Superior edition!January 8, 2007 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Few translations match this one, other than Max Mullers. Worth the time to read.
+++ The Classic Book of Changes +++February 26, 2006 11 out of 11 found this review helpful
In this reader's experience, the Bollingen Wilhelm/Baynes Book of Changes remains the deepest rendition of the I Ching. My understanding is that the Wilhelms were of the Mystical Christian Tradition, as well as early Jungian Psychology followers. When dealing with the Spiritual Archetypes and supporting cosmology of the Book of Changes, it would seem that such a background can only be helpful. Read further into their line of I Ching commentary books to perhaps see this independantly. The Wilhelms were scholars in Old and New Chinese language and script as well. MOST importantly they had a direct, deep and long immersion into the living Old Chinese Tradition, via being in pre World War Two China, with its traditional scholars. In direct support of the above assertions the first paragraph from the preface is quoted in full below.
(...) "After the Chinese revolution, when Tsingtao became the residence of a number of scholars of the old school, I met among them my honored teacher Lao Nai-hsuean. I am indebted to him not only for a deeper understanding of the Great Learning, the Doctrine of the Mean, and the Book of Mencius, but also because he first opened my mind to the wonders of the Book of Change. Under his experienced guidance I wandered entranced through this strange and yet familiar world. The transilation of the text was made after detailed discussion. Then the German version was retransilated into Chinese and it was only after the meaning of the text had been fully brought out that we considered our version to be truly a transilation."
ExcellentFebruary 23, 2006 7 out of 7 found this review helpful
You can add very little in terms of praise to the existing reviews of such classic and monumental work, because it has all been said already. A few qualifying words come to mind though, such as: serious translation, rigorous methodology and brilliant choice of words within the tight parameters of faithful rendition. Obscure, well, yes. What evoques in your mind would be definitely open to interpretation, but that has nothing to do with the translator and its probably the way is meant to be...
Remains the definitive work on the ancient Book of WisdomJune 12, 2005 11 out of 12 found this review helpful
The 'I Ching' or 'Book of Changes' is a priceless pearl. The Richard Wilhelm/Baynes edition remains the definitive work. My original copy is worn, covered with notes and underlinings. It's a good idea to buy two copies! One to leave untarnished; the other for ones personal notebook. This is the recipe book for life itself. For me, it is not a book of divination, but a work of mathematical and philosophical beauty. And Wisdom that is as old as the Pyramids, and as enduring. There is simply no other book like it.
Unending Wisdom at Your Disposition.September 8, 2004 37 out of 41 found this review helpful
I was set into the path of The I Ching in an unusual way: by reading a sci-fi classic "The Man in the High Castle". The I Ching is used all along that interesting book and my curiosity was aroused. I've started reading the first translation I was able to catch. Then I bought William Legge's translation. Finally I discovered Wilhem's translation and I was amazed. So many deep commentaries & explanations! It was and is a delightful experience The fact that Wilhem was a Christian missionary do not diminish the insightful lessons, it make them more understandable for Westerners that as myself have a Christian background.
This is not a book to read lightly, is full of ancient wisdom and each hexagram is discussed lengthily. When used for divination many meaningful paths are at your disposition. You must be patient and read each answer more than once. The Book of Changes will never fail you. May be sometimes it will let you baffled. May be other times the answers are not the ones you were expecting. But if you put your questions in writing and date them as I did, you'll see how accurate the answers were, and even if at the moment you are not able to understand them, after a time they will be clear for you. An extra feature is Carl G. Jung's foreword, it gives the reader a very short & compact introduction to the significance of this book and also how you can use it.
Afterwards I have collected some other versions and translation of this amazing book, but Wilhem's remains unsurpassed. Reviewed by Max Yofre.
