The Complete Book of Zhouyi

Name: The Complete Book of Zhouyi
ISBN: 9787565830402

Li LiuShantou University Press · ChinaAug 2020

2.6

Word count: 71 words
Chapters: 13
ISBN: 9787565830402

Report an error Find this book

Summary

The I Ching (Book of Changes) is the source and treasure house of ancient Chinese culture, and we Chinese should read and understand it deeply so as to carry forward its great spirit. That is why we have specially compiled this book. Based on the learning and absorption characteristics of general readers, and while staying faithful to the original, it provides the original text along with simple, clear annotations and plain-language new interpretations, as well as corresponding inspirational stories. It is very easy to read and understand and is the best reader for learning the I Ching. We believe everyone will gain new feelings and new spiritual strength from it.

Editor's review

The original text of the I Ching is archaic and hard to read. This book's approach is to stay faithful to the original, provide the original text, add simple, clear annotations and plain-language new interpretations, and intersperse corresponding inspirational stories. This structure is friendly to beginners: the original text preserves its original form, the annotations lower the threshold of words and phrases, the plain-language interpretations help with understanding the general meaning, and the stories ground abstract principles in concrete situations. It is suitable as an introductory popular reader, not a strict scholarly annotated edition. When reading, you need not try to understand all the hexagram and line statements at once; you can start with a hexagram that interests you, use the annotations and new interpretations to build a basic impression, and then return to compare with the original text. The plain language and stories in the book are crutches for understanding, but they should not completely replace chewing over the original text. For readers who want to understand the source of traditional culture but lack a foundation in classical Chinese, this book provides a relatively gentle entry point. It is recommended to take notes and record the key concepts and questions you encounter; reading a portion and then stopping to digest it is more rewarding than flipping through the whole book quickly.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Beginner readers interested in the I Ching but lacking a foundation in classical Chinese
Traditional culture enthusiasts who hope to use annotations and plain language to understand the general meaning of the original text
General readers who need to use the content of the I Ching for daily reading and thinking
Readers who want an initial contact with I Ching principles through story-based interpretation

Not a good fit for

Professional researchers who need rigorous academic textual research and collation of editions
Readers who expect to systematically learn divination methods
Experienced readers who prefer reading the pure original text and do not need plain-language assistance

Reading tips

First read the preface and notes on the format to understand where the original text, annotations, new interpretations, and stories are arranged.
Start with a hexagram that interests you: first look at the original text, then compare the annotations and new interpretations, and finally read the inspirational story to confirm your understanding.
Prepare a notebook to record key concepts and your own questions, and review once after reading several hexagrams.
Do not try to finish it in one go; proceed in batches by hexagram and leave time to digest after each batch.

About the publisher

Shantou University Press China · Founded in 1993

Shantou University Press builds its publishing program on university textbooks, teaching reference books, and academic monographs, while also accumulating a body of literary and cultural titles. Its catalog shows a concentration on foreign and classical literary classics, including Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace, Wu Cheng'en's Journey to the West, Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, and Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind, covering categories such as world classics and canonical works. Its author resources include major Chinese and foreign writers such as Tolstoy, Hugo, Dickens, Cervantes, Fabre, and Li Yu. Books on parenting and social sciences also appear in its list. Drawing on the regional culture of Chaoshan, the press balances teaching and research with cultural popularization, and Chaoshan culture titles are one of its emphases. Given limited public information, other details are not addressed here.

版权信息
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

FAQ

Can I understand this book without a background in classical Chinese?

You can try. In addition to the original text, this book provides simple, clear annotations and plain-language new interpretations, and also intersperses inspirational stories, all aimed at lowering the threshold for beginners. However, the I Ching itself has many concepts, so it is advisable to slow down, start with a small number of hexagrams, and gradually build an impression with the help of annotations; do not expect to master it completely in one reading.

Is this book the complete original text?

According to the materials, this book provides the original text on the basis of faithfulness to the original and adds annotations, plain-language new interpretations, and inspirational stories. It is a popular reader for general readers, focused on helping understanding rather than scholarly collation of editions; you can check the table of contents to confirm the specific scope included.

Can the stories and plain-language new interpretations in the book replace the original text?

It is not recommended to let them completely replace it. The plain-language new interpretations and stories are auxiliary materials to help understanding; they can lower the threshold and provide context, but the original text of the I Ching has its own expressive characteristics, and reading only the plain language makes it easy to remain at the level of general meaning. A better approach is to read the original text first, then use the annotations and new interpretations to understand it, and finally use the stories to confirm your understanding.

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

Li Liu Author · China

Public information about Liu Li is limited, and a full picture of the author's identity and body of work is difficult to draw. Judging from the 71 works held in the collection, the writing spans several fields: management textbooks intended for teaching and practice, such as Corporate Finance; the crossover of medicine and technology in Skeletal Age Imaging and Artificial Intelligence; and cultural discussion in Chinese Civilization and Traditional Chinese Medicine. In architecture and gardens, the author has written a reader introducing the features and famous examples of Jiangnan gardens. For younger readers, the author contributed to the "Little 100,000 Whys" series, including volumes on plants, animals, astronomy, and weapons. The works combine academic substance, popular knowledge, and children's education, covering a wide range of subjects and striving to turn specialized knowledge into readable prose for readers of different ages and backgrounds.