Yijing Research · Harmen Mesker
Research, translations and lectures on the Zhouyi, Wenwang Gua and the history of Chinese divination.
Research meets practice
Harmen Mesker and Johannes Bloemsma bring classical Chinese sources and practical experience together in courses on the Yijing and Wenwang Gua.
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Research areas
Original texts, their transmission, and the different ways the Book of Changes has been studied and used.
From the archive
Articles, translations and critical examinations of the sources.
Translation Notes · 29 Jan 2015
大君有命開國承家.小人勿用. Dajun 大君: ‘great ruler’, respectful title for the king: 大君若不棄書之力… (…) 惟大君命焉. O great ruler, if you have not forgotten the zealous duty of Shu… (…) It is for you, O great ruler, to…
Read article →Translation Notes · 9 Mar 2020
素履往无咎 Su 素: in early texts almost exclusively used as a descriptive adjective: ‘unadorned, plain, not processed or modified’. This also means that what follows it is a noun, an object. We…
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Translation Notes · 17 Aug 2004
Some time ago somebody asked me for advice with a Yi Jing interpretation. The hexagram she threw was 63, with the second and fourth line moving. Especially the fourth line bothered me,…
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New work and observations from the research archive.
Video lectures
Historical divination cases explained through original Chinese sources. Follow the reasoning behind the judgments and the methods used.
Explore the video library →Original source-based cases
The latest four episodes, updated automatically from the YouTube playlist.
Latest public uploads in the Wenwang Gua playlist. Watch the complete series on YouTube ↗
About the researcher
Studying the Yijing since 1982, Harmen works with the history and language of the Zhouyi, early Chinese sources and traditional methods of divination. His research and teaching bring textual study and practical experience together.
Read the full biography and recommendations →Research and teaching
Books, lectures and courses are all part of the continuing study of the Yijing.