The Yijing: The Book of Changes/The Classic of Changes – Teaching Guide

Introductory Note

• The Yijing is “the most important book in China’s whole cultural history.” It is one of the 5 classics in the Confucian list of the “4 books and 5 classics.”
• It might help students consider the problem that the Yijing addresses by asking them how much “change” they experience every day – have them give examples, e.g., the weather, friendships, time, cells within their bodies, sports competitions. Do they have any control over these automatic changes?  What efficacy do they have in the resulting situations?
• For both younger and older students, the charts of names and demonstrations may be helpful.
• See in Resources: The Eight Trigrams, Milfoil Sticks for Divination

Vocabulary of Note

• Yijing (EE-Jing) – Classic of Changes (a book)
• “Divine sanction” – authorized by a divinity, a god as opposed to just being the “natural order”
• Yin and Yang (short vowel sounds) – opposites that are complementary
  • Yin – associated with the passive; represented by line broken in half
  • Yang – associated with the active; represented by a solid, unbroken line
• Taiji (Tie-jee) – generator (infuses all), “supreme ultimate”
• Tian (Tee-en) – nature, natural force
• Fuxi (Fu-she) – mythological cultural hero
• Zhou (Joe) dynasty – 1046–256 BCE
• King Wen – of the Zhou (Joe) clan, during Shang period (1152–1050)
• Duke of Zhou – (ruled 1042–1035 BCE)
• Confucius – itinerant teacher and philosopher (551–479, during the period of the “Eastern Zhou, 771–256”)
• Trigram – 3 lines, solid ☰ or broken in half ☷ (8 possible variations); each trigram has a name
• Hexagram – combination of 2 trigrams to make 6 lines of blocks; each trigram can be either the upper (of the two trigrams or the lower, in the combination, meaning each of the 8 can be combined with the others resulting in 64 hexagrams (8×8); each hexagram has a name
• Qian (chee-en) hexagram – hexagram #1, written with 6 unbroken lines and associated with the symbol of a dragon and written with the Chinese character for “dragon”; associated with power, with the emperor, and good fortune (the “dragon” in Chinese culture carries a different association than that of medieval Europe)
• Fate – pattern of cosmic change of all-natural phenomenon (purpose of Xijing is to help people develop a moral strategy for dealing with these changes; situations resulting from fate are determined, but a person can impact or influence the outcome of the situation, and therefore seeks a strategy to do so)
• Divination –method to gain insight into natural phenomenon but not based on scientific method
• Milfoil sticks – dried yarrow grasssticks used in divination (50 used in Yijing divination)
• Commentary – suggested interpretation
• Zhu Xi (Ju She) – lived 1130–1200 CE, philosopher of the Song Dynasty

Outline of Presentation – with [Timecode]

What is it? When composed? (800–200 BCE) [00:03]

• Four cultural heroes

Key Concepts

• 3 key Concepts [01:50]
• Yin and Yang/Taiji/Tian

Trigram/Hexagram [03:55]

• “Qian” hexagram [06:00]

Reading Interpretations [08:56]

Complexity of Interpretation [11:27]

• “Greater” and “Lesser” Yin and Yang
  • Related to the number of Yang or Yin lines and their positions

Role of Commentary [12:50]

Methods of Divination

• Milfoil sticks (orthodox method) [14:18]
• 3 coins [15:40]
• Diversity of divination [17:40]
• Used by every great mind in China [18:08]
• Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist use [18:22]
• Role of Zhu Xi (Song dynasty) [19:20]

Cultural Significance [19:36]

• Influence in all fields [20:48]
• Example of Chinese writing

All Religions Use Symbols [22:38]

• Taiping rebels use (1850–1864) [22:50]
• Used on charms – guards against evil [23:43]
• All other divination systems based on it [24:02]
  • Feng shui

References Everywhere – books, art [25:00]

Influence in China Today [27:00]

• Temples to Fuxi
• Research centers

Travels/Influence of the Yijing beyond China [27:37]

• Throughout East Asia, through Japan, Vietnam, and Korea and “domesticated” in each (see South Korean flag)
• Influence in 20th c West: [30:25]
• I.M Peu, John Cage, Bob Dylan…
• Book titles [30:53]