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 · 21 Apr 2014
Hexagram 04, line 4, 5 & 6
Line 4 困蒙.吝. Kun 困: hindered, blocked (阻礙) 吝: difficulties; difficult progress (see hexagram 3, line 3) Blocked ignorance. Difficulties. Line 5 童蒙.吉. About tong meng 童蒙: see Judgment Repeated ignorance. Auspicious. Line 6 擊蒙.不利為寇.利禦寇. Ji 擊:…
Read article →Translation Notes · 7 Apr 2014
Hexagram 04, line 2
包蒙吉.納婦吉.子克家. Bao meng 包蒙: Several old books, like Lu Deming’s 陸德明 Jingdian Shiwen 經典釋文, claim that older texts used biao 彪 instead of bao. 唐石經作”苞”. 京房、鄭玄、陸績、一行作”彪”. The Tang Stone Classics use bao 苞. Jing…
Read article →Translation Notes · 10 Feb 2015
Hexagram 08, Judgment
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
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.