I Ching Commentary

Author: Tang Mingbang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: There are thousands of commentaries and annotations on the I Ching, yet few of them provide definitive interpretations of their textual content, and its cultural value remains undetermined. Inspired by the principle that "without accumulating small streams, one cannot reach the vast seas," I have decided to share this book with fellow enthusiasts, hoping to contribute a small part of my insights. I have made bold attempts to alter the traditional structure of the I Ching. Adhering to the principle of distinguishing between the canonical texts and the commentaries, I have separated the Tuan, Xiang, and Wenyan as independent sections, breaking the long-standing tradition of mixing canonical texts with commentaries. This aims to facilitate the analysis of their cultural connotations. However, within this separation, there is still unity, and within unity, there is separation. The Tuan and the Xiao Xiang are closely linked to the canonical texts and are placed after them for easy reference. In annotating the canonical texts and commentaries, I emphasize both the analysis of their philosophical principles and the analysis of their symbolic and numerical elements. I seek to overcome the limitations of "interpreting the canonical texts through symbols" and avoid forced associations. I view the I Ching as an ancient compendium of encyclopedic knowledge, striving to uncover its cultural significance from various perspectives such as politics, economy, military strategy, literature, history, religion, folklore, and science. I pay particular attention to its philosophical insights.