Book Review: Richard Cook's Classical Chinese Combinatorics

[tacrab]

Classical Chinese Combinatorics: Derivation of the Book of Changes Hexagram Sequence by Richard S Cook, is a massive "proof" regarding theYijing hexagram order (i.e. the "received order" or "King Wen" order). The puzzle of the received order has been discussed extensively over the centuries, and here on Online Clarity (use the search function to locate these).

When it comes to the received order, there are perhaps three basic camps:

• the order is organized by pairs but otherwise random
• the order is mostly organized
• the order is totally organized

Cook belongs to the latter camp. He spent many years thinking through how the order might be organized, and after some insights, began creating this 600+ page analysis.

Cook's book has interesting and understandable material in the introductory sections about Yijing history and some general concepts that he uses. The analysis, however, is quite technical and requires mathematical background.

I've reviewed the book more extensively at Contemplating the I Ching. The book is available through Lulu (US$64).

Readers should also look at József Drasny's recent in-depth review of the book at Yijing Dao (scroll down to it) as it delves much more into the technical aspects of Cook's work.

 

[svenrus]

About Josef Drasny's review: instead of scrolling: https://www.biroco.com/yijing/cook.htm

​

 

[Freedda]

Classical Chinese Combinatorics: Derivation of the Book of Changes Hexagram Sequence, by Richard S Cook.

I've reviewed the book more extensively at Contemplating the I Ching.

I previously looked at József Drasny's recent review, where he concludes (as I understand it) that he doesn't follow Cook's logic and he's not convinced that Cook has solved the 'mystery' of the KW sequence.

You don't say in your review what you feel about Cook's theory either - except that it takes advanced math skills to try to understand it. So can I conclude from this, that you don't know if Cook's book has solved the KW sequence (but only that he makes that claim)?

Best, David

 

[tacrab]

I am not equipped to evaluate Cook's mathematical theories. I welcome comments from those who are. There are many theories out there about the order. Each has something interesting to offer, even if they don't seem to fully answer the how and why.

 

[Freedda]

Okay, thanks for clarifying that. Whenever I see reviews like this about the mystery of the sequence, I keep feeling like someone else has figured out the 'mystery', but I'm just not hip enough or enlightened enough (or enough of a math wiz) to be 'in the know'. So I'm glad that's not the case, and the mystery still remains one.

.... There are many theories ... about the order. Each has something interesting to offer, even if they don't seem to fully answer the how and why.

Even if someone figures out the sequence, I don't think it would change how I make use of the Yi - but that's what some people's interest in the Yi is based on, so ... different strokes.

I'd only add, that it's more correct to say that each of these theories has 'something' to offer - they are not all 'interesting' and certainly not all of them are correct.

D.

 

[dryjoe]

I previously looked at József Drasny's recent review, where he concludes (as I understand it) that he doesn't follow Cook's logic and he's not convinced that Cook has solved the 'mystery' of the KW sequence.

I should like to be more definite here: I am convinced that in his book, Cook has NOT solved the question of the KW sequence (if there is any question at all).
Best
J.