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The I Ching is the name given to the ancient Chinese guidelines used not so much to predict the future as to advise people on their best course of action at a particular moment. The thought of this 4,000 year old oracle being put onto a home micro seems incongruous to say the least, but I suppose if you're going to do it then it ought to be on the Dragon.

The I Ching is made up of 64 hexagrams, which in this case means not the usual six-pointed star but a block of six lines, and each of those lines can be either broken or complete, giving the 64 possible permutations. Originally, the hexagrams were built up using a complicated procedure involving 50 yarrow stalks, while thinking of the question which concerns you. The resulting hexagram is then examined in conjunction with a book of interpretations, to guide you as to what to do.

There's an optional introduction explaining the origins of the I Ching, followed by a rising sun at the end of a long road. It is against this sun that you construct your hexagram. As there isn't a yarrow stalk function, the whole rigmarole is reduced to the more simple formula, R = RND(2). If R happens to be 1 when you press the space bar then your first line will be broken, otherwise complete.

This is repeated six times to give you your hexagram.

The meaning of your hexagram will then appear. My own first attempt produced number 39, which wasn't the egg fried rice, but 'Chien: Obstructions. Advantage will be found in the south and west, but not in the north and east. It will be favourable to meet with the great man. Firm persistence brings good fortune.' What can it all mean?

This is then followed by the second section, the Image, a kind of summing up of how the wise person might behave: 'The superior Man examines himself and nurtures his inner virtue.'

That's all there is to it. Think of your question, hit the Space bar, read the advice. Next question, please.

What else could I do but consult the oracle itself for a verdict? The result was number 6. Strife. 'Although sincere he will be opposed and obstructed.' I''m sure the writer of this program is sincere, and I do believe that the philosophy behind the I Ching could teach music to a lot of people. But I'm afraid that as a piece of software this leaves me cold.