Collected Insights on I Ching Divination (Yi Donglin: including Donglin Secret Manual, Guo Shi Donglin, and Zhouyi Donglin) (易洞林 Yi Donglin – including 洞林秘诀 Donglin Secret Manual, 郭氏洞林 Guo Shi Donglin, and 周易洞林 Zhouyi Donglin)

Description

Written by Guo Pu (276–324 CE, Jin Dynasty)
Translated by Xuan Wanyan

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. If you wish to see more case studies, I recommend reading the more advanced and comprehensive Studies on Ancient I Ching Divination Cases (Zhouyi Gushi Kao), since most of the cases in Yi Donglin also appear in Zhouyi Gushi Kao. Yi Donglin is more suitable for readers interested in the foundational theories of Donglin Secret Manua, as well as those who seek an introductory understanding of the symbolic methods in Six Lines Divination. 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.

Publisher’s notice (2025-09): The phrase ‘available in digital and print editions’ refers to our catalog. For this title, the print edition is forthcoming; this release is digital-only.

✅ Digital products are non-refundable

✅ Case counts, page numbers, and chapters are approximate and may vary by edition

✅ All rights reserved. Content is for educational purposes only