Original I Ching Oracle [Paperback]

Rudolf Ritsema (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 19, 2005

This edition of the ancient chinese oracle, "I Ching', was inspired by Jung's insights into the psyche and is the work of more than 60 years of research. It present the oracualr core of the 'I ching' as a psychological tool- the symbols interact wity our minds as dream images do. This new translation gives each Chinese ideogram the corresponding English word ('core word') which becomes a key to identify the ideogram. Each 'core word' is placed in the context of a 'field of meaning' and the reader chooses the images that most closely resonate with his or her situation and the question that is brought to the oracle. For the first time, Western readers can consult the 'I Ching' in its original purity, without the translator's personal interpretations and accumulated layers of philosophical commentary.

Product Details

• Paperback: 832 pages
• Publisher: Watkins Publishing (May 19, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1842931490
• ISBN-13: 978-1842931493
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 2.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,247,344 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chinese Whispers? NOT!, June 12, 2006

By 

Rose Glavas (Kilmore, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Original I Ching Oracle (Paperback)

The notion of this being the `original' I Ching, carefully translated by obvious experts in this field appeals to me immensely, since I like the concept of being able to go directly to the source of information rather than through many different layers of interpretation by a variety of people and in the end being distorted (a bit like `Chinese Whispers'!).

`The Original I Ching Oracle' was inspired by Carl Gustav Jung's insights into the psyche and has been researched for more than 60 years through the Eranos Foundation of Switzerland. This stunning new work presents the oracular core of the `I Ching' as a psychological tool. The Eranos Foundation began in 1933 in Switzerland and is an East/West research centre.

The book itself is as comprehensive as I thought it would be and actually covered a lot more about the I Ching than I thought it would. For example, I found out how to use coins to use this oracle which is handy in that most cultures have access to coins. The book also covers the use of the traditional yarrow-stalk method of using the I Ching oracle.

Part One includes an introduction to the oracle, consultation procedure and language used in the oracle, as well as myth and history and correlative thinking. An extensive note listing and index to Part One is included. It is important to read about the proper consultation procedure if you want to get full benefit from using this ancient oracle.

Part Two gives a listing of each of the 64 hexagrams followed by extensive exploration of each of them. I like the way the original text is in red with additional interpretative material printed in black, leaving you to explore the symbolic meaning for yourself, if you choose to.

Part Three, Concordance, lists all the occurrences of each term appearing in the texts of the Yi Jing (I Ching). What a mammoth task! I certainly don't envy the authors this mammoth task, particularly since they have done a spectacular job in putting it all together in a coherent way. When you stop to think about the complexity of the information found in these texts, you will know what I mean.

In summary, I would highly recommend `The Original I Ching Oracle' for the reader who has an interest in the occult, synchronicity, eastern mysticism or the person looking for THE book on the I Ching. It is comprehensive, educational and practical, allowing the everyday person the opportunity to consult an oracle that was originally brought to the West through Jesuit missionaries in the 16th and 17th centuries. In the overall scheme of things, a few hundred years isn't a long time to wait for a book of this quality!