Author(s): Thomas Cleary

History

The I Ching, "The Book of Change," is the most ancient and perhaps the best known of the great Chinese classics. It is very often considered to be a fortune-telling device - and it has indeed been used that way for millennia - but it is much more. It is guidebook to the interaction of yin and yang, the twin forces that make up the universe, and it is a source of profound wisdom on many levels, from the practical to the theoretical. It is considered a source of fundamental principles by philosophers, politicians, mystics, business people, sorcerers, scientists, and mathematicians. The simple method of "throwing the I Ching," using three coins, is a tool for skillfully revealing the qualities of the present moment - the patterns of energy and relationship, the great and subtle underlying themes, the hidden and apparent imperatives for action. This translation, with commentary by Confucius, emphasizes applying practical wisdom in everyday affairs. Complete instructions for consulting the I Ching are included.