Collected Insights on I Ching Divination

Book Description

Collected Insights on I Ching Divination (Yi Donglin) is a reconstructed compilation of ancient divination cases attributed to Guo Pu, assembled from classical sources such as Book of Jin: Biography of Guo Pu, Guo Shi Donglin, Taiping Yulan, and Beitang Shuchao. Although not an original standalone work, it preserves some of the earliest known records utilizing Jing Fang's Six Lines (Na Jia) method. These cases reveal how Guo Pu integrated traditional image-and-line-based interpretations with techniques like rising and descending lines, marking a key stage in the development of Six Lines Divination. This text can be read alongside Studies on Ancient I Ching Divination Cases (Zhouyi Gushi Kao) for a deeper understanding of classical divination methods and their transmission. More than a historical archive, Yi Donglin reflects the profound role I Ching divination played in ancient Chinese intellectual and political life—as a means of understanding fate, interpreting omens, and communicating with Heaven. For scholars and practitioners, this collection remains an indispensable reference for tracing the roots and evolution of the Na Jia system. This English edition—possibly the first—was translated by Xuan Wanyan, a Columbia University graduate from a family steeped in the I Ching tradition, making this once-esoteric system accessible to non-Chinese readers while faithfully preserving its original depth.

Approximately 23,000 words.