The I Ching, Legge tr.: The Yî King Text: Section I...

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This is a classical Chinese divination text from the I Ching (Book of Changes), specifically Hexagram 27 (Î/Yi), accompanied by traditional commentary. The hexagram is named "Nourishing" and visually represents an open mouth, with its six lines interpreted as guidance on how one nourishes oneself and others—physically, mentally, and morally. The central argument is that nourishment (of body, mind, self, or others) must be correct and harmonious with what is right; the manner and object of nourishing determine whether the outcome is auspicious or inauspicious. Each of the six lines describes a different character or situation: some seek nourishment from improper sources or in improper directions (yielding bad fortune), while others nourish with proper intent, firm reliance on strength, or a sense of responsibility toward all under heaven (yielding good fortune). A distinctive feature is the commentary's structural analysis of the hexagram's geometry—explaining how the two solid outer lines represent the jaws and the four open inner lines represent the mouth's cavity—grounding the symbolic meaning in the physical image. The text is particularly relevant to anyone interested in the I Ching's interpretive tradition, Confucian ethics of self-cultivation, or the mechanics of classical Chinese cosmological commentary.

The I Ching, Legge tr.: The Yî King Text: Section I...

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