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 Notes · 22 Apr 2016
比之无首。凶。 Shou 首: head; chief, leader; main points, essentials; the first, the highest. Also ‘towards (direction)’ and loan for dao 道, ‘road, path’ (漢語大詞典). Without a leader or direction, without the essentials…
Read article →Translation Notes · 10 Jul 2020
In this video we are going to look at the phrase she da chuan 涉大川, ‘cross the great river’ and the early usage of the keywords from this phrase.
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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…
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Historical divination cases explained through original Chinese sources. Follow the reasoning behind the judgments and the methods used.
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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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