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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Latest writing
New work and observations from the research archive.
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 history · 11 Apr 2018
“The task of translating and explaining the works of Pagan Philosophers is by no means easy of accomplishment.” This is how Thomas mcClatchie (1814-1885) starts the Preface to his Yijing translation, A Translation…
Read article →Translation Notes · 3 Aug 2014
不克訟.歸而逋其邑人. 三百戶.無眚. Buke 不克: unable to win (the fight or battle – 不能戰勝) Song 訟: dispute, lawsuit, accusation Gui 歸: return, go back. Also loan for kui 愧, ‘ashamed’ Bu 逋: flee, run away Yiren 邑人: the people from…
Read article →Translation Notes · 10 Feb 2015
吉.原筮.元永貞.無咎.不寧方來.後夫凶. Yuan 原: many old commentaries say that yuan should be read as zai 再, ‘again’. But this meaning of yuan is quite rare. The Shanghai Museum Manuscript has 备 (not to be…
Read article →Video lectures
Historical divination cases explained through original Chinese sources. Follow the reasoning behind the judgments and the methods used.
Explore the video library →Automatically updated from the YouTube playlist.
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.
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