I Ching Stories

Author: Hu Zhiyong
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian records that King Wen of Zhou interpreted the Book of Changes; Confucius studied the Book of Changes so thoroughly that the leather straps of his books wore out three times. The famous European psychologist Carl Jung said that the Book of Changes is the foremost treasury of human wisdom. The renowned Chinese philosopher Feng Youlan stated that the Book of Changes is the algebra of the universe. This book presents the newly deciphered origins and philosophical concepts of the Book of Changes, taking you on a journey through time to explore the roots of Chinese culture and delve into the world of ancient philosophy. It will help you understand the path of self-cultivation and the secrets of health preservation, adding flavor and color to your life for a higher quality of living!
The book is divided into two parts:
1. "The Three Sages and Legendary Stories": This section primarily narrates the legendary stories of the "Three Sages"—Fuxi, King Wen, and Confucius—related to the origins of the Book of Changes. It allows readers to appreciate the profound meanings and interrelationships of the He Tu (River Map), Luo Shu (Lo River Map), Taiji (Great Ultimate), Bagua (Eight Trigrams), and the Sixty-Four Hexagrams, and to grasp the essence of the Book of Changes as the foremost classic of traditional Chinese culture.
2. "Conceptual Stories": This section uses modern rhyming verse to interpret the typological stories of the Sixty-Four Hexagrams of the Book of Changes. It enables readers to understand the material and spiritual lives of the ancient Chinese ancestors, drawing lessons from how they approached governance, moral cultivation, ancestor veneration, warfare, disaster resistance, healing, and health preservation. These insights and simple philosophical concepts can be applied to modern lifestyles to enhance quality of life and elevate cultural appreciation.
The author has long been engaged in the study of the Book of Changes and has written specialized articles on topics such as the Book of Changes and Chinese characters, the Book of Changes and the Chinese language, the Book of Changes and regulated verse (lüshi), and the Book of Changes and health preservation. He has presented his findings at international academic conferences or published them in scholarly journals. This book is a labor of love by the author for those who are new to the study of the Book of Changes. Many of its unique insights reflect the author's extensive knowledge and meticulous research, making it valuable for academic study.
The author's suggestion: If you are worried about not understanding it, you might start by reading the hexagram of Yi (), and then follow your intuition—you are sure to find it beneficial to open the book!