The I Ching (Book of Changes): A Critical Translation of the Ancient Text

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The I Ching has influenced thinkers and artists throughout the history of Chinese philosophy. This new, accessible translation of the entire early text brings to life the hidden meanings and importance of China's oldest classical texts. Complemented throughout by insightful commentaries, the I Ching: A Critical Translation of the Ancient Text simplifies the unique system of hexagrams lying at the centre of the text and introduces the cultural significance of key themes including yin and yang, gender and ethics. As well as depicting all possible ethical situations, this new translation shows how the hexagram figures can represent social relationships and how the order of lines can be seen as a natural metaphor for higher or lower social rank. Introduced by Hon Tze-Ki, an esteemed scholar of the text, this up-to-date translation uncovers and explains both the philosophical and political interpretations of the text. For a better understanding of the philosophical and cosmological underpinning the history of Chinese philosophy, the I Ching is an invaluable starting point.

Reviews

This highly competent translation of one of the Ur-classics of China, the I Ching (or Yijing, the Book of Changes), not only accurately renders archaic words into accessible contemporary English, but also intervenes in the ancient text so that its present-day relevance is thrown into sharp relief. Offering patulous interpretations of the purport and import of the hexagrams, Geoffrey Redmonds capacious readings reach beyond the literal meanings to reveal the latent senses of this often befuddling canonic composition, thereby re-presenting the I Ching as a world classic with plural significances in our global world. -- On-cho Ng, Professor of History, Asian Studies and Philosophy, The Pennsylvania State University, USA
This new translation of the Zhouyi the original divinatory portion of the Yijing breaks new ground by incorporating recent scholarly advances in our understanding of its original historical context and making them accessible to users, as well as readers, of the book. -- Joseph A. Adler, Professor Emeritus of Asian Studies and Religious Studies, Kenyon College, USA
Geoffrey Redmond provides his readers with an excellent point of entry into the fascinating world of the I Chinga lucid, insightful and extremely valuable translation, undertaken with a full appreciation of the scholarly controversies that have surrounded the cryptic classic for more than two thousand years. -- Richard J Smith, George and Nancy Rupp Professor of Humanities and Professor of History, Rice University, USA
Among the many recent translations of the I Ching/Yijing, this book stands out in that it offers clear and insightful interpretations of the polymorphous philosophical structure and meaning of the complicated classical text. Redmond's highly readable renderings and commentaries provide useful guides to a broad spectrum of readers, helping them to explore the fascinating world of divination defined by the trigrams and hexagrams. -- Cheng Kat Hung Dennis, Chair Professor of Cultural History, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Author Bio

Geoffrey Redmond is an independent scholar. He is the author of Teaching the Book of Changes with Hon Tze-ki (2014).