The Taoist I Ching (Shambhala Classics)

About this book

A fascinating two-part Taoist commentary on the classic Chinese text the I Ching from the 18th-century adept Liu I-ming 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 yogis diviners sorcerers and more recently by scientists and mathematicians. This first part of the present volume is the text of the I Ching properthe sixty-four hexagrams plus sayings on the hexagrams and their lineswith the commentary composed by Liu I-ming a Taoist adept in 1796. The second part is Liu I-mings 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.