The Yi Jing, I Ching, or Book of Change or Fortune Telling, is an ancient Chinese oracle that has been consulted in times of trouble for thousands of years. It was used as a guide and source of wisdom by the emperors, helping them decide the difficult issues of statecraft; and later on by Sages and Philosophers. It was both a source and repository of philosophical insight for the Chinese, even as a part of Chinese Astrology or Zi Wei Dou Shu. Both of the major Chinese philosophical traditions, Taoist and Confucians alike, have contributed to its development. A few centuries ago, it became popular among the mass and its popularity is growing fast in many countries.
Future is always dark and unknown, and man has always been eager to know the future beforehand. Chinese Astrology and Fortune Telling is a great and unique way of knowing and predicting future. This book fulfills the need and demand. It will make simple: both the subject and knowledge of the future, that look complex and uncommon.
About the Author(s)
U.C. Mahajan was born at Sujanpur Tira (H.P.) in 1930. He retired as Principal, Government College, Hamirpur (H.P.) in 1988. His interest in astrology began when he came across old Urdu editions of Lal Kitab. Since then, he has mastered the finest nuances of these books and other ancient texts. His two books on Astrology, Lal Kitab and Horoscope Reading Made Easy published by Pustak Mahal have been widely acclaimed.
This, his third book, written in a lucid and easy-to-understand style, is a comprehensive text on astrology as well as being practically an astrological ready reckoner. No student or practitioner of astrology can afford to be without this unique and indispensable book.
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[Part-I]
Chinese Astrology : Zi Wei Dou Shu
1. Correlation Between Various Streams of Astrology
2. Animals in the Chinese Zodiac and their Attributes
3. Chinese Zodiac Signs and their Timings as Practised in Ancient Japan
4. Four Benevolent Animals in Chinese Astrology
5. Chinese Magical Squares and Occult Numbers
6. The Chinese Calendar
[Part-II]
Chinese Book of Fortune Telling : I Ching
1. Introduction
2. The System of Fortune Telling
3. The oracles
4. Interpreting Oracle-Yellow Sticks
5. Interpreting Oracle-Three Loins
6. Significance of Number `9`
7. Sixty-Four Hexagrams
Points to Remember
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Sample Chapters
(Following is an extract of the content from the book) | Hide  |
The System of Fortune Telling
For a man who has no knowledge of Chinese language, I Ching may not held any meaning, but it is the most fascinating of all the Lunar knowledge systems. Its study will do a person lot of good.
Now let me explain the importance of “I-Ching†as a great system of divination or fortune telling. This immortal book was written by King Wen, founder of the Chou dynasty about 4000 years ago. This book, in fact started as a series of oracles. In the beginning there were 64 such oracles or hexagrams. They were later on expanded with connotations or individual lines.
Yin and Yang
The system, as enunciated by I-Ching, is based upon the two opposing principles of Yin and Yang. They are positive and negative, or light and darkness, or female and male, active or passive principles. It may be remembered that these two principles, i.e. ‘Yin’ and ‘Yang’ are not opposed to each other but are complementary and they strengthen each other. The ancient Chinese, like the ancient Hindus, believed that inter-play between these two principles is the chief cause of all events and activities in this universe.
Shiva and Shakti
In our own Tantra system, we have Shakti (the female deity) and Shiva (the male deity); one is incomplete without the other. When they unite, the whole universe flourishes and all flora and fauna propagate. Interaction between the two is the greatest desideratum for the propagation of human race. Let me also refer to Hindu notion of Purusha (person) and Prakriti (nature). Purusha is inert matter and Prakriti is the vital force that energises it into life. Let me here refer to Adi Shankaracharya’s sacred rhyme to Ardhnarshiwar, i.e. the complete and inseparable union of Shiva & Shakti into one entity: - Whose feminine side smells of blooming Champaka and whose masculine side smells of camphor. The union of the male and female principles is a symbol of eternal communion and awareness of oneness through duality. ‘Devibhagvata’ says, “That Male (Purusha) and Myself are the same. There is no difference between Him and Me. The Purusha is what I am; I am what the Purusha is…. The one without a second, Perennial Brahman, becomes dual at the time of creation. As a single lamp becomes dual by difference of Upadhi (condition); as a single face become dual in the form of an image in a mirror as single body appears in a dual form with its shadow even. So our images are many… for the purpose of creation, the difference arises at the time of creation. At the time of final dissolution I am neither male nor female but neuterâ€. I have purposely referred to the Tantra philosophy of Hinduism. Just as in our sacred philosophical systems male and female may outwardly signify opposing symbols, but actually they are one inseparable entity; so is the case with Chinese male and female symbols of Yang and Yin. Thus many aspects of Hindu Tantra have Chinese affinities. Even Tibetan symbol of philosophy formed by PadmaSambhava, is based on Hindu Tantra system. The chief deity in Hinduism is the female principle, called Shakti. Her very name signifies Power and she represents the primal energy of the cosmos. Her consort is Shiva, and both together constitute the cosmos. Of the two she is more dynamic and dominating, as she alone fills the Universe with her vital fluid. A Tantric saying is: “Shiva without Shakti is a corpse. United with Shakti, Shiva is endowed with the power to create the universe; not otherwise.â€
Shiva and Shakti of Hindu mythology can be equated with Yang and Yin of Chinese male and female principles. I shall be doing great injustice, if I don’t refer to Taoism and Confucianism, the two most important schools of Chinese thought. The whole premise of these two philosophical concepts is based on the I-Ching as it had tremendous influence upon them.
Taoism
It is the doctrine based on the writings of a Chinese philosopher Laotse (500 BC). The followers of Taoism believe that life can be prolonged by achieving the state of bliss what they call “Hseinâ€. In order to attain that blessed state, one has to follow a harmonious combination of dietary, gymnastic, respiratory and sexual techniques. It is believed that earth breathes in deeply during the day time; so a man must inhale deeply during the day. Sexual intercourse may be restrained, for it drains out the vital physical energy but it is not forbidden completely.
Confucianism
While discussing Confucianism, a reference to the teachings of Mencius (372-289 B C) is of utmost importance, Confucius also believed in the doctrine expounded by Mencius: “Those who follow the part of themselves that is great will become great men and those who follow the part of themselves that is small shall become small oneâ€. Both shared concern for filial piety and established rites. Both were of the opinion that “once the ruler is rectified the whole kingdom will be at peace. Confucius, who was introduced to this immortal book quite late in life often, regretted that he did not have more years to study the book thoroughly.
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