Ching trigram cards ( FIG. 3 ), that are randomly picked to form eight different hexagrams from a possible set of sixty-four different combinations ( FIG. 4 ). Eight randomly selected Chosun Prophecy Coins ( FIG. 5 ) are used as positional and sectional identifiers for two sets of trigram cards, which when placed on a Tarot inscribed game board ( FIG. 2 ), create an eight hexagram pattern. To develop an even more detailed and precise reading, a specific line from each hexagram is randomly selected and analyzed. The Chosun Prophecy Game provides unique and detailed psychic readings with a maximum set of outcomes with a minimal amount of preparation. Other advantages and essential details of the game will become apparent from subsequent description of preferred embodiments, the drawings, and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of the game board of this invention showing the eight numbered ( 10 ) outlined location boxes ( 11 ), having both an upper ( 11 U) and lower ( 11 L) section with their respective prognosticative inscriptions ( 12 A to  12 H). The central design is an eight sided pattern of the I Ching and the school patch of the Chosun Taekwondo Academy ( 14 ), which Sabumnim Cook has graciously let me use. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the game board of this invention showing (during a play) the placement of two selected trigrams ( 21 ) and ( 22 ) forming a unified hexagram ( 23 ), which is hexagram No. 54 as catalogued in Table 2 in ( FIG. 4 ). Also shown is a randomly selected line ( 24 ), which is line # 5  ( 65 ) in ( FIG. 6 ), flagged by an amulet ( 67 ), and used as additional oracular data during the psychic reading. 
         FIG. 3  is a table for reference illustrating the eight possible trigram combinations, when two different type lines, yin ( 69 A) and yang ( 69 B) ( FIG. 6 ) are taken three at a time. Other meanings, labels and definitions from the I Ching are also included. 
         FIG. 4  is a table for reference illustrating the sixty-four possible hexagram combinations developed from an eight by eight two dimensional trigram array. Other information includes the I Ching hexagram numbers ( 40 ) and symbols ( 41 ). 
         FIG. 5  is a view of this invention illustrating the eight numbered Chosun Prophecy Coins ( 50 ) used as the positional and organizational identifiers for the placement and orientation of the sixteen randomly selected trigram cards. Each numbered coin ranging from “one” to “eight” is shown with its “Symbol” side up ( 50 A), and when flipped over, shown with its “Written” side up ( 50 B). 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a hexagram ( 60 ) unified from two trigrams (Thunder) over (Lake) with its composing yin ( 69 A) and yang ( 69 B) type lines numbered from position one ( 61 ) to position six ( 66 ) on the hexagram. Line # 1  of the hexagram is positioned closest to the game board, while subsequent lines sequentially radiate outward to line # 6 , which is furthest from the game board. A standard six-sided die ( 68 ) is used to randomly determine which of said six lines will be analyzed for each of the eight hexagrams, during a reading. An amulet ( 67 ) is placed on the selected line for reference. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a worksheet page of the invention used to collect, organize and record all pertinent data and information from which a psychic reading can then be formulated. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The Book of Change or I Ching is the most ancient and profound of the Chinese classics, venerated for millennia as an oracle of fortune, a guide to success and a dispensary of wisdom. Its origin dates back to mythical antiquity and to a legendary person named Fu Hsi, who according to tradition, lived about three thousand years ago. The father of much of Chinese culture, he is credited with originating the duality of the Yin/Yang system. The “Wu Chi” represented the primordial state of the universe before the Big Bang. It is the state of pure potential energy or “yin” from which everything we experience arose. Developing from the yin condition came the “yang” or “Tai Chi” phase, which is the moving and kinetic form of energy. Five elements coexisted these two forces. The Yin became associated with Earth, water, and wood with meanings of shady, secret, dark, mysterious, and cold, representing everything about the world that was dark, hidden, passive, receptive, yielding, cool, soft, and feminine. Yang was connected to fire, the hottest, and metal, the hardest substances, respectively. Therefore, yang meant clear, bright, the sun, heat, Heaven, portraying everything about the world that was illuminated, evident, active, aggressive, controlling, hot, hard, and masculine, or the direct opposite of the yin. From these opposing forces, a complete system of antitheses was developed. Of the two basic Chinese “Ways”, Confucianism became identified with the yang philosophy, while the aspects of Taoism became synonymous with the yin perspective. 
     The circular sinusoidal pattern of Yin and Yang represents the Infinite or Absolute, which unifies the two forces, as they flow about each other. The interior dots form the idea that each force contains the seed of the other, so that they do not merely replace each other but actually transform, by either waxing or waning, into one other. A good example of a yang force is a hurricane. Yet, in its center is the “eye” or the calm component of yin, which eventually consumes and overtakes the aggressive force of yang when the hurricane dissipates out.    
     About 1150 B.C. during the Shang Dynasty, questions that could be answered with a “yes” or “no” were written on tortoise shells. The shells were heated, then doused in water, which caused them to crack. A broken crack,  , was interpreted as a “no” answer and portraying a “yin” response, while an unbroken crack,  , as a “yes” and representing a “yang” reply. The Yin/Yang combination is essentially a system of binary mathematics similar to that of Morse Code and identical to the logic used by today&#39;s modern computers chips. A combination of these two lines, taken three at a time forms a trigram pattern. There are eight possible combinations of these trigrams or Kwae combinations ( FIG. 3 ). Oracles using these eight trigrams formed a balanced wheel developing a sequence called the Hsien Tien or Pre-Heaven arrangement, which represented the Chinese way of thought, spirit and nature. This paradigm with the yin/yang at its core creates the central design for the Chosun Prophecy Game board ( FIG. 1 ). 
     To gain a more profound understanding of the cosmos, to unify the absolute with the forces of the Yin and Yang, and to explain all the combinations of experience and knowledge found within our universe, a more complete kwae guide was formulated by the I Ching. If an eight by eight two dimensional array ( FIG. 4 ) is generated from two sets of eight trigrams ( 42 ), sixty-four different hexagrams are formed (Table 2). Their philosophical and fundamental meanings are formulated and catalogued in an I Ching handbook or manual by number ( 40 ) and shape ( 41 ). These definitions comprise the basis of divination for the Chosun Prophecy Game. 
     The Chosun Prophecy Game is a unique, yet simple fortune-telling game, played with any I Ching handbook or manual, consisting of a game board ( FIG. 1 ), having eight prognosticative sites ( 10 ), each divided into an “Upper” ( 11 U) and a “Lower” section ( 11 L). There are eight Chosun Prophecy Coins ( 50 ) ( FIG. 5 ), each one having a number, symbol ( 50 A) relating to one of said prognosticative sites, printed on one side and the same number written ( 50 B) on the other. A standard, six-sided die ( 68 ), eight indicator amulets ( 67 ) ( FIG. 6 ) and a note pad ( FIG. 7 ), complete the game&#39;s components. 
     The following inscribed prognosticative headings ( 13 ) ( FIG. 1 ) define said eight outlined location sites used for the placement of eight randomly formed hexagrams on the game board:
         Site “I” signifies the “Query” and question to be analyzed and discussed ( 13 A);   Site “II” signifies the “Past Circumstances” concerning the query ( 13 B);   Site “III” signifies the “Present Influences” as they apply to the query ( 13 C);   Site “IV” signifies the “Obstacles to Overcome” blocking the progress of the querent ( 13 D);   Site “V” signifies the “Methods for Solution” to overcome the obstacles ( 13 E);   Site “VI” signifies any “Hidden Influences” concealing other conditions associated with the query ( 13 F);   Site “VII” signifies the “Time Frame” encompassing the situation ( 13 G);   Site “VIII” signifies the “Future Possibilities” and the best possible scenario that can be obtained with regards to the query ( 13 H);       

     The following procedural steps should be adhered to when playing the Chosun Prophecy Game.
     1. To start the game, the Querent picks a trigram card randomly from a pouch containing 16 sets of eight different trigram cards ( FIG. 3 ). Then a Chosun Prophesy Coin is selected randomly from a second pouch and placed onto the center of the board.   2. The selected trigram card is now placed in the numbered site illustrated on the faced-up coin. If the coin is “Heads” or “Symbol-side up” ( 50 A), the trigram card is placed in said “Upper” section ( 11 U) of that site; if the coin is “Tails” or “Written-side up” ( 50 B), the trigram card is placed in said “Lower” section ( 11 L) of that site ( FIG. 2 ). The coin is replaced in its pouch.   3. The Querent now selects a second trigram card and coin randomly, and follows the same procedure as in said steps 1 &amp; 2. If the same coin is selected for a second time, said picked trigram is placed into the unfilled section in that site regardless of said coin&#39;s side up. When both the ‘Upper and Lower” sections in a particular site are filled with trigram cards, that coin is not used or needed for the current play anymore.   4. Follow procedures 1, 2, &amp; 3 until sixteen trigram cards are placed on the game board, filling in all numbered sites, including both the “Upper” and “Lower” sections of each;   5. Starting with the hexagram created in Site I ( 60 ) ( FIG. 6 ), the Querent rolls the die ( 68 ) and places an indicator amulet ( 67 ) onto said line which is signified by the die number rolled. Line # 1  ( 61 ) on a hexagram is located closest to the game board, while subsequent lines radiate outward to line # 6  ( 66 ). Continue with this procedure for all eight hexagrams.   6. The Reader now consults an I Ching handbook or manual and formulates a prognosticative reading by relating the information of the eight unified hexagrams with selected line analysis and game board data to the query.   7. Use the notepad ( FIG. 7 ) for collecting, organizing, and analyzing the I Ching data.   

     A unique feature of this game is the use of eight Chosun Prophecy Coins, which randomly generate the eight board-site locations ( 10 ) and sections ( 11 U) and ( 11 L) for sixteen randomly selected trigram cards, which then forms an eight hexagram pattern used for an oracular reading. Even though there are only sixty-four hexagram combinations ( FIG. 4 ), this game allows for these sixty-four possibilities to be accessed for each of the eight game sites, thus providing a permutation of 64 8 =2.8×10 14  potential psychic readings with only 128 trigram cards. It would take 512 hexagram cards (64×8) to produce the same result. 
     In conclusion, the Chosun Prophecy Game is a unique fortune-telling game of novel format, having the ability to yield an almost “one-of-a-kind” prognosticative result, whereby, informing a querent how his/her past and present life based situations (referred to as the “eternal-now” in I Ching) may predict possible future outcomes and solutions. It is designed for the skills of both the novice students of divination while challenging those prophets with more advanced psychic abilities. This game allows players to peek into that ancient Chinese metaphysical world of the I Ching by using their inner eye and their powers of “Chi”, while experiencing hours of fun and entertainment.