Zhouyi (Book of Changes)
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers with a strong interest in traditional Chinese philosophy and classics who wish to systematically study the original text and commentaries of the Zhouyi
- Thinkers seeking reference for life decisions and wisdom, hoping to draw practical inspiration from ancient classics
- Teachers, students, and scholars in the humanities and social sciences, especially Chinese philosophy, history, and literature
- Traditional culture enthusiasts eager to learn the Yi approach that balances image-number and meaning-principle
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking only simple, quick divination results or mystical experiences without willingness to understand the text and philosophy
- Beginners seeking light entertainment or finding classical Chinese and traditional commentary formats difficult
Reading tips
- It is recommended to first read the preface or introduction to understand Lai Zhide's interpretive approach and the book's structure, building an overall picture.
- While reading, keep notes on hexagram and line statements, Tuan and Xiang commentaries, and annotations, comparing text and commentary for understanding.
- Do not force yourself to finish at once; read hexagram by hexagram in order, reflecting on and observing reality to appreciate the wisdom of 'deducing human affairs from heavenly patterns'.
About the publisher
Shanghai Classics Publishing House is a professional publisher centered on the collation of ancient texts and academic research works. Its publishing areas cover historical readings, classical poetry, folk literature, literary appreciation, canonical works, and Eastern philosophy. Its books include Chen Yinke's A Brief Discussion of the Origins of the Sui and Tang Institutions, Xin Qiji's Chronological Annotated Edition of Jiaxuan's Ci (Simplified Edition), Tang Xianzu's The Peony Pavilion, Liu Xie's The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons, as well as New Annotations to Three Hundred Tang Poems (Collector's Edition), Annotated Edition of Han Changli's Collected Works (Simplified Edition, 3 volumes), and Youyang Zazu. Its authors include Chen Yinke, Xin Qiji, Tang Xianzu, Liu Xie, Deng Guangming, Hengtang Tuishi, Han Yu, and Ma Qichang. In terms of publishing characteristics, the house emphasizes collation, annotation, and compilation of ancient texts alongside academic research works, and continues to issue simplified and collector's editions that balance scholarship and accessibility. Public information about the publisher's fuller publishing profile is limited.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 前言
- 原序
- 易注杂说诸图
- 卷一
- 周易上经
- 乾
- 坤
- 卷二
- 屯
- 蒙
- 需
- 讼
- 卷三
- 师
- 比
- 小畜
- 履
- 泰
- 否
- 卷四
- 同人
- 大有
- 谦
- 豫
- 随
- 蛊
- 卷五
- 临
- 观
- 噬嗑
- 贲
- 剥
- 复
- 卷六
- 无妄
- 大畜
- 颐
- 大过
- 坎
- 离
- 卷七
- 周易下经
- 卷八
- 家人
- 睽
- 蹇
- 解
- 损
- 益
- 卷九
- 夬
- 姤
- 萃
- 升
- 困
- 井
- 卷十
- 革
- 鼎
- 震
- 艮
- 卷十一
- 渐
- 归妹
- 丰
- 旅
- 巽
- 兑
- 卷十二
- 涣
- 节
- 中孚
- 小过
- 既济
- 未济
- 卷十三
- 系辞上传
- 卷十四
- 系辞下传
- 卷十五
- 说卦传
- 序卦传
- 杂卦传
- 卷十六
- 系辞上传
- 系辞下传
- 说卦传
- 附录
FAQ
How does Lai Zhide's Zhouyi annotation mainly differ from other editions?
Can I read this book without a foundation in classical Chinese?
Is this book mainly about divination and fortune-telling?
Related on WeRead
Comments
Find this book
This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.
About the author
Lai Zhide was a Ming-dynasty scholar known for his study of the Zhouyi (Book of Changes). Public information about his life and official career is limited, and modern readers know him mainly through his surviving works. Three of his works are included here, all centered on the Zhouyi: a reader titled Zhouyi and different editions of Zhouyi Jizhu (Collected Commentaries on the Zhouyi). This shows that his writing consists chiefly of commentaries on the classics, focusing on layer-by-layer explanation of the hexagram and line statements and on the exposition of their meaning, rather than on miscellaneous discussion. In classification, these works are often placed under Eastern philosophy and also touch on categories such as culture and popular science, indicating that their content is both intellectual and informative. Lai Zhide's writing addresses serious students, in a plain and solid style, concentrating on clarifying the meaning of the classics, gathering earlier commentaries, and stating his own views; it has had a lasting influence on later students of Yijing scholarship.
Hu Zhen's biographical details remain unclear: neither nationality, nor dates of birth and death, nor an English name has been definitively recorded, and the publicly available information is very limited. One work is known to appear under this name, a study centered on the Zhouyi (Book of Changes), commonly classified under Eastern philosophy. As a core classic of traditional Chinese culture, the Zhouyi combines divination and philosophical reflection, and commentaries and interpretations of it have accumulated over many centuries; Hu Zhen's work belongs to this long tradition of Yijing scholarship. Judging from the work's attribution, the writing likely focuses on interpreting the classical text and clarifying its philosophical meaning, addressing readers who wish to understand the intellectual content of the Zhouyi. Since no further verifiable details beyond the title and category are available, it is difficult to assess the author's scholarly approach, writing style, or actual influence; readers may do best to turn to the work itself and form their own impression of how Hu Zhen understands and presents the Zhouyi.
