I-ching - Philosophy and Practice

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I-ching as Oracle

In the ancient China, I-ching was used as an oracle or means of predicting future events. Therefore it was called the Chou-I, that is, the Changes of Chou (the dynast). Today we know of this book as the Book of Changes.

Starting with the Confucian era, I-ching gained still another function, namely of book of wisdom, mainly related to the Confucian moral doctrine which has been applied to the interpretation of the ancient Chou-I.

I-ching as oracle uses 64 hexagrams as landmarks of orientation regarding the future evolution of the present events.

Each hexagram describes a typical situation and is accompanied with oracular indications of the kind: "good fortune", "misfortune", "remorse", "humiliation", and so forth.

Several typical situations may be found here along with their specific indications, that is, the advice to be followed in the given circumstances.

Today the I-ching oracle is spread worldwide but it is mainly approached with the means of Confucian ethical philosophy. This is why most of the professionals who teach or offer advice on the basis of the oracle are missing the skills and knowledge to work with it following the old fashion.

The result is that the oracular answers are not fully understood and the oracular feature of the I-ching is completely ignored.

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- An example of I-ching used as oracle in the ancient China may be found here.

- Also you may consult yourself the oracle with the help of our online device by clicking here.

• Read also:
  > Introduction to I-ching by R. Wilhelm
  
  > Introduction to I-ching by Carl Jung
  
  > I-ching Presentation

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