The Zhouyi (Book of Changes)
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
From an editorial perspective, the edition's distinctive value lies in its balance: it preserves the seriousness of the classic and avoids overly mystical or entertaining interpretations, while necessary notes and translation lower the barrier for beginners. Its analysis of the sixty-four hexagrams does not stop at superficial fortune-telling but guides readers to consider the wisdom of "timing" and "position," the patterns of yin-yang transformation, and the gentleman's self-cultivation through "reverent care." For readers who want a systematic understanding of the roots of traditional Chinese culture and the classical philosophical views of the cosmos and human life, this is a solid and reliable volume. It reminds us that the Zhouyi is essentially a book of wisdom exploring the laws of change and guiding practical decisions; its value goes far beyond divination.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers with a strong interest in traditional Chinese philosophy and cultural roots who want a systematic understanding of the Zhouyi
- Scholars or students in the humanities and social sciences who need to start from primary texts to understand Chinese intellectual history
- Practitioners at a key stage in life or career who hope to draw lessons on decision-making and self-cultivation from classical wisdom
- Thinkers interested in semiotics and systems thinking who want to explore the logical structure behind hexagram images and line statements
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking only simple, direct divination methods or fortune-telling guides, with no patience for deeper philosophical discussion
- Professional researchers expecting a highly academic, rigorously textual-critical edition with scholarly annotations
Reading tips
- Read the Xici Commentary first to build an overall framework for the Zhouyi's core ideas (such as "one yin and one yang is called the Way"), then study individual hexagrams
- Keep a notebook while reading, sketch the hexagrams, and record your own understanding and real-life associations; focus on the experience rather than forcing a "standard answer"
- Read the Zhouyi alongside classics such as the Daodejing and the Analects to appreciate the internal connections and differences in pre-Qin thought and deepen your grasp of the character of Chinese philosophy
About the publisher
Jilin Publishing Group Co., Ltd. focuses on fine fiction, social sciences, literary appreciation, history, classical poetry and classical literature, with 1,141 titles in the library. Representative books include Dan Simmons's science fiction novels Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion, Freud's works on psychology and society such as The Ego and the Id and Group Psychology, and classical literature ranging from Laozi and Zhuangzi, Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Three Hundred Poems of the Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties to Lü Simian's A General History of China. Its authors include Dan Simmons, Freud, Laozi, Lü Simian, Hengtang Tuishi, Pan Zhenhua, Li Yi and Guan Shanming, reflecting a balance between translated works and domestic editions. Public information is limited; the above is based on the library's holdings.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 前言
- 导读
- 01 乾卦
- 02 坤卦
- 03 屯卦
- 04 蒙卦
- 05 需卦
- 06 讼卦
- 07 师卦
- 08 比卦
- 09 小畜卦
- 10 履卦
- 11 泰卦
- 12 否卦
- 13 同人卦
- 14 大有卦
- 15 谦卦
- 16 豫卦
- 17 随卦
- 18 蛊卦
- 19 临卦
- 20 观卦
- 21 噬嗑卦
- 22 贲卦
- 23 剥卦
- 24 复卦
- 25 无妄卦
- 26 大畜卦
- 27 颐卦
- 28 大过卦
- 29 坎卦
- 30 离卦
- 31 咸卦
- 32 恒卦
- 33 遁卦
- 34 大壮卦
- 35 晋卦
- 36 明夷卦
- 37 家人卦
- 38 睽卦
- 39 蹇卦
- 40 解卦
- 41 损卦
- 42 益卦
- 43 夬卦
- 44 姤卦
- 45 萃卦
- 46 升卦
- 47 困卦
- 48 井卦
- 49 革卦
- 50 鼎卦
- 51 震卦
- 52 艮卦
- 53 渐卦
- 54 归妹卦
- 55 丰卦
- 56 旅卦
- 57 巽卦
- 58 兑卦
- 59 涣卦
- 60 节卦
- 61 中孚卦
- 62 小过卦
- 63 既济卦
- 64 未济卦
FAQ
Is this edition suitable for complete beginners?
Does this book lean toward philosophical meaning or image-number divination?
Is the edition corresponding to ISBN 9787807208037 a complete text?
Comments
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About the author
Publicly available information about Yin Chan is limited: details such as nationality, dates of birth and death, and educational background are not clearly recorded, and what can be confirmed rests mainly on the works attributed to this name. Two titles are held in the collection, both devoted to the Zhouyi (Book of Changes) and the Laozi, two core texts of traditional Chinese thought. This suggests a focus on pre-Qin philosophy and on the Daoist and Yijing traditions. In subject matter, Yin Chan's writing generally starts from the original texts, offering explanation and extension of the hexagram and line statements and of the chapters on the Dao, in a concise and plain style that stresses coherence of meaning rather than elaborate textual criticism. In Chinese book classification these works are often placed under Eastern philosophy and are aimed at general readers and beginners interested in traditional wisdom. Because verifiable material is scarce, little can be said in detail about academic lineage or the process of composition; readers may do better to return directly to the texts and form their own sense of the author's approach and choices through the specific interpretations.
