The Complete I Ching: The Definitive Translation

by Alfred Huang

A revised edition of the definitive translation of the world’s most important book of divination • The first English translation from within the tradition by a Chinese Taoist Master • Includes translations of the Ten Wings--the commentaries by Confucius essential to the I Ching’s insights

Genres: Classics, Philosophy

Paperback

About the author

A third-generation master of Wu style Tai Chi Chuan, Chi Kung, and Oriental meditation, Master Alfred Huang is a professor of Taoist philosophy who studied the I Ching with some of China’s greatest minds--only to be imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution in 1966 and sentenced to death. For 13 years in prison Master Huang meditated on the I Ching and found the strength to survive. Released in 1979 weighing only 80 pounds, he emigrated to the United States. Master Huang is the founder of New Harmony, a nonprofit organization devoted to teaching self-healing, and is the author of The Numerology of the I Ching and Complete Tai-Chi. He lives on the island of Maui.

Reviews

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suppose the best way to describe this book is to think of it as a procedure for thinking about the current situation and deciding on a course of action. I suspect that the "divination" part of the procedure is actually irrelevant, but provides a way to calm the mind through a repetitive process, almost leading to a trance state. The result might be random, or might be fate, but then the real work begins. Using various maxims (or clichés) of the culture along with the hexagram obtained in the first step the current conditions are analyzed, while at the same time the moving yao is considered in order to forecast the results of an intended action, or perhaps just to give advice on potential actions. Thinking and analyzing are emphasized before any action, while harmony, yin-yang transitions and other basics of the human condition are fully considered in order to produce a wise response - the forecast or advice.

I will now consider the results of my first divination in which I am asking for advice on divination. The gua I must interpret are Kun - responding (earth over earth) moving towards Bi - Union (water over earth). As expected, the results will take me some time to complete.

[Mike Levere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discovering Joseph Campbell and Alan watts helped me to discover Terrence mckenna. And through him, I started learning more and more about the I Ching, and the Tao.

So one I day about 12 years ago, I found this at a store and thought I’d pick it up - to see what all the hype was about.

And yeah, it’s totally worth the hype. It’s hard to describe what it’s about, because I’m not that smart. But reading it over the years has truthfully helped me from losing my mind entirely in certain situations.

Essentially, it’s a doctrine of Taoism and confuscianism. And a documentation on patterns of time.
every single passage in it can, pretty much, be distilled down to;
“time marches on. There’s both good and bad in this world. Neither lasts forever. And you can’t have one without the other. Keep calm and carry on - through the bad, and learn to appreciate the good.”

It’s also a pretty cool divination tool. Whether or not you believe in it - is irrelevant. Because if you do it properly, it will direct you to a passage that will perfectly describe the situation you’re going through, and what to do - to calm your mind and persevere. (I personally prefer the 3 coin method. Rather than the yarrow stick method)

If you truly want to know more about it, I would highly recommend listening to lectures by Alan watts; or especially Terrence mckenna. They break it down beautifully, and help lay a framework of understanding- for when you eventually read through it yourself.

Its thousands of years old at this point, and it’s stuck around for a reason. It’s worth it. I give it 5/5 hourglasses ⏳⌛️⏳⌛️⏳

[Anjali Vishwanathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

heaps smart

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book on divination- with commentaries from Confucius, the great Chinese sage. It’s thought-provoking to say the least.

[Adrian Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the guidance to a form of divination that the Chinese people have used for over 3,000 years, making it one of the oldest forms of divination in history. Written by a man who came to the United States after having been imprisoned by the Communist government of his own country for 20 years, it offers a unique look at, not only a complex and ancient method of soothe saying, but also the cosmology, history, and world view of a people who can trace their culture back to a time thousands of years before the birth of Christ. Even if a person is not interested in employing the divination technique it is meant for, this is still a book that brings to life events that most Westerners are not even aware existed. A wonderful and fascinating read.