Divinity Atlas
The I Ching Does Three Different Jobs for Three Different Religions
"The I Ching, or Book of Changes, is one of the oldest Chinese classics, at once a divination manual and a work of philosophy." It is formally linked to three religions in this atlas, Chinese Folk Religion, Confucianism and Taoism, and all three carry their own distinct, detailed note.
An Oracle, a Classic, and a Cosmology
"Folk practice uses the text as a working oracle generated with three coins or with yarrow stalks, consulted on marriage, business and travel." "The Ten Wings commentaries, traditionally ascribed to Confucius, made the manual a classic of the Confucian canon, read for guidance on timely and ethical action; it became one of the Five Classics and part of the imperial examination curriculum." "The Book of Changes is foundational Taoist material: yin and yang, the eight trigrams and the doctrine of continuous change are the same cosmology Taoist ritual and inner alchemy work with, and the text is read philosophically as much as cast."
Where To Read More
- I ChingDivinatory DisciplinesOne text; three religions counted, each putting it to a genuinely different use
- Chinese Folk ReligionPolytheistic (Folk)A working oracle cast with coins or yarrow stalks
- ConfucianismChinese (Ethical-Religious)An ethical classic of the canon and the imperial examination curriculum
- TaoismChinese (Philosophical-Religious)Foundational cosmology for ritual and inner alchemy