Richard Bertschinger - YiJing, Shamanic Oracle of China: A New Book of Change

The great strength of Richard Bertschingers rendition of the Yijing is that it is both a personal interpretation and one that is based on scholarship of the Chinese language. For millions of Chinese who have read the Yijing over the millennia, understanding its ideas has been part of a lived experience, a personal journey. This edition also encourages the reader to place themselves at the centre of understanding; to understand it from the inside, not as an external observer.

Ian Appleyard, course director of degree programmes at the London Confucius Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine

Reading through this translation of the Yijing by my old friend Richard Bertschinger, I was struck by his deep respect for the wisdom and living spirit of this ancient text, always allowing the oracle to speak for itself. Our practice is to become still enough to hear its voice.

Shi Jing, 31st generation Dragon Gate priest and Chairman of the British Taoist Association

Richard Bertschingers new translation of The Book of Change is poetical and perceptive, revealing aspects of this enigmatic work that may easily pass unnoticed. Whether the reader is interested in the cosmology of the Change, or wants to experiment with it as a divination manual, they will find inspiration in this translation.

Fabrizio Pregadio, Taoist scholar and translator, and researcher at the University of Erlangen, Germany

An essential book for anyone interested in humanitys relationship with heaven and earth. Richards scholarship opens a door to the rich imagery of the Yijing, illuminating its relevance for our time. Its insights guide us in adapting to change, whilst orienting ourselves with the awareness of that which is beyond change.

Alan Hext, acupuncturist, zero balancer and co-author of Jing Shen

As a scholar and practitioner, Richard Bertschinger has devoted much time and interest to researching ancient Chinese philosophy. This new translation and commentary on the Yijing is an exceptionally fine piece of work, creating an easy-to-understand interpretation of the shamanic oracle of China for modern times.

Dr Jidong Wu, PhD, senior lecturer in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Middlesex University

Shaman Fu Xi, originator of the trigrams. Watercolour by Ma Lin (13th century)

by the same author

The Secret of Everlasting Life

The First Translation of the Ancient Chinese Text on Immortality

Richard Bertschinger

ISBN 978 1 84819 048 1

of related interest

Seeking the Spirit of The Book of Change

8 Days to Mastering a Shamanic Yijing (I Ching) Prediction System

Master Zhongxian Wu

Foreword by Daniel Reid

ISBN 978 1 84819 020 7

The 12 Chinese Animals

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Master Zhongxian Wu

ISBN 978 1 84819 031 3

Yijing, Shamanic Oracle of China

A New Book of Change

Translated with commentary by

Richard Bertschinger

LONDON AND PHILADELPHIA

Yijing, Shamanic Oracle of China

Photo of Chinese coins on p.15 is reproduced by license from Shutterstock.

Photo of yarrow sticks on p.18 is reproduced by permission of Renee Hella www.helladelicious.com.

Photo of the creative and receptive forces on p.29 is reproduced by license from Shutterstock.

Photo of song porcelain bowl on p.36 is reproduced by permission of Ben Janssens Oriental Art.

First published in 2012

by Singing Dragon

an imprint of Jessica Kingsley Publishers

73 Collier Street

London N1 9BE, UK

and

400 Market Street, Suite 400

Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA

www.singingdragon.com

Copyright Richard Bertschinger 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 610 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Applications for the copyright owners written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher.

Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Yi jing. English

Yijing, shamanic oracle of China : a new Book of change / translated with commentary by Richard Bertschinger.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-1-84819-083-2 (alk. paper)

I. Bertschinger, Richard. II. Title.

PL2478.D27 2012

299'.51282--dc23

2011033067

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978 1 84819 083 2

eISBN 978 0 85701 066 7

The wind to scatter them,
The rain to moisten them,
The sun to warm them.
The mountains to halt them,
The wetlands to pleasure them,
The skies to rule over them,
The earth to preserve them.

(From the Shuogua)