Yi Jing Interpretation and Application

Author: Wang Yiyong
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-04-01
Features: The word "" (Yi) means change, while "" (Jing) means eternal balance. Everything in the world is in a state of change yet maintains eternal balance. In foreign countries, the I Ching is called "the Study of Change," regarded as a discipline that explores change. Taking humans as an example, life is a process of change, which can be divided into five stages: birth, growth, maturity, old age, and death. This pattern can be extended to all things. The I Ching studies change from two perspectives: one is through principles and laws, briefly referred to as the "philosophy of Yi" (), where the focus is on abstract, rational, and analytical thinking; the other is through images and properties, with a focus on imagery, sensation, and intuition. From the perspective of historical development, the world's knowledge naturally divides into two major categories: one is science, which primarily employs rational thinking; the other is art, which primarily employs intuitive thinking. Whether it is rational or intuitive thinking, the I Ching uses the concepts of yin and yang to study it. After thousands of years of practical testing, it has proven to be correct.
My connection with the I Ching began 30 years ago, during an illness and its treatment. I encountered both Western and Chinese medicine, and as a result, I read many medical books, gaining a certain understanding of medicine. For the same symptoms, Western medicine often fails to eliminate them, while Chinese medicine proves effective. I personally experienced this and realized that the principles behind the two are different. Chinese medicine theory emphasizes functions through concepts like yin and yang, deficiency and excess, exterior and interior, and cold and heat. Western medicine theory focuses on physiology, anatomy, and pathology, emphasizing structure. When yin and yang are in harmony, one feels comfortable; when yin is deficient and yang is excessive, one becomes restless. "One yin and one yang constitute the Dao" is a profound experience for me. The yin-yang-based approach is deeply insightful.
Starting with medicine (Chinese medicine) and its connection to the I Ching, I delved into the I Ching, which then led me to Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. During my recovery, I studied these three philosophies with great care. I often gained pure and profound insights into their many mysteries, such as Confucianism's saying, "Without thought, without action, still and motionless, yet perceiving and connecting upon sensation." Buddhism's saying, "Prajna (wisdom) is unknowing yet knows all." And Taoism's saying, "Without action, yet accomplishing all." The human mind is a natural phenomenon. Ancients experienced it and understood its "what," but not its "why."
The content of this book is purely driven by interest, with no external constraints. It has been accumulated over more than 30 years, with most of it already published and presented at multiple academic conferences and lectures. The general response has been that Chinese traditional culture is vast and profound, and its true essence should be revealed.