China Confucius Foundation Collection -- New Perspectives on the Book of Changes (Zhou Yi) and the History of I Ching Studies

Author: Liao Mingchun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-08-01
Features: The Book of Changes is one of the most influential cultural classics in Chinese civilization. When it comes to understanding The Book of Changes, there are often two extreme viewpoints. One is the "problem-free theory," which holds that all issues in The Book of Changes have been resolved, leaving no secrets left. All that remains now is to engage in popularization or application work. The other is the "unknowable theory," which argues that most of The Book of Changes is incomprehensible, and its true meaning cannot be traced. Consequently, either research on The Book of Changes is opposed, or it is treated as a plaything that can be dressed up at will. The author of this book has a very broad foundation in the study of the Book of Changes. First, it starts with the history of the Book of Changes, then the canonical texts and commentaries; first with transmitted documents, then with unearthed bamboo slips and silk manuscripts; first with phonology, etymology, textual analysis, textual criticism, and documents, then with historiography and philosophy. This book gradually approaches and resolves problems one by one, layer by layer, and is divided into four parts: the canonical texts, commentaries, history, and external studies, with a total of 17 chapters. Each chapter presents new insights, making it a highly valuable academic work. This book includes: a new interpretation of the hexagram and line texts of Qian and Kun; an exploration of the origins of the hexagram name Kun and a discussion on the era of the hexagram qi theory of the eight trigrams; and insights into the Book of Changes bamboo slips from the Shanghai Museum, among other content.