- Hardcover: 672 pages
- Publisher: Schocken; 1 edition (Nov 26 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 080524199X
- ISBN-13: 978-0805241990
- Product Dimensions: 16.1 x 3.4 x 24.1 cm
- Shipping Weight: 1.1 Kg
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
-
Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#1,177,596 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #76 in Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Eastern > Chinese
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Balkin, a Yale law professor, offers an engaging translation and interpretation of this Chinese classic. Based on a system of 64 hexagrams and their associated oracular statements, the I Ching began as a Bronze Age divination manual for rulers seeking advice on upcoming battles, marriage plans and human sacrifices, among other things. While it continues to be a popular medium for fortune-telling, centuries of scholarly commentary have made it a centerpiece of Confucian and Taoist philosophy. In addition to the text of the I Ching, Balkin provides a fascinating history of the work along with a lucid introduction to Chinese philosophy. But he is most interested in the I Ching as a system of practical wisdom applicable to everyday problems. By "enticing us to make sense of" its "vague and cryptic" language, he argues, it "induces us to abandon logical and linear thinking" and stimulates intuition and inspiration. Balkin includes detailed commentaries that help make sense of the book's pronouncements, which are sometimes self-evident ("Perseverance brings good fortune") but more often based on oblique metaphors ("Cart and axle separate / Husband and wife roll their eyes at each other" warns of "accidents" leading to "loss of dignity," while "He bites through the tender meat,/ So that his nose disappears / No blame" means that clearly beneficial reforms should be pursued energetically). Regardless of its prognosticatory powers, the I Ching's evocative imagery makes it a great work of literature, now more accessible than ever thanks to Balkin.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Book Description
As important to Chinese civilization as the Bible is to Western culture, the I Ching is one of the oldest treasures of world literature. Yet despite many commentaries written over the years, it is still not well understood in the English-speaking world. In this masterful new interpretation, Jack Balkin returns the I Ching to its rightful place as a book of wisdom that teaches how to live one’s life in a changing and confusing world.
The I Ching is nothing less than an explanation of the laws of change in the universe and of how human beings can learn to live in harmony with them. Balkin presents it as a work of practical philosophy and ethics, concerned with helping people to cultivate their characters, achieve emotional balance, and maintain personal integrity in the face of adversity and ever-changing circumstances. He shows how the I Ching’s divinatory system helps the reader discover the book’s underlying philosophy through applying its insights to everyday problems.
Balkin’s comprehensive and perceptive commentaries highlight a clear, understandable version of the core text of the I Ching that preserves its striking imagery while remaining faithful to the long tradition of ethical interpretations of the work. The Laws of Change: I Ching and the Philosophy of Life affords us the opportunity to experience a world masterpiece anew with unprecedented depth and understanding.
The I Ching is nothing less than an explanation of the laws of change in the universe and of how human beings can learn to live in harmony with them. Balkin presents it as a work of practical philosophy and ethics, concerned with helping people to cultivate their characters, achieve emotional balance, and maintain personal integrity in the face of adversity and ever-changing circumstances. He shows how the I Ching’s divinatory system helps the reader discover the book’s underlying philosophy through applying its insights to everyday problems.
Balkin’s comprehensive and perceptive commentaries highlight a clear, understandable version of the core text of the I Ching that preserves its striking imagery while remaining faithful to the long tradition of ethical interpretations of the work. The Laws of Change: I Ching and the Philosophy of Life affords us the opportunity to experience a world masterpiece anew with unprecedented depth and understanding.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best All Around I Ching Book,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Laws of Change: I Ching and the Philosophy of Life (Hardcover)
This is probably the best introduction to the I Ching, and for the average person, the best all around version of the I Ching available in English.If you like the old Wilhelm-Baynes translation, you will like Balkin's. It is both clear and poetic. The best feature of this book is the extensive commentaries on the hexagrams and the line statements. They delve into the symbolism of the I Ching and explain its moral teachings. This book is full of profound wisdom and practical common sense. It is also beautifully written. There are several good translations of the I Ching available today, like the Wilhelm-Baynes and Alfred Huang's. But neither of them has practical commentaries on how to apply the book to everyday life situations that compare to Balkin's. And Balkin's takes account of recent historical findings that they don't. In fact, just for the commentaries alone this book would probably be a good supplement to any translation you currently own. This is not a scholarly translation like Richard John Lynn's, which is not that easy for the beginner or the casual user to understand. At the same time, it is much more accurate, informative, and sophisticated than the dozens of popular versions of the I Ching that are being sold these days. It has lots of information about the historical origins and symbolism of the I Ching and the different ways to cast the hexagrams. If you want something clear and comprehensive, with lots of historical detail and really good commentaries, Balkin's is the one to get. It is the best way to get in touch with the wisdom of this famous oracle.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Commentaries on the I Ching,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Laws of Change: I Ching and the Philosophy of Life (Hardcover)
This book is the best I Ching if you want in depth discussions of what the hexagrams and lines really mean. I own several different versions and in most of them there's only a paragraph or a few sentences. I'm always left wanting more. In this version everything is made very clear and it makes the book even more relevant to my life. There's also a great discussion of lots of different ways to cast the hexgrams, more than in any other book I've seen. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who uses the I Ching on a regular basis.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Practical Version, Filled With Wisdom East & West,
By K.M. McKay (Eugene, OR, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Laws of Change: I Ching and the Philosophy of Life (Hardcover)
This is a wonderfully realised English translation of the ancient bronze age divinatory tool, the I Ching. Mr. Balkin, a careful writer who renders crisp yet meaningful prose, has given modern thinkers a true gift in this book. 'The Laws of Change' strikes a poetic balance between the Wilhelm/Baynes edition and some of the accessible recent versions. It's easier to get into than the Wilhelm/Baynes and much deeper in its wisdom than its competition.What's particularly well done is Balkin's well thought out commentary on the lines, which, though retaining a level of unconscious symbolism for a unique interpretation, give a pracitical, useful approach to understanding situations. I found myself wishing the author was my uncle or grandfather -- that I could probe his mind for answers to some of my life's toughest issues! This is an I Ching for people wishing to do better in their organizations, for understanding how best to deal with complex and difficult social/business situations, and for making personal decisions with far-reaching affects. It's also quite good if you're like me and are still trying to learn how the world really works. As the author says, "You should not be afraid of the changes that you want to make." (Thanks, Mr. Balkin, for reinvigorating the resolve to make important changes. Your respect for this ancient text is clearly shown and helpful to all.) K.M. McKay
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
