Yuan Heng Li Zhen - The Four Qualities

[my_key]

The term yuan heng li zhen is agreed by most to be a crucial aspect of what makes I Ching divination tick. It carries for some mystical connotations that are rooted in the way back when and those early practices of divination and sacrifice.
The terms is treated differently by different commentators either as two words 'yuanheng' and 'lizhen' or as 4 individual characters.

Different commentators translate then differently, for example

Wilhelm: sublime / success / furthering / through perseverance.
Legge: great and originating / penetrating / advantageous / correct and firm
Rutt: supreme / offering / favourable / augury
Huang: Sublime and initiative / prosperous and smooth / favourable and beneficial / steadfast and upright.

I'm wondering what resources people in the community have uncovered that may make the early origins clearer to understand.

Thanks in advance.

 

[breakmov]

For me, it has become very useful to relate Yuan Heng Li Zhen to the cycle of the four seasons, finding this connection also for the cycle that exists through the use of the "patterns of change" tool.
The "patterns of change" tool is based on Boolean algebra, using logical operators Xor and Xnor... the cycle arises when entering the mathematical procedure of expressing these two logical operators.
Using Yuan Heng Li Zhen in this way allows you to incorporate this knowledge into any Yijing reading you do. - Because each Yijing reading is part of a well-defined cycle, if the "patterns of change" are taken into account!...

...in essence, comparing this to an example, it is expressed in the same way when using the knowledge of the four seasons to "predict the future in terms of agricultural activity," although each year is always unique and unrepeatable (just like each Yijing reading).

For me, each reading (imagine 63.1.2 - 48) has become a part of "something bigger" that connects "the reading, the Four Qualities Yuan Heng Li Zhen, and the associated cycle" into an inseparable whole.

Here are some images to make this clearer:







breakmov

 

[remod]

Just as a side note. I used them for my three-card method:



but I did not attach/reveal any deeper meaning to them.

The cards are wearing out due to the use , I will soon have to print another set.

 

[surnevs]

The term yuan heng li zhen is agreed by most to be a crucial aspect of what makes I Ching divination tick. It carries for some mystical connotations that are rooted in the way back when and those early practices of divination and sacrifice.
The terms is treated differently by different commentators either as two words 'yuanheng' and 'lizhen' or as 4 individual characters.

Different commentators translate then differently, for example

Wilhelm: sublime / success / furthering / through perseverance.
Legge: great and originating / penetrating / advantageous / correct and firm
Rutt: supreme / offering / favourable / augury
Huang: Sublime and initiative / prosperous and smooth / favourable and beneficial / steadfast and upright.

I'm wondering what resources people in the community have uncovered that may make the early origins clearer to understand.

Thanks in advance.

In chapter 8, Shaughnessy in his latest book explained these four characters in-depth. (in case you haven't already read his book...)

 

[surnevs]

- and here's Wei Tat's interpretation of it. (as I see it, we have here two almost opposite views on it, an academic and an educational, E.L. Shaughnessy / Wei Tat)