History of Philosophy: India, Africana, China
HPC 02. The Only Constant: Change and the "Yi Jing"
Mar 24, 2024
Explore the world of divination in ancient China with the Book of Changes, Sage Kings in Confucian philosophy, concept of Wu Wei in Taoist philosophy, and contrasting approaches to responsiveness to change in Chinese philosophy.
26:29
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Quick takeaways
- The practice of divination in ancient China using the Yi Jing reflected a desire to predict future events accurately.
- Confucian, Legalist, and Taoist philosophies in ancient China offered diverse approaches to leadership and adaptation in response to change.
Deep dives
The Practice of Divination in Ancient China
Divination, a practice to forecast future events, was widespread in ancient China dating back to the 9th century BCE. The Book of Changes, or the I Ching, compiled nearly 3000 years ago, holds a central place in divination. Divination involved interpreting hexagram symbols made up of lines representing yin and yang and using milfoil or yarrow stocks to determine appropriate hexagrams related to an inquirer's question. Early Chinese engaged in divination to resolve doubt, confirm intentions, and commune with spirits.
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