The Buddhist I Ching [Paperback]

Chih-hsu Ou-i (Author), Thomas Cleary (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 2001

For centuries the I Ching has been used as a basic map of conscious development, containing the underlying principles of all religions, and highly prized by followers of Buddhism. Chih-hsu Ou-i uses the concepts of Tianti Buddhism to elucidate the I Ching —concentration and insight, calmness and wisdom, and various levels of realization. Skillfully translated by Thomas Cleary, this work presents the complete text of the I Ching plus the only Buddhist interpretation of the oracle.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Chinese (translation)

About the Author

Chih-hsu Ou-i (1599–1655) wrote commentaries on dozens of Buddhist texts and Chinese classics and was proficient in both esoteric and exoteric studies. His work influenced the development of modern Buddhism in China.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; First Edition edition (July 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877734089
• ISBN-13: 978-0877734086
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.8 x 6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #354,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Bible & Other Sacred Texts > I Ching

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buddhist Wisdom for a Changing World, August 10, 2000

By 

Michael P. McGarry (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Buddhist I Ching (Shambhala Dragon Editions) (Paperback)

The *I Ching* is the world's oldest divination text. Based on the ancient Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang, it provides timeless wisdom about how to negotiate the changing nature of events. In seventeenth century China, the Buddhist commentator Chih-hsu Ou-i (1599-1655) wrote a Buddhist version of the *I Ching*; this book is a translation of Chih-hsu's version of the *I Ching*. This version resonates with several streams of thought in China: on the whole, it is deeply ethical in its outlook; at times, it sounds a bit Taoist, and in other places, there are echoes of Zen. Overall, there is a tremendous amount of wisdom in this book, for Chih-shu was well-versed in the esoteric traditions of China. The entire text is a compassionate attempt to guide souls, through the ups and downs of a changing world, to the ultimate goal of enlightenment. The book may be consulted for divination as an ordinary translation of the *I Ching* would be, or it can be read from cover to cover.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like wind in the mountains., July 21, 2001

By 

G. Merritt (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Buddhist I Ching (Paperback)

This book is an insightful reading of the I CHING ("Book of Change") by Buddhist Chih-hsu Ou-i (1599-1655). "Arousing the people is like wind, nurturing virtue is like mountains" (p. 88), he writes, and Thomas Cleary's new translation of this classic is just like that, "wind in the mountains." In his Introduction to the book, Cleary comments that Ou-i intended to "elucidate issues in social, psychological, and spiritual development" (p. vii) through the I CHING, as well as to lead to a better understanding of the interplay between society and spiritual practice.

I don't profess to understand the I CHING, and I'm not qualified to comment on Cleary's abilities as a translator. While the text of his translation is easy to read, the concepts are often quite challenging. Like Cleary's previous translation, however, THE TAOIST I CHING (1986), this new reading is quite useful in finding meaning in the I CHING. It sets forth "the path of developed people" to "cultivate their inner qualities" seriously, and "to regard the faults of others as their own" (pp. 96; 154). It also offers us wisdom for navigating that path's unexpected twists and turns with "centeredness, balance, and correctness" (p. xiv). I recommend this book for anyone interested in travelling that path with "adorned feet."

G. Merritt

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Translation of a Classic, March 31, 2008

By 

C. J. Guleff (Denver CO USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

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

I originally purchased this translation to see what a Buddhist treatment of the I Ching would look like. I already had a number of other translations, including some of the "standards" or "classics." This has since become one of my most-used I Ching editions. I use it to understand the basic text of each hexagram (Judgement, Image, Lines, etc.) before I read other commentaries. This edition is useful even for readers who are not particularly interested in the Buddhist commentary.