A Study of the Creative Problem Solving Process by Architectural Designers: A Perspective of I-Ching BaGua

Abstract

I Ching is made up of alternations between conversion, conflict and reconciliation and between problem states of being. A synthesis of I Ching to the eight trigrams (BaGua) is often related to Feng-Shui for architectures in designing a building. In addition to this paradigm, this study observed BaGua as creative problem solving (CPS) approaches while practiced by architectures. The types of problems related to architecture jobs were mainly divided into: administrative, construction engineering, and designing affairs. Data related to the CPS approaches were collected from everyday retrospective recall which encoded by 8 architectures based on the checklist adapted from [5] [6] study. The frequencies of CPS approaches, then counted and subjected to chi-square test. The results revealed that the most frequently used of administrative jobs are Ch’ien trigram (perceived problem occurrence), Kun trigram (consequence evaluation), and Sun trigram (deliberating about ideas). The most frequently used of construction engineering jobs are Ch’ien trigram, Sun trigram, and Li trigram (logical reasoning). The most frequently used of designing affairs are Kun trigram, Sun, and Ch’ien trigrams. This study found not all trigrams were frequently practiced, according to the definition of I Ching, this suggests that the quality of CPS may still be questionable to this particular samples. The findings imply the problem solving process of human may need to be enhanced by training or requested by the top managers based on the elaboration of BaGua. Keywords-BaGua; I-Ching; architectural designers; creative