I Ching

Yijing 《易经》

The Book of Changes

The Meaning of Yi

"The Sun and the Moon define Yi."

日月之谓易

Ancient Chinese scholars often explained the character Yi (易) through the image of the Sun (日) and the Moon (月).

The sun and the moon rise and set in perpetual succession, symbolising the rhythm of nature and the continuous transformation of the universe. Day and night alternate, the seasons change, and all living things are born, grow, flourish, and return. Everything is constantly changing, yet change itself follows an enduring order.

For this reason, the I Ching is not merely a book about change. It is a classic devoted to understanding the principles that govern change.

日月之谓易。

古人常以“日月之谓易”解释“易”字。

日月运行，昼夜更替，寒来暑往，四时循环。天地万物无时无刻不在变化，而变化之中，又始终遵循着恒常的规律。

因此，《易经》所研究的，并不仅仅是变化，而是变化背后的规律；不仅是自然运行的规律，也是天地人与万物相互关系的智慧。

Why Study the I Ching?

为什么学习《易经》？

The I Ching (Book of Changes) is one of the oldest and most important classics of Chinese civilization. It stands at the very root of Chinese thought and culture, serving as one of the principal sources from which later philosophical traditions continued to develop.

The Complete Library of the Four Treasuries (Siku Quanshu) places the I Ching at the very beginning of its collection, honouring it as "the foremost of the Classics" (群经之首). For thousands of years, it has profoundly influenced Chinese philosophy, Daoism, Confucianism, traditional Chinese medicine, astronomy, calendar studies, and the development of the Hundred Schools of Thought.

The I Ching is far more than a book of divination. It is a classical work that teaches us to observe nature, recognise underlying principles, understand change, and contemplate the relationship between Heaven, Earth, humanity, and the myriad things.

The Book of Rites (Liji), in the chapter "Explanation of the Five Classics" (五经解), summarises the teaching of the I Ching in four Chinese characters:

洁静精微

Inner Clarity · Tranquillity · Precision · Profound Understanding

These four words express the spirit of the I Ching.

Inner Clarity refers to a mind that is clear, sincere, and free from distraction.

Tranquillity reflects inner calmness, composure, and balance.

Precision calls for disciplined observation and rigorous thinking.

Profound Understanding points to deep insight into the subtle principles governing nature, life, and change.

To study the I Ching is therefore not merely to acquire knowledge. It is to cultivate inner clarity, careful observation, disciplined thinking, and the ability to perceive the principles underlying change and laws of nature.

《易经》是中华文明最古老、最重要的经典之一，也是中国思想文化的重要源头。

《四库全书》将《易经》列于全书之首，尊为**“群经之首”**。数千年来，它深刻影响了中国哲学、道家、儒家、中医学、天文学、历法以及诸子百家的发展。

《易经》并不仅仅是一部占筮经典，更是一部帮助人们观察自然、认识规律、理解变化、体悟天地人与万物关系的重要经典。

《礼记·五经解》评价《易》之教曰：

洁静精微。

洁静，是内心的澄明与宁静；精微，是观察的严谨与思考的深入。

学习《易经》，不仅是学习知识，更是在培养一种宁静而清明的心境，一种观察变化、理解规律、体悟天地之道的能力。

The Three Books of the I Ching

三易

Traditionally, there are three books of the I Ching:

Lianshan Yi — from the age of Shennong.

Guicang Yi — from the age of the Yellow Emperor.

Zhou Yi — compiled during the Zhou dynasty and the only complete version transmitted to the present day.

The Lianshan Yi begins with Gen (艮).

The Guicang Yi begins with Kun (坤).

The Zhou Yi begins with Qian (乾) and Kun (坤).

Although the Lianshan Yi and Guicang Yi have not survived as complete classics, the traditions they represent continue to live on in traditional Chinese medicine, geomancy (feng shui), Daoist cultivation, and many other classical traditions.

Today, when people speak of the I Ching, they are generally referring to the Zhou Yi.

The Zhou Yi is closely associated with King Wen of Zhou, who further developed the wisdom of the I Ching.

The Zhou Yi is also known for the tradition of the Three Sages.

King Wen of Zhou composed the Hexagram Statements.

The Duke of Zhou composed the Line Statements.

Confucius wrote the Ten Wings (Yizhuan).

Together, their contributions shaped the classical tradition of the Zhou Yi.

传统易学有“三易”之说，包括：

《连山易》——神农时代

《归藏易》——黄帝时代

《周易》——周代，也是今天流传至今最完整的《易经》。

《连山易》以艮卦开始，《归藏易》以坤卦开始，《周易》则以乾、坤两卦开始。

虽然《连山易》与《归藏易》已经失传，不再以完整经典流传于世，但它们所代表的易学传统，仍然延续于中国医学、堪舆、道家修养以及许多传统经典之中。

今天所说的《易经》，主要指《周易》。

《周易》与周文王密切相关。文王演《易》，进一步完善了《易经》的思想体系。

《周易》又有“易更三圣”之说。

周文王作卦辞。

周公作爻辞。

孔子作《易传》（十翼）。

《周易》凝聚了三位圣人的智慧，也因此成为中华文明最重要的经典之一。

The Three Fundamental Principles

《易经》的三大原则

The wisdom of the I Ching may first be understood through three fundamental principles.

《易经》的智慧，可以首先概括为三个基本原则。

Change（变易）

Everything in the universe is continually changing.

Wisdom lies not in resisting change, but in understanding it and learning how to live in harmony with it.

宇宙万事万物，无时无刻不在变化。

真正的智慧，不是抗拒变化，而是认识变化、顺应变化，并在变化之中把握时机。

Simplicity（简易）

Although the world appears infinitely complex, its underlying principles are often remarkably simple.

The deeper our understanding becomes, the simpler these principles appear.

天地万物虽然纷繁复杂，却遵循着简明而统一的规律。

真正理解了原理之后，复杂终将归于简单。

大道至简。

Constancy（不易）

While everything changes, the principles governing change remain constant.

Within change exists permanence.

万物不断变化，但变化始终遵循着恒常的规律。

变化之中，自有不变。

Five Keys to Understanding the I Ching

理、象、数、通、变

The classical study of the I Ching may also be approached through five interconnected concepts.

学习《易经》，还可以从五个彼此联系的重要概念入手。

Li (理) — Principle

Everything follows an underlying principle.

万事万物皆有其理。

Xiang (象) — Image

Every principle manifests itself through observable forms and phenomena.

有理必有象，象以显理。

Shu (数) — Number

Every pattern possesses measurable relationships, rhythm, and order.

万物皆有其数，数体现规律。

Tong (通) — Integration

Understanding comes from connecting principle, image, and number into a coherent whole.

To understand is to perceive relationships rather than isolated facts.

融会贯通，触类旁通。

真正的理解，在于贯通理、象、数，而不是孤立地认识事物。

Bian (变) — Transformation

To recognise change, understand change, and respond wisely to change.

The I Ching is ultimately a study of transformation.

知变、应变、顺变。

学习《易经》，最终不是为了预测未来，而是为了理解变化，并学会顺应变化。

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About This Collection

关于本馆藏

This collection did not begin as a book. It gradually evolved through years of study, teaching, and continuous revision.

From 2022 to 2024, I presented a series of IAK lectures on the I Ching, classical Chinese philosophy, and the relationship between traditional wisdom and modern life. Each lecture became an opportunity to deepen the study, refine the structure, and clarify the presentation of these classical ideas.

In 2025, these years of teaching and research were further organised into the bilingual course I Ching & Life Science, providing a systematic introduction to the I Ching through the study of Hetu, Luoshu, the Eight Trigrams, the Five Elements, the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the Chinese calendar, and the Sixty-four Hexagrams.

Today, these materials are preserved in the IAK Digital Archive as part of my continuing work to study, interpret, and transmit the enduring wisdom of Chinese civilization.

本馆藏并非完成于一时，而是在持续学习、教学与整理中逐步形成。

2022年至2024年，我在 IAK 持续讲授《易经》、中国传统哲学以及经典智慧与现代生活等系列课程。在不断讲授、讨论与修订的过程中，课程内容与整体体系也逐渐完善。

2025年，这些多年积累的教学与研究成果进一步整理为《易经与生命科学》六个月中英双语课程，以河图、洛书、八卦、五行、天干地支、中国历法以及六十四卦为主线，系统介绍《易经》的整体思想体系。

今天将这些资料整理并收录于 IAK Digital Archive。它们不仅记录了多年学习、教学与研究的成果，也记录了一段持续探索、不断修订、不断完善的过程。

希望通过持续整理经典、研究经典、诠释经典，让这些跨越千年的智慧，在今天依然能够启发思考，并继续传承下去。

Course Outline

教程大纲

The complete bilingual course outline and table of contents are available in the downloadable PDF edition. IAK Members may download the full archival edition for continued study and reference.

完整的中英双语教程大纲及目录，请参阅馆藏 PDF 下载版。

IAK 会员可下载完整馆藏版本，供持续学习与参考。

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Preserve memory for the past.
Leave kindling for the future.

为过去保留记忆。
为未来留下火种。