Writer versus Writer

[heylise]

A link, which might be interesting if one wants to know what happens behind the stage of I Ching-writers
http://www.yijing.btinternet.co.uk/totaliching.htm

LiSe

 

[cheiron]

I have not seen Mr Karcher?s new book yet, I find his work excellent... that this may have happened is deeply saddening... Mr Marshall's work is really wonderful and I would hope it would be recognised were it to be used by others.

Sadly

Kevin

 

[louise]

Good grief, thats kinda shocking ! I've never seen the Mandate of Heaven here in any shops.

Odd too. I was reading Steve Marshalls site, the bit 'what not to do' and was a little unerved to find he'd quoted something I had said here on this forum. It threw me a bit to read what i'd said and be referred to as 'a woman on an I Ching discussion forum'. Now it wasn't anything profound, just an example he used and he did kindly offer to change it if i objected - which i didn't - but it made me think about what we write here in a way i hadn't before.

 

[cheiron]

Hmm, that sounds uncomfortable. I forget that this is all public sometimes.

Reading Marshall?s work changed things for me re. the Yijing...

Marshall, for those who have not seen it, writes wonderfully about the events around King Wen's life and the overthrowing the last bad Shang Emperor and how these events were probably incorporated into his families book of Change? this became the Yijing...

He also researched various bits of the Yi and shows how they came to be what they are? he draws the veil off some of the more difficult parts.

I think his work on 'Darkening of the Light' Hx.36 is essential reading... he openned the whole hexagram up for me.

Brief review on Clarity:

http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_resources/history_books.html#marshall

Oh, dear!
--Kevin

 

[cal val]

Lise...

Thanks so much for bringing that article to our attention. I've just been on Mr. Marshall's site ever since your post came in email. I like it a lot. It's aesthetically stunning IMHO, and I've just been getting a whopping education about how to read the Yijing...the importance of changing lines (and how to read multiple changing lines to avoid ambiguity and confusion), governing and constituting rulers, etc. etc. He's written it in such a way that it all seems so easy now.

I read the article you linked to, then the introduction to try to get a 'feel' for Mr. Marshall because his allegation is a serious one. From what I've read so far, he doesn't appear to be a man who would imagine the lack of integrity of which he accuses Mr. Karcher. I will have to read both books, however, to make that determination for myself. In fact, in light of what Louise has just posted, it appears he, himself, does show integrity in his own work.

I'm very eager to read "The Mandate of Heaven" now anyway since it connects historical events to the text of the Yi. I'm wondering if you or Lindsay have read it yet.

I'm off to read more of his site. It's great.

Louise...

From what he writes about the publishing of his book and his deal with the publishers, it doesn't seem likely that they put a lot of effort into marketing and selling it. That's maybe why you haven't seen it in your local bookstores.

Ciao for now,

Val

 

[hilary]

'Oh dear' puts it well. What a tremendous shame this is. Steve Marshall and I have agreed to differ, I think (and hope): I find Karcher to be a man of integrity, more than a little alarmingly intelligent, and brim-full of pure enthusiasm and affection for the Yi.

It's true that he draws heavily on Marshall's work - and with reason. The 'Mandate of Heaven' should be required reading, it's a terrific book. It's mentioned in the bibliography of 'Total I Ching', but Marshall doesn't feel this is enough.

But don't be fooled by the row - there is considerably more to Karcher's book than a revamping of Marshall's discoveries. Review coming in the next newsletter, I hope...

 

[candid]

It isn't who writes a better song but who markets it to the charts. A bad break for Marshall, or so he sees it. My suggestion would for him to find a better agent.

I find it hard to take any commercialization of Yi too much to heart. Who owns history, wisdom or insight? And who cares where the insight came from? The one who reaches the minds of consumers first wins the gold medal. Xerox invented GUI ? Microsoft created Windows from it. Its not thievery, its ambitious vision and clever marketing.