The Chinese Classics

I was as usual bored and lamenting on the lack of good stuff to read and to think about. Most of the old stories used a set of heuristics to spin a pretty kick-ass classic story (amnesiacs, innocent green youth abducted/inducted into a life of mystery and magic etc), I noticed that trend in computer games as well, as the old was given new life and interpretation.

And so here I was reading through english translations of sinologist James Legge. And I would like to share this translated quote of a treatise known as Appendix I dated about a few hundred BC. The classic in question is the I-Ching or the Book of Changes and here was a quote of one part of the teachings of it.

"(The symbol) 1. Qian indicates progress and sucess. It is the way of heaven to send down its beneficial influences below, where they are brilliantly displayed. It is the way of earth, lying low, to send its influences upwards and (there) to act.

2. It is the way of heaven to diminish the full and augment the humble. It is the way of earth to overthrow the full and replenish the humble. Spiritual Beings inflict calamity on the full and bless the humble. It is the way of men to hate the full and love the humble. Humility in a position of honour make that still more brilliant; and in a low position men will not (seek to) pass beyond it. Thus it is that 'the superior man will a (good) issue (to his undertakings).'"

When I was reading this old text I was like, what could be in this classic that could be relevant to a 21st century man like me? And in here I see a treatise on the nature of change, on the nature of things heaven, earth and man being transformed and renewed according to its times and seasons. Very ambitious book I think. And very lofty a goal to write such a treatise. And done in a manner that is so curious and profound to my thinking. Really worth my time. =D And no wonder it was canonised as a chinese classic. One of the oldest books in existence. If not the oldest.