The Alternative I Ching [Paperback]

Derek Walters (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Aquarian Pr; First Edition edition (September 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0850306590
• ISBN-13: 978-0850306590
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,073,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wiggly oracles!, November 17, 2004

By 

Hakuyu "Ikeda" (Kyoto, Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Alternative I Ching (Paperback)

This translation of the Tai Hsuan Ching will interest anyone curious about Chinese oracular sources. Regrettably, however, Derek Walters succumbed to the temptation to try and 'up-stage' the Yi-Ching - with it. He alleges that the Yi-Ching is based on a rigid dualism, with no place for the creative role of human agency,and thus presents the symbolism of the Tai Hsuan Ching - as a superior system, alleging that it alone, accords human agency its proper role in the cosmic process.�@However, this argument is seriously flawed. Anyone familiar with the Yi-Ching, would know that it is the 'san-tsai' (three primal powers) - heaven, earth and man' - which underpin its system, NOT a mere dualism. This is evident in the 'TRIGRAM' structures of the Yi-Ching, which presuppose that human agency is inter- woven with the cosmic process. The 'Tso Chuan' section of the Yi-Ching states "Heaven, earth and man" - that is what comprises the Tao.

The principles embodied in Yi-Ching have influenced almost everything in Chinese culture. Its sexagenary cycles are reflected in the Chinese calendar, its principles are reflected in Chinese astrology, medicine, Taoist yogic arts,the martial arts,military strategy etc. By contrast, the role of the Tai Hsuan Ching has been marginal, barely shaping Chinese culture at all. For all that, the Tai Hsuan Ching is fascinating in its own way - and, it will surely be of interest to those otherwise engaged with the Yi-Ching. However, Derek Walters 'competitive' stance is likely to prove nugatory, putting people off.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Watch out for errors!, October 29, 2008

By 

D. Goodyear (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Alternative I Ching (Paperback)

This was the first book in English to discuss the Tai Xuan Jing and its 81 tetragrams. So it deserves credit for that.

However, there is a careless error in the chart of tetragrams which I have seen perpetuated by other Internet writers using this book uncritically and reproducing the faulty chart from the book.

The chart in the book shows the unbroken line for "Heaven," the once-broken line for "Man," and the twice-broken line for "Earth."

That is wrong. The correct sequence is Heaven, Earth, and Man. It is "Man" that has the twice-broken line. "Man" is third, after "Heaven" and "Earth", since "Man" is the offspring.

The Chinese text, and the later, scholarly translation of the Tai Xuan Ching (by Michael Nylan), has the correct correlations.

This is important in studying the tetragrams correctly. Otherwise you can write an entire essay and be off-the-mark with your conclusions. So, just to review, Derek Walters (or the publisher) made an error in his chart, and the correct way is:

solid line for "Heaven"
once-broken line for "Earth"
twice-broken line for "Man"