![]() With the passage of centuries, devotees have added extensive commentary. One of the most interesting features of the book is that its creation has been something of a community effort. Research in this century has arrived at a number of conclusions about the I Ching's history, about its uses in the past, and also about its meaning. What could be easier or more simple than a life guided by instinct?Įven though scholars believe this book to be one of the oldest in existence, it is used even today as both a tool to investigate the permutations of life and as an oracle. The word "I" also refers to the notions of "simplicity" and "ease." This suggests a deep connection with the natural world. In the context of the book itself, the Chinese word "I" refers to "change." For this reason, the text is known in the English language as The Book of Changes. The writings require us to reflect on the meaning of a very basic and ancient set of ideas. ![]() This quality not only indicates its considerable age, but is, perhaps, the source of its greatness, since these writings demand that its readers use both intuition and open-minded thinking. Although it presents the concept of an orderly, structured universe, the writings are puzzling because of their extensive reliance on very old images and metaphors. To those who understand it, it is certainly one of the most cherished. In the same way that mythology sparks both the imagination and the intellect, so, too, does the "I."įor this reason, it is one of the most consulted and commented on books ever written. When discussing Chinese philosophy it is difficult to avoid turning to the I Ching. Among other things, the "I," as it is known, is a treatise on the practice of divination, or foretelling the future. A very early system of symbols is found in the I Ching, considered to be an ancient text even among the Chinese themselves, who boast a very long recorded history.
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