Ta Chuan

by Stephen Karcher

Book Overview

Ta Chuan is at the heart of the I Ching or Classic of Change, the world's most profound divination system and the basis of Chinese cosmology. Now, in a lyrical and scrupulously faithful Taoist... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312264283
• ISBN13: 9780312264284
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 1.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.9" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Ancient Chinese Wisdom made clear

First, consider the wisdom of the following two quotes, taken out of context. (1) "Change is a teacher without peer." (p. 71)(2) "It is an unspoken trust that carries and supports us as we strive for the power and virtue to become who we are meant to be." (p. 110) Those two may give you a sense of the profound wisdom made available in this text. Much of the original text is somewhat hard to understand, at least on a first reading, although Karcher's translation & commentaries are radiant with clarity. The text, in its discussion of the Way (Tao) and Change, explains the spiritual/metaphysical mechanisms underlying the *I Ching*; familiarity with the *I Ching* makes this text much more accessible, although the wisdom of this text may entice some readers to work more closely with the *I Ching*. Karcher (who, with Ritsema, did one of the most brilliant English translations of the *I Ching* ever) is deeply familiar with that work, and thus is able to bring those insights to this work. This is a book one could read again and again over the years, learning more on each reading. As if the merits of the text were not enough to recommend this book on its own, the design of the book (with small photos & Chinese characters in the margins) is stunningly beautiful. This book would be particularly wonderful for the aesthetically sensitive spiritual aspirant.