The I Ching , or "Book of Change," is considered the oldest of the Chinese classics and has throughout history commanded unsurpassed prestige and popularity. Containing several layers of text and given numerous levels of interpretation, it has captured continuous attention for well over two thousand years. It has been considered a book of fundamental principles by philosophers, politicians, mystics, alchemists, yogins, diviners, sorcerers, and more recently by scientists and mathematicians. This first part of the present volume is the text of the I Ching proper—the sixty-four hexagrams plus sayings on the hexagrams and their lines—with the commentary composed by Liu I-ming, a Taoist adept, in 1796. The second part is Liu I-ming's commentary on the two sections added to the I Ching by earlier commentators, believed to be members of the original Confucian school; these two sections are known as the Overall Images and the Mixed Hexagrams. In total, the book illuminates the Taoist inner teachings as practiced in the School of Complete Reality. Well versed in Buddhism and Confucianism as well as Taoism, Liu I-ming intended his work to be read as a guide to comprehensive self-realization while living an ordinary life in the world. In his attempt to lift the veil of mystery from the esoteric language of the I Ching , he employs the terminology of psychology, sociology, history, myth, and religion. This commentary on the I Ching stands as a major contribution to the elucidation of Chinese spiritual genius.

A revised edition of the definitive translation of the world’s most important book of divination • More than 64,000 copies sold of the first edition • The first English translation from within the tradition by a Chinese Taoist Master • Includes translations of the Ten Wings--the commentaries by Confucius essential to the I Ching’s insights Translated by the eminent Taoist Master Alfred Huang, The Complete I Ching has been praised by scholars and new students of the I Ching since its first edition. A native Chinese speaker, Master Huang first translated the original ideograms of the I Ching into contemporary Chinese and then into English, bringing forth the intuitive meanings embodied in the images of the I Ching and imbuing his translation with an accuracy and authenticity not possible in other English translations. However, what makes his translation truly definitive is his return to prominence of the Ten Wings, the commentaries by Confucius that are essential to the I Ching’s insights. This 10th anniversary edition offers a thorough introduction to the history of the I Ching, how to use it, and several new divination methods; in-depth and easy-to-reference translations of each hexagram name, description, and pictogram; and discussions of the interrelations between the hexagrams and the spiritual meaning of their sequence.

A new and refreshing way to understand and utilize the I Ching.

The well-known ancient Chinese oracle and sourcebook of Asian wisdom--now in a Shambhala Pocket Library edition. The I Ching (The Book of Change), the oldest of the Chinese classics, has throughout Chinese history commanded unsurpassed prestige and popularity. Containing several layers of text and given numerous levels of interpretation, the I Ching has been venerated for more than three thousand years as an oracle of fortune, a guide to success, and a source of wisdom. The underlying theme of the text is change and how this fundamental force influences all aspects of life—from business and politics to personal relationships. To understand and act in accordance with this inexorable law of the universe is wisdom indeed. Complete instructions for consulting the I Ching are included. This book is part of the Shambhala Pocket Library series. The Shambhala Pocket Library is a collection of short, portable teachings from notable figures across religious traditions and classic texts. The covers in this series are rendered by Colorado artist Robert Spellman. The books in this collection distill the wisdom and heart of the work Shambhala Publications has published over 50 years into a compact format that is collectible, reader-friendly, and applicable to everyday life.

Delve into the Magickal Side of I Ching Divination The Book of Changes (I Ching) is more than just an oracle--it is also an incredibly powerful tool for theoretical and practical magick and meditation. With this book, the magician can learn to use the primal elemental forces of the universe as they are revealed in the ancient Hexagrams. For the first time in a study of esoteric practices, Magick, Shamanism & Taoism provides the regular Chinese word-characters for the Hexagrams as well as representations of their archaic antecedents, based on the earliest known examples of Chinese calligraphy. This opens up the potential for creating interesting and authentic variants for talismanic magick. The I Ching is comparable to the well-known Qabalistic Tree of Life. Like the Qabalah, it comprises a "cosmic map" that seeks to define categories for all the possible permutations of elements and circumstances existing in the universal cycle of creation and destruction. Those familiar with the Qabalah will find this to be a perfect complementary system of universal symbols. This book is primarily concerned with the Book of Changes and its links to Taoism, the magickal practices of the Chinese Wu, and related schools of thought. My ambition has been to open up the I Ching so that it can be approached on several levels, all of which are important aspects of the overall whole. Whereas most books on the I Ching focus on the system's oracles as a means to divination, my work builds on that important base to include the potential for magickal rites and meditations, blending traditional ideas with contemporary experimentation. In this way, it allows for a greater personal appreciation and assimilation of the primal elemental forces that underpin the Trigrams and Hexagrams. In doing so, it not only describes the basic tools appropriate for Chinese-style magick, but also explains the symbolism and esoteric theory behind their use. Parallels that I have drawn between Taoism and other worldviews such as shamanism, Ninjutsu, Shinto, Thelema, and Tantra help to broaden and explain fundamental occult concepts. Hexagram correspondences bring together interpretations of the figures with related symbols, gods, ritual instruments, and appropriate magickal workings in a way never before attempted in a work on the I Ching. -Richard Herne