7/13/2023 0 Comments Who wrote i ching![]() He saw how the sets of three solid or broken lines, the trigrams, reflected the movement of energy in life on Earth.Ī similar myth describes Fu Hsi's contemplation of other patterns in nature, including animals, plants, meteorological phenomena, and even his own body. Knowing that true wisdom came from the direct and close observation of nature, he had a sudden realization of the significance of eight symbols he saw on the turtle's back. In one tale, Fu Hsi, the first emperor of China (2852–2737 B.C.), is said to have observed a turtle emerging from the Yellow River. There are a number of myths surrounding the origins of the eight trigrams and the development of the I Ching divination system. Learn more about this ancient oracle by getting your own FREE I Ching Reading now » The I Ching's actual discovery and much of its early history are the stuff of legends. Its first interpretive text was composed around 1000 B.C. It is also one of the oldest books in the world. The I Ching is the oldest of all the classical divination systems. These eight trigrams, known as "Hua," also serve as the compass points in the ancient art of placement known as Feng Shui (pronounced fung-shway). Divide the six-line forms in half and you get trigrams (three yin or yang lines) that represent the Chinese version of the eight fundamental elements: sky, earth, thunder, wind, water, fire, mountain, and lake. Each hexagram can be analyzed in a number of ways. The interpretations of the sixty-four hexagrams describe the energy of human life divided into sixty-four types of situations, relationships or dilemmas. Examples of the yin/yang polarity are female/male, earth/heavens, dark/light, in/out, even/odd, and so on. Yin/yang is the fundamental duality of the Universe whose dynamic tension gives shape to all phenomena and the changes they go through. The Chinese I Ching, or Book of Changes in English, represents sixty-four archetypes that make up all the possible six-line combinations of yin and yang, called hexagrams. We finally selected images that we felt not only illuminate the hexagrams but simultaneously told a story about our lives with not a literal but an emotional truth.ĭavid and I have collaborated in many areas - as husband and wife, parents, business partners, and artists – and this book is the fruition of a dream, of the connection we feel to one another, sealed by a gift given more than 20 years ago.The History of the I Ching Find out how the world's oldest oracle evolved Just as the I Ching suggests many aspects of an issue, we know that there are other photographs that might have served. When we began to edit the images we hoped each photograph would perfectly embody each hexagram. They represent monumental decisions that confronted us as we have grown. The images in this book, taken between 19, provide a brief retrospective of our lives. Our hope is that these visual companions will offer an additional metaphorical dimension to consultations with the I Ching.Ĭonceiving and compiling this volume represents a long and personal journey. ![]() We are neither scholars of the work nor authorities on its use. ![]() Likewise, in this book, we claim only to present our personal interpretations of the 64 hexagrams that have inspired these photographic images. Each person who reads its wise words will draw a different meaning. We simply accept the fact that for each question we have asked, the I Ching has offered illumination, not in the sense of “yes or no” or “do this or do that” but rather along the lines of “why, how, and what if?”Īmong the I Ching’s remarkable qualities is its capacity to speak universally through lyrical allegories of the natural and human worlds. How does one explain the many mysteries encountered in life. The I Ching is an oracle, but for us it has also served as a friend, confidante, and wise counselor.Īttempting to understand its workings can be a great distraction. The ancient Chinese wisdom is uncanny in its ability to enlighten a situation, challenging us to question, expand our perspectives, consider the impact of our decisions on those around us, and ponder our own lives in the past, present and future. We have consulted the I Ching for many of the major decisions in our lives, not as a last word or an authoritative answer, but for assistance in our decision-making process. After teaching me how to use it, the Book of Changes became a companion to both of us and remains so to the present day. Soon after we first met, David shared his experiences in the use of the I Ching and wrote the above inscription in a copy he gave me as a gift. "Use this book to always see other sides and at the same time to always be able to see inside." I-Ching: Images in the Heavens, Patterns on the Earth - A collaborative project with Janet Russek
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