The Classic of Changes - (Translations from the Asian Classics (Hardcover)) (Hardcover)

About the Book

The I Ching has been used in China as a book of divination and source of wisdom for more than three thousand years, This translation presents the classic book of changes for the world today, including one of the major Chinese philosophical commentaries by Wang Bi (226-249), who interpreted the I Ching as a book of moral and political wisdom.

Book Synopsis

Used in China as a book of divination and source of wisdom for more than three thousand years, the I Ching has been taken up by millions of English-language speakers in the nineteenth century. The first translation ever to appear in English that includes one of the major Chinese philosophical commentaries, the Columbia I Ching presents the classic book of changes for the world today.

Richard Lynn's introduction to this new translation explains the organization of The Classic of Changes through the history of its various parts, and describes how the text was and still is used as a manual of divination with both the stalk and coin methods. For the fortune-telling novice, he provides a chart of trigrams and hexagrams; an index of terms, names, and concepts; and a glossary and bibliography.

Lynn presents for the first time in English the fascinating commentary on the I Ching written by Wang Bi (226-249), who was the main interpreter of the work for some seven hundred years. Wang Bi interpreted the I Ching as a book of moral and political wisdom, arguing that the text should not be read literally, but rather as an expression of abstract ideas. Lynn places Wang Bi's commentary in historical context.

From the Back Cover

The first new translation of this work to appear in more than twenty-five years, the Columbia I Ching presents the classic book of changes for the world of today. Used in China as a book of divination and source of wisdom for more than three thousand years by scholars and general readers alike, it has influenced Western intellectuals and artists from Carl Jung to John Cage, bringing this most important work of the Confucian canon immense popular appeal. Finally, after decades of inaccurate translations and outdated, expurgated pocket editions, here is an I Ching that catches up with its readers. Richard Lynn's introduction explains the organization of The Classic of Changes through the history of its various parts, and describes how the text was and is still used as a manual of divination with both the stalk and coin methods. For the fortune-telling initiate, he provides a chart of trigrams and hexagrams; an index of terms, names, and concepts; a glossary and bibliography; and thoughts on his method of translation. Lynn presents for the first time in English the fascinating commentary of Wang Bi (226-249), who was the principal definer of the work for some seven hundred years. Wang Bi interpreted the I Ching as a book of moral and political wisdom, arguing that the text should not be read literally, but rather as an expression of abstract ideas. Lynn places Wang Bi's commentary in historical context and examines the interpretation of this common source for both Confucian and Taoist philosophy before and after Wang Bi's time. Columbia's I Ching offers devotees the most authoritative and lucid translation they have yet to encounter, while giving first-time readers the chance to consult afascinating and important Chinese work. The Classic of Changes will be the new standard for years to come.

Review Quotes

[Lynn]'s provided us with the materials from which to reconstruct Wang Bi's vision of the text. The result is clearly written and presented--the best entry into anI Ching world that we have so far.--Shambala Sun

Familiar with current historical and textual research, having no truck with 'ageless wisdoms' and leery of spirituality, Richard Lynn's translation of the I Ching as retranslated, explicated and interpreted by the young scholar Wang Bi and his followers, feels a world apart from that of Wilhelm.--London Review of Books

Lynn has... produce[d] a translation of whose accuracy one can be optimally confident... [T]his is a solidly and attractively produced volume.--Religion

This is the best I Ching that has so far appeared.--Times Literary Supplement (London)

This new translation is welcome because of its crisp usage of modern-day English... Highly recommended.--Library Journal

For beginners and devotees alike, Columbia's I Ching is the clearest and most authoritative translation of this ancient classic.--Kidder Smith, Bowdoin College "Philosophy East & West "

About the Author

Richard John Lynn has a Ph.D. in Chinese from Stanford University. Acclaimed as one of the outstanding translators of our time, he has taught at the University of California, Berkeley; Auckland University; and the University of British Columbia. He is currently professor of Chinese thought and literature at the University of Toronto. Lynn has also served as a Humanities Administrator in the Division of Research at the NEH, in charge of the Translators Grants Program.