The Book of Changes, also known as the Zhouyi, is one of the most influential classics of ancient China. It is the first of the Five Confucian Classics, and is also known as the source of the Great Dao. It is not only a book of divination, but also a collection of philosophy, cosmology and life wisdom. Its content covers the laws of heaven and earth, the changes of yin and yang, and the way of life.
I. The Way of Yin and Yang, the Fundamental of Everything
I Ching to yin and yang for this, 64 hexagrams for the elephant, change for use. Yin and Yang, the universe of the fundamental, the source of all things. The sky is Yang, the earth is Yin; movement is Yang, static is Yin. Continuous interaction between yin and yang, alternation, the achievement of the rotation of the four seasons, alternating day and night, the cycle of life and death of the laws of nature.
The Book of Changes says, “Yin and Yang is called Tao, and the goodness that follows it is also the nature that becomes it. It means that the real Tao originates from the balance and interlacing of yin and yang, and conforming to this change is a wise move.
The 64 hexagrams of the I Ching, the way of life
Each of the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching contains different life situations and cosmic symbols. For example, the Qian Hexagram symbolizes the heavens, which is strong and sturdy, implying that a gentleman should strive to be upward like the luck of the heavens; the Kun Hexagram symbolizes the earth, which is soft and smooth, implying that a gentleman should be tolerant of all things, and carries all things in a generous and virtuous manner.
Each hexagram has its own hexagrams and lines to guide people in various situations how to deal with the world, advance and retreat, behavior. It is not to teach people to change their lives against the will of heaven, but to guide people to follow the way of heaven, the times and the situation, so that the poor will change, change will be through, through the long.
Third, the learning of a gentleman, the way to cultivate oneself
The I-Ching is not only a realization of the philosophy of the universe, but also a guide for a gentleman to cultivate himself, unify his family, rule the country and pacify the world. Confucius once said: “Add me a few years, fifty to learn Yi, can not be a great fault. This shows the importance of the I-Ching in cultivating one’s moral character.
The core of its thinking lies in the Middle Way and the Way of Changes, which teaches people to be prepared for danger in times of peace, not to be surprised by chaos, to be humble in good times, and to be patient in times of adversity. It emphasizes the importance of adapting to the times and being adaptable to changes, and is extremely practical and wise.
Modern Revelation
Against the backdrop of the fast-paced and unpredictable changes in modern society, the I-Ching still retains its guiding value. It allows people to learn to observe the situation, to think about choices, and to maintain internal stability and external flexibility in life and work. Its spirit of change, ease and simplicity also provides a rich source of inspiration for modern management, psychology and innovative thinking.
The I-Ching is not a book of superstition, but a treasure of wisdom that explores the ways of heaven and earth, the principles of human nature, and the sources of change. In a complicated world, studying the I-Ching is like holding a bright light in the darkness of the night, observing the way of heaven to strengthen oneself, and inspecting the way of earth to be virtuous. As the old saying goes: “Those who know the I-Ching do not occupy it. Those who really know the I-Ching have already found the way to settle down in their hearts.
