The Classic of Changes in Cultural Context: A Textual Ar ...

Introduction

The Classic of Changes (Yi jing) or Changes of the [Western] Zhou [dynasty] (Zhou yi) is one of the most ancient texts known to human civilization and always given pride of place in the Chinese classical tradition. This venerable text brings with it some acute difficulties for readers, with terse, archaic written statements, a divinatory orientation to the world, and a special formal framework, all of which constitutes a work quite different from what is usually considered literature from a worldwide perspective. Focusing narrowly on philology or translation often exacerbates the puzzles the text presents. Over millennia of reflection on this classic, a voluminous commentary tradition has grown up to assist understanding, answering to varying interests of readers in various epochs of Chinese history. These commentaries themselves pose challenges for modern readers who may not share the unspoken assumptions of the interpreters over the ages. And yet the powerful fascination exerted by the Classic of Changes has preserved the archaic text for modern audiences and draws readers from every direction and field. There is a continuing interest in trying to understand the text as a