Yi Jing - Book of Changes and Feng Shui

There are many historical data placing - more or less accurately - the Book of Changes in time. Thousands of years old, Yi Jing is rather a collection of texts than an actual book, written and commented upon along the history of China. It contains teachings tested in time, folklore, words of the wise men, philosophy, psychology, practical advice on the art ofruling etc.

Yi Jing is one of the basic philosophical collections of the Chinese culture. Its main theme is - of course - change that, paradoxically, seems to be the only certain thing in the universe. Often considered as a divination book, Yi Jing does not actually help to clearly predict the future, neither does it offer "working plans" about the way to approach a certain situation, but rather a new way to understand the changes that constantly occur in our lives and benefit from them.

There are several ways to "ask" the Book of Changes: with coins, sticks or even by the simple opening of the book at a certain page. Beyond this simplified way of approach, Yi Jing remains one of the classical works, to the study of which one can dedicate a whole life. We can say that the 64 hexagrams and the way to interpret them - which make the body of the book - are life situations that can evolve in one way or another; Yi Jing offers us in each case wise advice for life.

The Yi Jing teachings have been adapted for Feng Shui. The eight trigrams (that we discussed about in other articles of this site) are used in two arrangements, familiar to those who studied traditional Feng Shui: Xian Tian Bagua (Arrangement of the Early Heaven) and Hou Tian Bagua (Arrangement of the Late Heaven). The eight trigrams (heaven, earth, water, fire, mountain, lake, wind, thunder) are simplified representations of the universal forces.

Studied in conjunction with Feng Shui and Chinese astrological systems (out of which the most known is the Four Pillars of Destiny), Yi Jing finally helps us create a better life for us and for those around us, helping us live in harmony with Tao - The Path.


Miruna Macavei si Costin Vasile
Team of the Feng Shui Research Center Romania - FSRC Romania

You may want to read Yi Jing articles in English on the site of the Chinese master Joseph Yu, founder of the Feng Shui Research Center Canada, that FSRC Romania is affiliated to.