If you only read one book about China this year, I strongly recommend that it should be “China’s Change: The Greatest Show on Earth”.
Tag Archives: I Ching
Summer Solstice
Today is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year and a critical turning point that marks the peak of Yang in the world and the return of Yin which will lead us into the shorter, darker, and more miserable days of winter.
I Ching Diary: greatness and radiance
We have an extended five-day break here in Taiwan to mark the Tomb-Sweeping Festival. A wonderful time indeed, particularly given the glorious spring-time weather.
I Ching Diary: endurance
My I Ching reading this morning was highly apposite given that I had a dental appointment scheduled for this afternoon. Hexagram 32 (恆/héng), consisting of thunder over wind, signifies endurance and resilience – two qualities that are definitely required for having a root canal taken care of.
I Ching Diary: familiar friends
A couple of familiar friends in my I Ching reading this morning. In fact, the reading was almost a reverse image of the one I carried out just over a week ago on March 25.
I Ching Diary: spiritual and physical nourishment
I can’t believe that the first quarter of 2018 is already over. Perhaps it’s true that the older you get, the faster the time flies by you.
Continue reading I Ching Diary: spiritual and physical nourishment
I Ching Diary: a messy business
Starting a new venture is a messy business. No matter how carefully you lay your plans, problems are sure to appear in the most unexpected of places. This is the warning given by Hexagram 3 (屯/zhūn), signifying a difficult birth of a baby from her mother or sprouting of a plant from below the ground.
I Ching Diary: a middle path
Water over lake: I’ve been here before with Hexagram 60 (節/jié). Signifying a notch on a bamboo pole for measuring water levels on a stream or river, it calls for regulation, moderation, or limitation of your behavior. In other words, stick to a middle path rather than go to extremes.
I Ching Diary: a turning point
Earth over quake: Hexagram 24 (復/fù) marks a turning point. The cold and darkness of winter is nearly over. The solstice is here. You can begin to prepare for the approaching spring. Best not to push too hard, though. Make sure that you get plenty of rest so that you have plenty of strength for the hard labor of planting that lies ahead.
Line 6, the changing line, warns that you’re still not on the right track with your preparations. Take time to reflect once again so that you can get back in sync with the rhythm of the seasons. Any attempt you make to force the pace of things will inevitably fail.
Mountain over quake: Hexagram 27 (頤/yí) looks like the four corners of a mouth with its four broken lines capped by two firm lines at the bottom and top. Make sure that you’re getting the right nourishment of both the physical and spiritual kinds to build up your strength.
Eat healthy foods in moderation. Don’t eat or drink to excess. Clear the crap out of your mind through deep self-reflection, and remain calm in your thoughts, speech, and actions. When the right time comes, you’ll be ready to make your move.
I Ching Diary: pulling apart
One of the very few downsides of living in Taiwan is the frequency of the earthquakes that hit the island. When one comes, you can do little more than try to stay calm and wait for the tremors to halt while silently hoping that your number hasn’t come up.