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This book provides an introduction for the general reader to this classic sacred text. Joseph A. Adler explains the
Yijing's multi-layered structure, its origins, its history of interpretation from the early first millennium BCE up to the present day, its function of divination, its significance in the history of Chinese thought, and its modern transformations. He explores why the
Yijing has been considered the most profound expression of traditional Chinese thought and what meaning it can have for contemporary readers.
List of contents
- 1. What is the Yijing?
- 2. Layers of Change
- 3. Yijing Divination
- 4. The Early History of Yijing Interpretation
- 5. Early Modern Views of the Yi
- 6. The Yijing in Modern China and the West
- 7. Why the Yijing?
- Bibliography
About the author
Joseph A. Adler received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1984, with a dissertation on Zhu Xi's understanding of the
Yijing. Most of his work has focused on the religious dimensions of Neo-Confucianism in China. Since his retirement from teaching at Kenyon College in 2014 he has continued to reside in Gambier, Ohio.
Summary
Despite its enduring popularity both in China and worldwide, the Yijing is often poorly understood. As a divinatory text, it has a devoted following in the western hemisphere, even as it represents a foundational text of both Confucianism and Daoism. A fascination with the Yijing has been evident among western scholars since the Enlightenment, as well as in notable modern literary and artistic figures. This book provides an introduction for the general reader to this classic sacred text. Joseph A. Adler explains its multi-layered structure, its origins, its history of interpretation from the early first millennium BCE up to the present day, its function of divination, its significance in the history of Chinese thought, and its modern transformations. He explores why the Yijing has been considered the most profound expression of traditional Chinese thought and what meaning it can have for contemporary readers.
Additional text
It not only offers an excellent introduction to the Yìjīng itself and would prevent new students from adopting misunderstandings pertaining to the text, it also gives the reader a strong introduction to the wider religious landscape that the Yìjīng has historically shaped and been shaped by.
