Yijing Research · Harmen Mesker
Exploring the Yijing through its sources.
Research, translations and lectures on the Zhouyi, Wenwang Gua and the history of Chinese divination.
Research meets practice
Yijing Research × Nourishing Destiny Academy
Harmen Mesker and Johannes Bloemsma bring classical Chinese sources and practical experience together in courses on the Yijing and Wenwang Gua.
Discover our collaboration →
Yijing Research
Harmen Mesker
Historical sources · Translation · Research
Nourishing Destiny Academy
Johannes Bloemsma
Practical application · Teaching · Guidance
Latest writing
Recent contributions
New work and observations from the research archive.
Research areas
Explore the Yijing
Original texts, their transmission, and the different ways the Book of Changes has been studied and used.
From the archive
Selected research
Articles, translations and critical examinations of the sources.
Translation Notes · 9 May 2014
Hexagram 05, line 2
需于沙. 小有言. 終吉. Sha 沙: the sandy river shore. Lu Deming’s 陸德明 Jingdian Shiwen 經典釋文 says that Zheng Xuan 鄭玄 used zhi 沚, ‘islet’. The Shanghai Museum MSS has . The 古文字通假字典 says that is a known variant of 沙 in…
Read article →Translation Notes · 5 Mar 2014
Hexagram 02, line 4
括囊. 無咎無譽. Kuo nang 括囊: a tied up large sack, probably made from leather, with a bottom (instead of a sack without a bottom, which has to be tied on both sides). ‘With…
Read article →Translation Notes · 4 Apr 2014
Hexagram 04, line 1
發蒙.利用刑人.用說桎梏.以往吝. Fa meng 發蒙 = fa meng 發矇: make a blind person recover lost eye sight. Analogy for enlightening the stupid, open one’s eyes to new point of views (使盲人眼睛復明. 喻啟發矇昧; 開拓眼界):…
Read article →Video lectures
The Fascinating World of Wenwang Gua
Historical divination cases explained through original Chinese sources. Follow the reasoning behind the judgments and the methods used.
Explore the video library →文王卦
View the series
About the researcher
Harmen Mesker
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
Beyond the articles
Books, lectures and courses are all part of the continuing study of the Yijing.
Keep in touch
Stay informed
Receive updates about new Yijing research, articles and translations, or subscribe separately to course and workshop announcements.