Yijing: "Great Treatise"

Translation & Research by Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD

Online and download version available (see link at the bottom)

 Many contemporary renderings of the “Book of Changes” presented as “translations” in the English language are not translations in the conventional sense, but rather integration of a number of already existing translations (without reference to the Chinese language source text)— often generated over one hundred (or more) years ago.

 Indeed, many such authors are not translating, but rather “re-interpreting” the already existing work of others (often Christian missionaries). The problem with this approach is that the original source texts are cut-away and an ever-widening gap is developed between an authentic “original” conception—and a limited interpretation that is being refined into ever further extremes of inaccurate and incorrect expositions—presented into another culture.

 As very few readers in the consuming group possess any direct knowledge regarding ancient Chinese culture (and language)—there is no correcting resistance to the incorrect evaluations or over simplifications being presented as concrete facts. To remedy this phenomenon, at least in-part, I have carried-out a forensic translation of one of the central texts associated with the received “Book of Changes”—contained in the commentary material (namely Wings 6 and 7—otherwise known as the “Great Treatise”). It is important to accept that there is no such concept as “Heaven” emanating from ancient China—as this word is theologically ladened with an alien Judeo-Christian meaning. Interestingly, the ideogram “易” (yì) is written as the following:

• Upper Particle – 日 (rì)—Sun, Day, and Time
• Lower Particle – 勿 (wù)—Negation, Prohibition, and Forbidden

 A more elaborate version of this ideogram is “賜” (cì) which contains the extra left-hand particle of “貝” (beì) which represent “Shellfish” and “Cowrie”—or more specifically a form of ancient currency. When “貝” (beì) is added to “易” (yì)—the concept is generated that money easily flows from the “payer” to “payee” with a consummate “ease”. This gives the overall meaning of “to give from superior to inferior – to give as a favour – to bestow – to grant”. Therefore, that which is above naturally flows toward that which is below—like water flowing down a hill.

NOTE: This article continues with a 22 page booklet with translation and commentary at this link: www.qi-journal.com/yijing.html 

The link opens the online version in our journal's digital library section (no password required). There is also a "download" button along the bottom that allows you to download a free PDF file of the booklet for offline reading.