What books are good for beginners to read the I Ching?
With the rise of traditional Chinese studies, more and more people have become interested in the Book of Changes. As one of China's oldest classics, the "Book of Changes" contains rich philosophical thoughts and wisdom. But for beginners, faced with the vast number of Yixue works, they often don’t know where to start. This article will combine the hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days, recommend I Ching books suitable for beginners, and provide structured data reference.
1. Recommended introductory books on the I Ching

The following is a list of I Ching books suitable for beginners that have been popular in recent online discussions:
| book title | Author | Reasons for recommendation | heat index |
|---|---|---|---|
| "The Mystery of the I Ching" | Zeng Shiqiang | The language is easy to understand and suitable for readers with no basic knowledge. | ★★★★★ |
| "Book of Changes Translation and Annotation" | Huang Shouqi, Zhang Shanwen | Authoritative annotated edition, highly academic | ★★★★☆ |
| "Miscellaneous Comments on the Book of Changes" | Nan Huaijin | Explain the profound things in a simple way and understand everything | ★★★★☆ |
| "Introduction to Zhouyi" | Zhu Bokun | Comprehensive system and clear structure | ★★★☆☆ |
| "Illustration of the Book of Changes" | Gao Yongping | With pictures and texts, intuitive and easy to understand | ★★★☆☆ |
2. Analysis of recent popular Yijing topics
According to the data analysis of the entire network, the topics related to the I Ching in the past 10 days have mainly focused on the following aspects:
| Topic Category | Discussion popularity | main focus |
|---|---|---|
| The Book of Changes and Business Management | high fever | How to use the wisdom of the I Ching to guide business decisions |
| I Ching and Psychology | medium heat | Application of I Ching Thoughts in Modern Psychological Counseling |
| I Ching divination method | high fever | How do beginners understand and use divination correctly? |
| I Ching and health preservation | low fever | Yin Yang and Five Elements Theory and Health Management |
| Misunderstandings in studying the I Ching | medium heat | Common mistakes for beginners and how to avoid them |
3. Suggestions on the learning path of the I Ching
Based on current hot discussions and expert advice, the following learning paths are designed for beginners:
1.basic stage: It is recommended to start with "The Mystery of the I Ching" or "Illustrated Interpretation of the I Ching" to establish a basic understanding of the I Ching. The focus of this stage is to understand the basic concepts and symbol systems of the Bagua and the Sixty-Four Hexagrams.
2.Advanced stage: You can read "Zhouyi Translation and Commentary" or "Yijing Miscellanies" to deeply understand the meaning of the scriptures and philosophical thoughts. At the same time, you can pay attention to cases where the I Ching is integrated with daily life and work.
3.Application stage: After mastering the basic knowledge, you can properly understand the application of the I Ching in various fields, but you must avoid falling into the study of divination and other magic prematurely.
4. Things to note when studying the I Ching
According to the advice of experts and experienced enthusiasts in recent online discussions, beginners need to pay attention to the following points:
1. Choose an authoritative version to avoid being misled by some exaggerated "I Ching Quick" books on the market.
2. The core of understanding the I Ching is philosophical thought rather than simple predictions. In recent heated discussions, many scholars have emphasized the need to pay attention to the dialectical thinking of the I Ching.
3. Combined with practical learning, you can try to use I Ching thinking to analyze problems in daily life, but do not rely too much on divination.
4. Keep an open mind. The Book of Changes is vast and profound, and different schools of thought have different interpretations. You need to compare and think about it from multiple perspectives.
5. Recommendation of online learning resources
In addition to paper books, the following online resources have also been widely discussed recently:
| Resource type | Name | Features |
|---|---|---|
| video course | Zeng Shiqiang's I Ching Lecture | Vivid images, suitable for audio-visual learners |
| audio program | Baijia Forum I Ching Series | Professional authority, fragmented learning |
| learning community | Zhihu I Ching Topics | Highly interactive and answer questions |
| e-book | WeChat Reading I Ching Column | Easy to carry and check at any time |
Learning the I Ching is a step-by-step process. I hope the recommendations in this article can provide valuable reference for beginners. Remember, the focus of studying the I Ching is to understand the essence of its thoughts, not to pursue quick results. Choose an introductory book that suits you, and maintain patience and perseverance, so that you can gain true wisdom and enlightenment from this ancient classic.
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