Everyone must at least understand the mechanics of this text and try them. This is technology of knowledge in the making. The writing is fascinating though as it actually on occasion goes out of its way to predict something specific, taking risks to be wrong.

An amazing book, idea and tool from thousands of years back. ( )

I finally realized the I Ching was more about politics and generalship than about problem solving. ( )

Impossibile dare un giudizio all’ I Ching, libro di divinazione e libro di saggezza. La versione Adelphi presa in considerazione è in completo accordo, cito testualmente:

[L'I Ching è] Un' opera enigmatica per definizione, che non si finisce mai di scoprire e che ha suscitato fino a oggi innumerevoli interpretazioni, edizioni, traduzioni. Lo presentiamo qui sulla base dell'edizione allestita dal grande sinologo Richard Wilhelm (1873-1930): apparsa nel 1924, essa rimane uno degli eventi più significativi nella storia della comprensione dell'antica Cina da parte dell'Occidente...

Un'opera maturata attraverso una lenta elaborazione, nel corso di millenni. Si può assimilarla solo riflettendo e meditando.

Struttura del testo:

Due prefazioni, una di C.G. Jung e una risalente alla prima edizione di Richard Wilhelm.

L’ introduzione di ben ``50`` pagine, passa in rassegna i principali utilizzi del libro (oracolare o di saggezza), la storia e una breve spiegazione delle scelte nella traduzione.

Il Testo ("As Is").

Il Materiale, anche noto con il nome Dieci Ali. Queste Ali o chiarimenti, contengono di fatto la più antica letteratura di commento al Testo.

I Commenti. Formati da due traduzioni dei testi Shuo Kua, Discussione dei trigrammi, e Hsi Tz'u Chuan, Commento alle sentenze aggiunte, chiamato più propriamente Ta Chuan, Grande Trattato. Seguono poi ragguagli sulla struttura dei segni, che provengono da varie fonti e sono importanti per la comprensione della successiva parte dell'opera.

L’ Appendice, per la consultazione rapida dell’oracolo con tavole ausiliarie.

Non posso dare un giudizio critico sulla traduzione, non avendo a disposizione ne la copia originale ne altri testi di riferimento. Invito quindi chiunque ad aggiungere un proprio giudizio o indicarmi versioni alternative ed altre fonti attendibili.

In conclusione, consiglio vivamente la lettura di questo antico libro di saggezza a chiunque stia facendo un qualsiasi percorso di crescita personale. Se si è interessati all' aspetto oracolare, consiglio di non essere frettolosi e studiarsi bene commenti e interpretazioni, ampiamente trattati e descritti in questo testo.

No se hizo la miel para la boca del asno, sentencia el proverbio. Así, este “Libro de las mutaciones”: aparentemente sencillo, en ocasiones con afirmaciones pueriles; yergue un muro apenas penetrable para unos pocos, aunque muchos son los que afirman haber entendido sus más profundos arcanos.
El prólogo de Jung de esta edición es fundamental para entender las carencias de muchos lectores a la hora de internarse en el “I ching”. Durante siglos, muchos chinos se han acercado al libro, ya oracular o sapiencialmente, generalmente a través de los comentarios de Confucio. Jung establece las diferencias, claramente favorables a los chinos frente a los occidentales, para entender el libro: una profundidad de perspectiva que nunca puede provenir de un conocimiento puramente académico de la filosofía china, dejar de lado ciertos prejuicios occidentales, la asunción de que cada proceso natural se ve interferido por el azar (entiéndase esto también como causas no conocidas o al menos no previstas), …
Jung insiste en que es una obra poco adecuada para intelectualizantes y racionalistas. Afirma que es una invitación al conocimiento de uno mismo: carácter, actitud y motivaciones; y éste se mueve en el ámbito del falible juicio subjetivo.
El lector, leyendo los hexagramas y sus comentarios, puede intuir que Jung está en lo cierto, que apunta al corazón mismo de la obra; pero también comprobará la gran dificultad de aprehender el significado del “I ching”. Bienaventurados quienes lo consigan. ( )

We have used this I Ching for more than 20 years. Our Midwinter reading for the coming year has always been exceedingly accurate.

This translation reflects much of the original philosophy. I have not switched to some more recent translations that have been published.

Haven't read all of this, only the parts as required ( )

De acordo com a antiga tradição oriental, são "agentes espirituais" que, agindo de maneira misteriosa, fazem com que os pauzinhos do I Ching dêem respostas significativas. Tal poder forma a alma do Livro das Mutações. Se um punhado de fósforos é jogado no chão, eles formam o padrão característico daquele momento. Obviamente não é um procedimento que apele a uma mente crítica moderna acostumada à verificação experimental de fatos ou evidências factuais. A mente chinesa antiga contemplava o cosmos de uma maneira comparável à do físico pós-moderno, cujo modelo do mundo é uma estrutura psíquico-física. Os 64 hexagramas do I Ching são o instrumento pelo qual o significado de 64 situações diferentes, porém típicas, pode ser determinado. Essas interpretações são equivalentes a explicações causais. O critério de validade do observador é sua conclusão de que o texto do hexagrama equivale a uma representação verdadeira de sua condição psíquica. Para quem vê o mundo do ponto de vista da China antiga, o I Ching pode ter alguma atração. Mas é claro que as teorias de Jung dificilmente adentrariam a proverbial mente chinesa. ( )

Leyéndolo permanentemente desde 1980. ( )

Leyéndolo permanentemente desde 1980. ( )

This is the book I would like with me on a desert island. ( )

An ancient Chinese manual for divination, the I-Ching (Yijing 易經) has long been the source of much interest both inside and outside of China.

This version, the translation by Richard Wilhelm (the eminent German sinologist), is still one of the best around. ( )

Written before WWII so references to societies - Europe and China - are interesting. This is basically a cook book but the amplifications are very interesting psychologically. A discussion of how the way applies to artists is very interesting. ( )

OK This is the granddaddy of I Ching primers in English, Cary Baynes Translation for Richard Wilhelm's German version is considered to be THE reference book for all other English books on the subject until very recently. If you are young and know a little about Chinese Romanization the book is written in English with Wade/Giles Chinese Romanization (i.e. chi'ng instead of the modern Pinyin qing Tao/Dao etc.)But nevertheless for a good understanding and significant historical background of the I Ching outside of China itself I highly recommend it. Mr. Wilhelm traveled, lectured and taught for many years in the early 20th Century on this and related Taoist subjects. He was very famous in his own right and Baynes English translation gave him the :market in America as well as his native Germany/European audiences. ( )

Probably the best book I have ever read on the subject of I Ching, definitely worth having in your personal library - and can you believe it I got it for $4 USD on the second-hand bookstore? ( )

I've been using this version of the I-Ching for 35 years and haven't found anything to compare with it. The commentary by Wilhelm is very helpful and full of wisdom. I've delved deeply into this book, taking copious notes over the years. I occasionally use it for matters of general interest: I-Ching Readings for a Changing World. ( )

I keep coming back to this old friend for advice and counsel.
The book will never tell you "what to do" but only how to think about
or approach the question of doing. ( )

Wow! The trick is to not think of these things as signs. but symbols. A sign means one thing and a symbol reverberates with meaning. You can not pin it down. Allow it to speak. Try not to corral it into some meaning. ( )

This book has been my guide and my mentor for almost 35 years now - I couldn't be without it. Of this book Carl Jung says "For lovers of self-knowledge, of wisdom - if there be such - it seems to be the right book." I totally agree. ( )

Like this version. Have the hard back copy and it is nice quality. Also a 'Pocket I Ching' version of this same edition was published in the 80's, just containing the 64 Hexagrams each with: Condition/ Judgment/ Image/ Degrees of change, which has been very useful to take away on trips.

In my experience this really works. Don't use it so often, but when I have it's been very useful, shockingly accurate at times. ( )

There are so many different translations, commentaries, and authors lumped under this same work, it's hard to review it; however, here is an excellent summary of the different editions: http://www.biroco.com/yijing/survey.htm

This is not a book for the idly curious. It requires careful reading and study to gain even a superficial understanding of it. However, the effort is worth it. ( )

From the back of the book: "The central theme of the I CHING or BOOK OF CHANGES is the continuous change and transformation underlying all existence. It is a work of great inspiration and reflects and answers all human conditions. It presents nothing less than a time-tested philosophy of life."

Er, yes, it does, but this translation is also reflects a thoroughly male-centric view of the universe. There is a lot of talk about 'the superior man' but women don't seem to exist. One might argue this is just the way English was written back then, but it can jar a little. If you'd like a gentler and more female-oriented version, try Diane Stein's Kwan Yin Book of Changes. ( )

Classic oriental oracle ( )

This hoary old literal translation of the chinese is a little obscure, but you can't beat it for giving you a feel for what the original must have been like.

I've not read this cover-to-cover, but have used it as a reference when I was casting coins for myself. It's been years since I've done that. Maybe I'll try it again sometime. ( )