The Laws of Change: I Ching and the Philosophy of Life

Balkin, a Yale law professor, offers an engaging translation and interpretation of this Chinese classic. Based on a system of 64 hexagrams and their associated oracular statements, the I Ching began as a Bronze Age divination manual for rulers seeking advice on upcoming battles, marriage plans and human sacrifices, among other things. While it continues to be a popular medium for fortune-telling, centuries of scholarly commentary have made it a centerpiece of Confucian and Taoist philosophy. In addition to the text of the I Ching, Balkin provides a fascinating history of the work along with a lucid introduction to Chinese philosophy. But he is most interested in the I Ching as a system of practical wisdom applicable to everyday problems. By ""enticing us to make sense of"" its ""vague and cryptic"" language, he argues, it ""induces us to abandon logical and linear thinking"" and stimulates intuition and inspiration. Balkin includes detailed commentaries that help make sense of the book's pronouncements, which are sometimes self-evident (""Perseverance brings good fortune"") but more often based on oblique metaphors (""Cart and axle separate / Husband and wife roll their eyes at each other"" warns of ""accidents"" leading to ""loss of dignity,"" while ""He bites through the tender meat,/ So that his nose disappears / No blame"" means that clearly beneficial reforms should be pursued energetically). Regardless of its prognosticatory powers, the I Ching's evocative imagery makes it a great work of literature, now more accessible than ever thanks to Balkin.