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Now available in paperback
"[A]n engaging translation and
interpretation of this Chinese classic. . . . [T]he I
Ching's evocative imagery makes it a
great work of literature, now more accessible than ever thanks to
Balkin.-- Publisher's Weekly
"[A]n excellent I
Ching to consult. . . . Balkin [has]
grasped the essence of the Changes."-- S.J. Marshall, Yijing
Dao
As important to Chinese civilization as the
Bible is to Western culture, the I Ching
or Book of Changes
is one of the oldest treasures of world literature. In this masterful
new interpretation, Jack Balkin returns the I
Ching to its rightful place as a
book of wisdom that teaches how to live one's life in a changing and
confusing world. Balkin's comprehensive and perceptive commentaries
highlight a clear, understandable version of the core text of the I
Ching that preserves its striking
imagery while remaining faithful to the long tradition of ethical
interpretations of the work.
The I Ching
is nothing less than an explanation of the laws of change in the
world and how human beings can learn to live in harmony with them.
Balkin presents it as a work of practical philosophy and ethics,
concerned with helping people to cultivate their characters, achieve
emotional balance, and maintain personal integrity in the face of
adversity and ever-changing circumstances. He shows how the I
Ching's divinatory system helps the
reader discover the book's underlying philosophy through applying its
insights to everyday problems.
The Laws of Change: I Ching and the
Philosophy of Life offers the most
detailed commentaries available in English on the I
Ching's ethical and philosophical
teachings, a comprehensive survey of different methods of consulting
the I Ching,
and an excellent history of the I Ching's
transformation from a Bronze Age diviner's manual to a beloved book
of wisdom that lies at the very heart of Chinese culture. This is an
indispensable work for anyone who wants to understand the I
Ching and its history.
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