I-Ching and Quantum Physics

I was asked to provide some information about the relationship between Quantum physics and I- Ching. I came across some writings about the subject from the internet but I am not sure how authentic those writing are. Some of them I don't like, but doesn't mean they are not good. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the common ground of both subjects. I was not able to offer much help to my friend. However, I am happy to talk about the obvious.

(1)
One of the quantum effect is tunneling. This is a ghost-like event; an electron will disappear from one place and re-appear at another place in no time. In Chinese medicine, there is a subject called "Eight extra-meridians" 奇經八脈 . This subject can explain why the pain from headache can be cured by working on your foot. The theory behind this subject is the I-Ching 64 hexagrams; each line is connected to other lines in the 64-hexagram system. The "eight" meridians fits the "8" trigrams (八 卦). A similarity can be found when compared with the "tunneling".

(2)
Another famous principle in quantum physics the Uncertainty Principle. That is to say, you can't pin-point the position or its momentum of an electron; there is always an error, the Planck constant. That is, velocity and position are the two factors in your measurement error. On the other hand, the Chinese sages talked about "time" and "position" when they taught I-Ching. That is if it is a right time to do/say these things/words; and if you are in the right position to execute/write the action/idea. From I-Ching point of view, time and position can be traded to fit your situation for advancement.

(3)
Another fundamental concept of quantum physics is an electron can be existed in two places at the same time. This is experimented with shining a light beam through a slit and we see fringes. Further it is theorized as the famous "Schrodinger's Cat" --- Death and Alive at the same time. Lao-Zi sublimated I-Ching in a superb philosophical school of thought; since Yin and Yang are one thing, therefore, death and alive are the same. This is very deep in my mind. The difference between these two philosophical concepts is, in my mind, only the time scale. Quantum physics time scale is 10^-9 sec., whereas, Lao-Zi time scale is one's life (~100 years). If we look at our body cells, the metabolism rate (all cells renewed) is about 10 months. If we look at a single cell, the rate is much faster. Thus, in I-Ching point of view, a cell's death and its re-generation is according to some nature laws; this natural law is called fractal. I believe, you would realize I-Ching's lines are simply fractal geometry!! In fact, it is called bifurcation.

I consider the above three items are the common ground between I-Ching and Quantum theory. However, I believe there are more that I overlooked.

Samson Cheung
November 30, 2009