September 23, 2011

Yi jing Translations - Richard John Lynn



There are, of course, many translations of the Yi jing, but I shall begin here with that of Richard John Lynn, published in 1994.

   


Richard John Lynn


The Classic of Changes: A New Translation of the "I Ching" as Interpreted by Wang Bi


New York, Columbia University Press, 1994

614 pages

Click here for Amazon.com link with preview.

The translation gives Chinese transliteration in Pinyin romanization (see the "Chinese Language" page on this site for more on Pinyin and Chinese romanization). 

This translation was made by Richard John Lynn, Professor Emeritus of Chinese Thought and Literature, University of Toronto. A sinologist with a strong background in the field of Chinese thought, Lynn's translation of the Yi jing offers the text with the third century commentary of the young Chinese genius, Wang Bi (226-249). The inclusion of Wang Bi's commentary offers a view which is markedly different from that of the famous Wilhelm/Baynes translation (on which see below) which is base on a Song dynasty (960-1279) edition of the text. Rather than go into any in-depth analysis here (something beyond my ability anyway) I provide a couple of links which review the work and allow the reader to explore further on his or her own. 

The first link is to the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy article on Wang Bi, arguably the most important Taoist commentator in early imperial China. This article provides an overview of Wang Bi's life and work, and offers countless links to other information on all manner of Chinese philosophy. It is a vital resource for those wanting solid information on Chinese thought and thinkers throughout history. 

The second link is to a site which offers a wide range of information on Yi jing studies (including a handy Chinese text of the Yi jing) and offers a review of the Lynn translation (plus many, many others). The site, called "Yijing Dao," has a review here, and presents a simple interface with five tabs at the top of the page giving links to various aspects of the text.





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