Seeking the Spirit of the Book of Change

[sparhawk]

The long awaited book by Zhongxian Wu (Master Wu (http://www.masterwu.net/)) is coming out in a couple of months in the UK. His newsletter says May/09, Amazon says Jul/09. I pre-ordered it. I've been waiting for 3 or 4 years for this intriguing "Master" to deliver on his announced book...

Seeking the Spirit of the Book of Change: 8 Days to Mastering a Shamanic Yijing (I Ching) Prediction System
(http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seeking-Spirit-Book-Change-Prediction/dp/1848190204/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236439198&sr=8-1)

[sparhawk]

I've been waiting for 3 or 4 years for this intriguing "Master" to deliver on his announced book...

Seeking the Spirit of the Book of Change: 8 Days to Mastering a Shamanic Yijing (I Ching) Prediction System
(http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seeking-Spirit-Book-Change-Prediction/dp/1848190204/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236439198&sr=8-1)

Well, I believe Steve Marshall sums it up pretty well in his review of the Wu's book (http://www.biroco.com/yijing/wuzhongxian.htm). So much for the long wait...

[sergio]

Hola Luis;
As usual very well written review.Clear and informative in his trademark vitriolic style.
What's your opinion on the book,Luis? Is it really that bad?
Sergio

[fkegan]

Hola Luis;
As usual very well written review.Clear and informative in his trademark vitriolic style.
What's your opinion on the book,Luis? Is it really that bad?
Sergio

Hi Sergio,
Personally, I took it badly when the cover of this new book shows the 8 trigrams in the Earlier Heaven arrangement. However, looking at the title of the book again, that is what he says clearly he is all about. Eight days about the 8 trigrams in terms of "a shamanic Yijing prediction system" that is pure Shang era divination (cf. Lienshan's work).

He doesn't promise anything at all about the Chou Yi, just 8 trigrams old school.

Frank

[sparhawk]

Hola Luis;
As usual very well written review.Clear and informative in his trademark vitriolic style.
What's your opinion on the book,Luis? Is it really that bad?
Sergio

Hola Sergio,

Well, Steve Marshall is not one to mince words and his style, when he doesn't like something under his review, can be a tad "acrid"... :D But, that's the Steve Marshall we know and can take to the bank. Agree or disagree with him, the man tells it as he sees it.

My question is, have you bought and read the book? I'm curious about your opinion of it.

To be honest, after much anticipation and writing a few expecting posts about it here (years of waiting after it was announced in a Daoist magazine, where he writes articles and is often quoted), I was disappointed with the result. I was expecting something more serious and, well, scholarly. Some in depth information about his methods, background, his touted "ancient lineage," etc. I expected substance and what I received is what would find a nice place in the New Age section of a bookstore. Not what I was looking forward to. If he knows as much as he claims about the Yijing, he missed a great opportunity to demonstrate it.

I wonder what you opinion is of it.

[sergio]

Hola Luis;
I did not buy the book.I was not impressed with the approach to divination that was advertised as the theme of the book(i ching shamanic divination in 8 days).I Ching divination that does away with the i ching is not i ching divination to me.And on top of that to learn it in 8 sessions...Anyway ,thanks for your comment,Luis.
Sergio

[sparhawk]

Hola Luis;
I did not buy the book.I was not impressed with the approach to divination that was advertised as the theme of the book(i ching shamanic divination in 8 days).I Ching divination that does away with the i ching is not i ching divination to me.And on top of that to learn it in 8 sessions...Anyway ,thanks for your comment,Luis.
Sergio

Hola Sergio,

You did well in saving your money. Me, I'm omnivorous and will buy most of what's out there and would come out new to the market as I build my private library (my OCD hobby, so to speak... :D). Of course, the more I buy, or find, and read, the more I find myself chuckling lately. It makes me wonder a lot about the publishing business...

[charly]

How to Masterize the Abriged Ba-Gua Shamanism

... or making a cake for 64 millions people with only eight eggs.

The power of the words:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFmYIFk5i1Q



Any similarity is mere casuality.

Ch.

[proserpine]

I didn't buy the book either Luis, though I'm like you, I buy a lot of books, and they're not all worth their weight in gold.;).I read Steve Marshal'ls review a few days ago, too, and while I don't always agree wit him, he usually has a good point.I got the idea clearly that this book by Master Wu, wouldn't add much to my library.

[sparhawk]

... or making a cake for 64 millions people with only eight eggs.


Yup, great metaphor Charly!! :rofl: