I first learned from Nina Correa of Your Dao De Jing that in the first lines of the Daodejing –
‘The dao that can be told of is not the constant dao,
The name that can be named is not the constant name’
– the word ‘constant’ in the Mawangdui version is heng – the name of Hexagram 32.
I’ve been lucky enough to meet up with Dr Margaret Pearson, and she has very kindly promised to be the ‘guest speaker’ at our next webinar. As you’ll know if you came to the last one with Stephen Karcher, this means we get to ask her questions! The subject is ‘Women and the I Ching’, and there is some discussion going on at the I Ching Community about potential questions to ask. (Or you’re very welcome to add your suggestions as ‘comments’ to this post.)
In the first place, seeing an great person means finding a role model or guide. Find someone who can advise, ideally someone who’s been there and done that. Or go to the person who has more influence, make an important connection with someone who can make a difference. Richard Rutt suggests that in Zhou times it could mean ‘taking counsel, preparing for battle, parleying with enemy leaders, or consulting high soothsayers.’
Sketchy, impressionistic ideas, these, butI think there’s something behind them…
Looking at the mythical and legendary figures that walk the pages of the Yijing, I can’t help noticing how many pairs of fathers and sons there are. And the overarching theme seems to be the responsibility of the sons to take over their fathers’ work and either complete what they began, or redeem their failures.
A very interesting question, this: can Yi answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’? Is it a good idea to ask ‘yes’/’no’ questions? If not, why not? I Ching Community: Yes – No answers
I’ve finally bought myself a copy of Richard Kunst’s 1985 dissertation, The Original Yijing: a text, phonetic transcription, and indexes, with sample glosses, and I’ve been seizing every spare moment to read it. I wish I’d got it years ago! Anyone with a strong interest in the early Yi will… Read more »Richard Kunst’s Yijing dissertation
Joseph Adler’s fascinating article, Chu Hsi and Divination, is available free online. This small excerpt will show why I’m recommending it: After one had ascertained the intended meaning, according to Chu, a certain subjective involvement with the text is necessary for full understanding. One must extend one’s mind into the… Read more »Chu Hsi and Divination
