A Brief Reading of the Book of Changes

Name: A Brief Reading of the Book of Changes
ISBN: 9787518816095

邱清辉Religious Culture Publishing House · ChinaAug 2026

3.0

Word count: 139K words
Chapters: 70
ISBN: 9787518816095

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Summary

The Concise Reading of the I Ching is an interpretive work compiled by Daoist priest Qiu Qinghui of the Baiyun Temple in Beijing, drawing on the wisdom of earlier scholars. Blending philological gloss with philosophical interpretation, the book offers meticulous translation and annotation of the hexagram and line statements of the sixty-four hexagrams. After the translation of each line, the author adds a commentary to explain its deeper meaning, guiding readers to understand not only what the text says but why it says it. While respecting traditional Yijing scholarship, the author seeks to recover the original meanings behind the hexagram and line images, clarifying the inner connections between hexagram statements and line statements and making the latter more coherent. In explaining the classic text, the author also combines hexagram analysis with philology, probing the earliest meanings of the characters coined by the ancients. The exposition is concise and fluent, staying as close as possible to the style of the original, which is especially helpful in sparking beginners' interest in study.

Editor's review

Written by a Daoist priest of Beijing's Baiyun Guan (White Cloud Temple), this book is grounded in traditional Yijing scholarship yet addressed to general readers. Its distinguishing feature is the equal weight given to philological exegesis and philosophical interpretation: the judgments and line statements of the sixty-four hexagrams are translated and annotated one by one, and each line is followed by a commentary note that clarifies its deeper meaning and helps readers grasp the internal connections among the hexagrams and their lines. The author also attempts to combine hexagram-image analysis with philology, tracing the original meanings of the characters coined by the ancients, so that the interpretation of the classic text becomes more coherent. The language is concise and fluent, staying as close as possible to the style of the original, which lowers the threshold for beginners; it is suitable as an introductory and daily-study reference for the Yijing. Readers may read it straight through to grasp the overall structure, or consult it hexagram by hexagram, using notes to appreciate the correspondence between hexagram images and text.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Beginners interested in the Yijing but daunted by the difficulty of the original text
Readers who want to understand the hexagram and line texts systematically, with attention to both philology and meaning
Enthusiasts of Daoist culture and traditional classics
General readers who need a desk reference for annotations on the sixty-four hexagrams

Not a good fit for

Professional researchers seeking purely academic textual criticism or edition collation
Readers expecting a practical divination tutorial with hexagram-interpretation cases
Readers who prefer modern vernacular retellings and dislike line-by-line annotation

Reading tips

Read the preface and notes on format first to understand the hexagram-by-hexagram structure
Read one hexagram closely at a time: the original text first, then the translation, then reflect with the commentary
Keep a notebook recording correspondences between hexagram images and character meanings for cross-reference
There is no need to finish in one sitting; consult hexagrams by interest or question

About the publisher

Religious Culture Publishing House China · Founded in 1995

Religious Culture Publishing House is a specialized publisher centered on religious culture, with publications covering religious policy, religious theory, religious history, and religious culture. Judging from the books currently in the collection, the publisher also pays attention to the connection between religious culture and contemporary life, with its publishing scope extending to categories such as finance, Eastern philosophy, and inspirational growth. Representative titles include Li Guofei's Steve Jobs, Zen and Investment, Qiu Qinghui's A Brief Reading of the I Ching, Shuti's Indescribable Is Zen: Micro Aphorisms of Zen Xiaopang, and Ruchen Jushi's Be a Positively Engaged Lay Buddhist. While presenting traditional cultural resources such as Buddhism and Taoism, these works emphasize dialogue with real life, investment and financial management, and personal growth, reflecting a publishing feature of bringing traditional religious wisdom into everyday reading. Due to limited public information, more details about series systems and author resources cannot be confirmed.

版权信息
序
上经
卦一乾为天
卦二坤为地
卦三水雷屯
卦四山水蒙
卦五水天需
卦六天水讼
卦七地水师
卦八水地比
卦九风天小畜
卦十天泽履
卦十一地天泰
卦十二天地否
卦十三天火同人
卦十四火天大有
卦十五地山谦
卦十六雷地豫
卦十七泽雷随
卦十八山风蛊
卦十九地泽临
卦二十风地观
卦二十一火雷噬嗑
卦二十二山火贲
卦二十三山地剥
卦二十四地雷复
卦二十五天雷无妄
卦二十六山天大畜
卦二十七山雷颐
卦二十八泽风大过
卦二十九坎为水
卦三十离为火
下经
卦三十一泽山咸
卦三十二雷风恒
卦三十三天山遯
卦三十四雷天大壮
卦三十五火地晋
卦三十六地火明夷
卦三十七风火家人
卦三十八火泽睽
卦三十九水山蹇
卦四十雷水解
卦四十一山泽损
卦四十二风雷益
卦四十三泽天夬
卦四十四天风姤
卦四十五泽地萃
卦四十六地风升
卦四十七泽水困
卦四十八水风井
卦四十九泽火革
卦五十火风鼎
卦五十一震为雷
卦五十二艮为山
卦五十三风山渐
卦五十四雷泽归妹
卦五十五雷火丰
卦五十六火山旅
卦五十七巽为风
卦五十八兑为泽
卦五十九风水涣
卦六十水泽节
卦六十一风泽中孚
卦六十二雷山小过
卦六十三水火既济
卦六十四火水未济
主要参考文献
后记

FAQ

I have no background in the I Ching. Will I be able to understand this book?

Yes. The book provides line-by-line translations of the hexagram and line statements, each followed by commentary. The language is concise and close to the original, and the book is designed precisely to lower the barrier for beginners. It is suggested that you start with foundational hexagrams such as Qian and Kun, follow the structural notes, and proceed step by step. When you reach the exegetical sections, you may skip them at first, grasp the general meaning, and then return for a closer reading.

What is the main purpose of the commentary in the book?

The commentary follows the translation of each line and serves to explain the deeper meaning of the hexagram and line statements, guiding readers to understand not only what is said but also why it is said. It also helps clarify the internal connections between the hexagram statements and the line statements, making the meaning of the line statements more coherent. When reading, you can use the commentary as an auxiliary thread for understanding the canonical text.

Is this book suitable for learning divination?

The book focuses on translation, annotation, and philosophical interpretation of the canonical text; it is not a practical guide to divination. If you want to understand the original meaning of the hexagram and line statements and the thought of the I Ching, it is a suitable reader. If your goal is to learn methods of interpreting hexagrams and case studies, you will need to find specialized works elsewhere.

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About the author

邱清辉 Author

Qiu Qinghui: publicly available information about this author is currently limited, and details such as biography, nationality, and dates of birth and death have not been clearly recorded, pending further verification. According to the library's holdings, one work is attributed to Qiu Qinghui, titled A Concise Reading of the I Ching (Yijing Jiandu), which is classified under Eastern philosophy. It can therefore be inferred that the author takes an interest in the I Ching, a classic of Chinese tradition, and seeks to introduce its content to readers in a clear and accessible way. The word "concise" in the title suggests that the book may focus on popularization and introductory material rather than on profound scholarly textual research, making it suitable for general readers who wish to gain a preliminary understanding of the I Ching. Owing to limited materials, the author's other writings, academic background, and writing career cannot be ascertained at present, nor is it possible to assess the book's specific influence. Readers interested in the author and the work may consult the text of A Concise Reading of the I Ching and look forward to further public information in the future.