Introduction to Zhouyi

Name: Introduction to Zhouyi
ISBN: 9787101121391

曹胜高 / 刘银昌Zhonghua Book Company · ChinaDec 2021

3.6

Word count: 202K words
Chapters: 56
ISBN: 9787101121391

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Summary

This book is an introduction to the Zhouyi (Book of Changes), systematically and comprehensively presenting knowledge of the Zhouyi from aspects including the Classic, the Commentaries, meaning, principles, trigrams, images, lines, line statements, transmission, and divination. The writing is concise and fluent, making the difficult and obscure Zhouyi clear and easy to understand. It helps general readers learn about the Zhouyi, correctly grasp its principles, understand its meaning, recognize its pitfalls, and also touch on the occult arts that developed from it, clearly comprehending the inner mechanisms of those arts and their gains and losses, thereby adding a perspective for observing society and life, cultivating the mind and character, shaping personality, and benefiting future growth and development.

Editor's review

This book breaks the Zhouyi into ten blocks—the Classic, the Commentaries, meaning, principles, trigrams, images, lines, line statements, transmission, and divination—and unfolds them layer by layer. Its purpose is not to make readers memorize hexagram and line statements, but to help general readers build an understandable knowledge framework. The writing is concise and fluent, popularizing the difficult and obscure Zhouyi. It explains the principles while also pointing out the pitfalls, and extends to the occult arts, explaining their inner mechanisms and their gains and losses. For beginners, this "build the skeleton first, then fill in the content" approach is friendly and reduces intimidation when facing the original text. The book is suitable as a desk-side introductory reader to be used alongside selected readings from the original; there is no need to aim for full mastery in one pass—you can proceed chapter by chapter, or start with the sections on principles and trigrams to build interest. One caveat: this is an introductory guide and cannot replace close reading of the Zhouyi original.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Beginners interested in the Zhouyi but unsure where to start
Readers who want to understand the relationship between Yi principles and the occult arts and hope to build a knowledge framework
General readers seeking a concise, easy-to-read introduction to traditional culture
Secondary school teachers or traditional culture enthusiasts using it as supplementary reference

Not a good fit for

Specialist researchers seeking to read the Zhouyi original directly and conduct word-by-word exegesis
Readers who only want to learn divination techniques and do not care about Yi principles or intellectual background
Readers expecting in-depth philosophical monographs or the latest academic debates

Reading tips

Read through chapter by chapter to first build an overall framework of the Classic, Commentaries, principles, and divination, then return to chapters of interest for closer reading.
When reading the sections on trigrams and images, refer to a diagram of the sixty-four hexagrams or a simple hexagram table; draw as you read to help ground abstract concepts.
Approach the occult arts section with an attitude of understanding; focus on grasping the inner mechanisms and gains and losses the author describes, without rushing to practice.
After finishing, read selected passages from the Zhouyi original and use the book's framework to check whether you truly understand the key concepts.

About the publisher

Zhonghua Book Company China · Founded in 1912

Zhonghua Book Company is a publisher known for collating ancient texts and academic publishing, with its output centered on Eastern philosophy, culture, classic works, art, and historical reading. Its library contains 532 titles, including Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms, Guo Qingfan's Collected Commentaries on Zhuangzi, the four-volume Chinese Literature: Four Great Classical Novels, and the two-volume Table of Seal and Clerical Script Forms from Qin, Han, Wei, and Jin. These titles span historical classics, commentaries on the philosophers, classical novels, and philological reference works. Representative authors include Chen Shou, Guo Qingfan, Wu Cheng'en, Shi Nai'an, Cao Xueqin, Luo Guanzhong, Xu Wenwu, and the Hanyu Dazidian character-form group, reflecting a focus on primary sources and scholarly editors. Its publishing character lies in combining authoritative editions and annotated texts with both accessible classics and specialized research. Public information on its fuller catalog is limited; this note describes only the directions evident in the library's holdings.

版权信息
绪论
第一章易源
第一节《河图》《洛书》及传说系统
第二节占卜、卦画与学理系统
第三节《连山》《归藏》与文献系统
第二章易经
第一节《易经》的形成
第二节《易经》的结构
第三节卦的结构
第三章易传
第一节《易传》的形成与作者
第二节彖传
第三节象传
第四节系辞传
第五节文言
第六节说卦
第七节序卦
第八节杂卦
第四章易义
第一节易道
第二节易教
第三节易德
第五章易理
第一节太极
第二节两仪
第三节三才
第四节四象
第六章易卦
第一节八卦
第二节六十四卦
第三节卦义
第七章易象
第一节观象
第二节取象
第三节卦象
第四节象义
第八章易爻
第一节爻位
第二节爻断
第三节爻象
第九章易辞
第一节易辞的形成
第二节易辞的构成
第三节易辞之义与易辞特色
第十章易流
第一节易家
第二节易籍
第三节易例
第十一章易占
第一节大衍筮法
第二节京房筮法
第三节梅花易数
第四节其他占法
参考文献
后记

FAQ

I have never encountered the Zhouyi before. Can I read this book directly?

Yes. This book is aimed at general readers as an introduction, starting from basic knowledge such as the Classic and the Commentaries. The writing is concise and fluent, and no prior foundation in classical Chinese or philosophy is required. It is recommended to read chapter by chapter; there is no need to memorize hexagram and line statements—first grasp the overall framework.

Can this book replace the original Zhouyi?

No. This book is an introductory guide that systematically presents Zhouyi knowledge and paths to understanding, helping readers correctly grasp its principles and understand its meaning, but it does not provide complete annotation or word-by-word exegesis of the original. After finishing, you still need to continue studying with the Zhouyi original or reliable annotated editions.

The book discusses divination—is it teaching people to tell fortunes?

No. The discussion of divination is intended to explain the inner mechanisms of the occult arts and their gains and losses, so that readers clearly see their pros and cons and thereby gain an additional perspective for observing society and life. The author focuses on organizing knowledge and rational understanding, not on providing an operational guide to divination.

How long does it take to read this book?

Since chapters vary in depth, you can proceed at one or two chapters a day and finish a full read-through in two to three weeks. The sections on principles and trigrams can be read slowly, while those on transmission and divination can be skimmed; seek the framework on the first pass, then read chapters of interest closely on the second.

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About the author

曹胜高 Author

Public information about Cao Shenggao is limited. Among Chinese-language books associated with this author, only one title is currently traceable: An Introduction to the Zhouyi (Zhouyi Rumen), classified under Eastern philosophy. Judging from its title and category, the book introduces the basic content of the Zhouyi (Book of Changes) and offers guidance on how to read it for beginners. It is an introductory work for general readers rather than a specialized academic study. The author presumably aims for clear organization and plain language, explaining core concepts such as hexagrams, lines, and commentaries in an accessible way, so that readers without prior knowledge of Yi studies can gradually approach the text. The value of such an introductory book lies in lowering the threshold of reading and helping readers build an overall understanding of the Zhouyi as a foundation for further study. Since only this one work is included in the database, the author's biography, nationality, education, and academic background cannot be confirmed; no speculation is made here, and only the subject matter and approach of the work are briefly described.

刘银昌 Author

Publicly available information about Liu Yinchang is currently limited. His writing spans both biographies of historical figures and accessible introductions to Eastern philosophy. Two of his works are included here. One is Sima Qian, part of the "Stories of Chinese Sages" series and a general biography that centers on the life and writings of the historian Sima Qian, presenting the sage's deeds in a narrative style; it was selected as a key publication of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee's 2022 thematic publishing program. The other is An Introduction to the Zhouyi (Book of Changes), a work of Eastern philosophy that introduces general readers to the basic knowledge and reading approaches of the Zhouyi. Though different in subject, both works reflect a popular, accessible approach to writing, balancing accuracy of knowledge with readability, and are suitable for beginners and readers interested in traditional culture.