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.
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Yijing Research
Harmen Mesker
Historical sources · Translation · Research
Nourishing Destiny Academy
Johannes Bloemsma
Practical application · Teaching · Guidance
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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 · 22 Nov 2014
Hexagram 07, Judgment
貞丈人吉. 無咎. Zhangren 丈人: in early times a respectful form of address for elder people (古時對老人的尊稱). There is difference between the pattern X貞吉 (like in the Judgment of hexagram 2) and 貞X吉 (as…
Read article →Translation Notes · 29 Nov 2015
Hexagram 08, line 3
比之匪人. Bi 比: see line 1. Fei 匪: ‘without’: 后非眾，罔與守邦… If the sovereign had not the multitude, there would be none to guard the country (for him)… Shujing 書經 (tr. Legge) 析薪如之何、匪斧不克。 取妻如之何、匪媒不得。…
Read article →Translation Notes · 23 Nov 2015
Hexagram 08, line 2
比之自內。貞吉。 Bi 比: see line 1. Zi 自: (starting) from: 自天子達於庶人…. From the emperor to the common people… (Mengzi 孟子, Lun Heng etc.) Nei 內: its regular meaning is ‘inside, interior’, but in…
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The Fascinating World of Wenwang Gua
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
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
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