Book of the Supreme Ultimate in the World of Existence

Author: Shao Yong (Song Dynasty), annotated by Wei Shaosheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Shao Yong, a prominent Neo-Confucian philosopher and representative figure of the I Ching numerology during the Northern Song Dynasty, is a figure shrouded in a strong sense of legend. His fame as a "remarkable man of the age" stems not only from being one of the founders of Song Dynasty Neo-Confucianism but also from his outstanding achievements in literary creation. Primarily, it lies in his writing the extraordinary book The Book of the Supreme Ultimate in the World of Existence (Huajijingushi), based on the I Ching and the legendary He Tu and Luo Shu, creating a set of concepts and methods for deducing and interpreting natural changes, historical evolution, the rise and fall of human affairs, and social upheavals. Historians described him as: "Observing the transformations of heaven and earth, the waxing and waning of yin and yang, the changes of ancient and modern times, and the natures of grass and trees, he delved deeply and comprehensively, approaching the state of being unconfused. Yet he did not merely imitate images or guess frequently correctly. He then elaborated on the pre-Qin principles of Fu Xi, wrote over ten thousand words in books, and disseminated them to the world, but few understood his way."