Wu Wei - A Tale of the I Ching: How the Book of Changes Began

I humbly apologize to the great master, Fu Hsi, to whom belongs all credit for the conception and formation of the I Ching, for presuming to be able to write the tale of the beginning of the I Ching. That I have done so is only because of my love of the great book and that I hope in my small way to share the great gift of divine guidance with the people of the world. Please accept my minor labors in that spirit.

Your servant,

I humbly apologize to you for my presumption that I know something that you do not and for my egotistical assumption that I know anything at all. All information comes from one source, the Universe, and since we are all part of it, its information belongs to us all and is available to each of us. On the small chance that I have spent more time seeking out information about the I Ching and ways to use it than you have, and therefore may have received information which you may not have yet received, and because I want you to have as much information as possible about the I Ching, I risk this great presumption. Please overlook and forgive my immodesty. That I undertake this work at all is only because of my love for the great wisdom and my sincere desire to impart it to you.

Your humble and insignificant servant,

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I t had been a wonderful harvest, as bountiful as any farmer could desire. Five years in a row had Heaven smiled upon them and blessed their labors, and now, in this sixth year, the harvest was greater than ever before. What cause for rejoicing there was, what happiness could be seen upon every face. All concerns had been flung to the winds, and there was dancing in the streets.

Yet among the villagers there was one who was concerned. Tanthe dreamer; the young man who was forever shirking his chores and who could usually be found in the forests or the fields, wandering aimlessly, his thoughts far away from his assigned taskshe was concerned. And why shouldnt I be concerned? he said to himself? Did not our great sage, Fu Hsi, tell us that after all fullness comes emptiness? That after all increase comes decrease? And worse, the greater the increase, the greater the decrease? Did not Fu Hsi tell us that it is only possible to fall from a great height after one has ascended to that height? And Tan was filled with foreboding.

At the gathering of the elders one particular evening, he appeared and asked to speak. Surprise showed on the faces of the elders. It was most unusual for anyone to appear uninvited at these important gatherings, and never a youth. Be off with you, one said, and added a little pompously, We have no time for foolishness; we are deciding important matters, such as how much grain to send to the capital for trade and how much to keep.

But that is what I want to talk to you about, exclaimed Tan. I am filled with unease over this sixth great harvest. The leader could not repress a laugh. The other elders put up their hands to hide their smiles. Tan, the dreamer, the least dependable young man in the village, filled with unease? Who could be concerned that Tan was filled with unease? Especially after such a great harvest.

But Tan gathered his courage and continued. Did not Fu Hsi tell us that nothing goes straight up forever? Do we not see that every road has its turning, and every plain, its slope? According to the law of cyclic reversion, we should now be preparing for a severe winter, followed by an oppressive summer drought. We should therefore not trade any of our harvest but store it all away.

As Tan spoke, the smiles disappeared, and the elders looked at one another apprehensively, as if they had just been reminded of an important piece of information. The elders were good men and wise, and although they had only disdain for Tan, they looked at each other and nodded, and the leader spoke. Thank you for your timely warning, young man. We will consider what you have said. You may go now.

The elders conferred, but could not agree whether the five great harvests in a row, capped by this prodigious sixth harvest, meant that the coming winter would be severe; possibly even as severe as the winter their grandfathers had told them of, the winter that had nearly destroyed everyone in the village.