Treatise of Interpretation of the Yijing

 

By K Takashima. Distributor: Lulu. $29.99. 406 pages. Paperback CQ. 2016 (1893).

 

Kaemon Takashima (高島 嘉右衛門) is a fascinating multi-facetted individual of the Meiji Era. He was a business trained in the Yijing school of Arai Hakuga.[1] His societal network was vast and he regularly divined for government officials. His interpretations of the Yijing span from events pertaining to individuals to societal evolution. Several of his predictions are well-known, including the major earthquake of the Ansei period that hit Tokyo in 1855, the Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War and his own death.

This book, translated by Sugiura Shigetake is an abridged version of the 10-volumes original, is the only one known of the Yijing as understood in Japan. The work of Shigetake stands unique as a Japanese interpretation of the Yijing. It is also a work interspersed with historical events and customs showing a rare insight of the Japanese culture of the time. Finally, the practical examples are invaluable for Yijing students.

Being an abridgement, several techniques are assumed to be known. One should consult the annexes and additional works. To further the studies on the Yijing, one may consult Chang, Tuck. Unveiling the Mystery of I Ching which I believe to be a major work on the topic. The French translation of Mr. Philastre, Yijing. Yichuan et Benyi is also unique in being the only present one providing two major commentaries.

This reedition is a significant reorganization. It includes the insertion of the corresponding Chinese text, the cross-verification of terms and the update of 178 transliterated Chinese expressions into modern pinyin. Ten supplementary annexes have been provided to facilitate the understanding of the text.

 

Contents

  • Introductory Remarks
  • Contents
  • Process of Divination
  • 1. Qian (乾 ䷀ Heaven)s
    • Two affairs decided by a single divination
    • My resolution at the beginning of Meiji
    • Agriculture on the year Meiji 16 [1883]
    • The negotiation with china by count Itō, ambassador
  • 2. Kun (坤 ䷁ Earth)s
    • Fate of the Iwashimizu temple for Mr. Fukushima
    • My views for the Kyōdō Unyu Kaisha through the divination
  • 3. Zhun (屯 ䷂ Fullness)s
    • On the Franco-Prussian war
    • My own fate, in prison
    • Fate of a certain bank
    • War between China and France
    • Takashima’s misinterpretation
  • 4. Meng (蒙 ䷃ Infancy)s
    • Mode of education of his son (for Mr. Nagai)
    • Return of our ransom from America
  • 5. Xu (需 ䷄ To wait)s
    • Fortune of Nishimura, Mitsushe, and me, while at Tsukudajima
    • Suicide of Mr. Goichi Nakano
  • 6. Song (訟 ䷅ Lawsuit)
  • 7. Shi (師 ䷆ Army)s
    • Mr. M. Mutsu’s views
    • Selection of ambassador for China
  • 8. Bi (比 ䷇ Friendship)
  • 9. Xiaoxu (小畜 ䷈ Small Stoppage)
  • 10. Lü (履 ䷉ To tramp)
    • Korean accident
  • 11. Tai (泰 ䷊ Non-obstruction)
    • Mr. Sugi’s going to Hawaii
  • 12. Pi (否 ䷋ Obstruction)s
    • Punishment of Masajiro Suga
    • Fortune of Shintoism
    • On supplying the military caste with occupations
  • 13. Tongren (同人 ䷌ Fellowship)s
  • My fate and future course in Meiji 3 [1870]
    • Comparison of the writings of the three writers, Messrs. Ichiroku, Sansyu, and Meikaku; and also the writing of Mr. Soejima
  • 14. Dayou (大有 ䷍ A mighty possession)
  • Discovery of lost money
  • 15. Qian (謙 ䷎ Modesty)
  • 16. Yu (豫 ䷏ Enjoyment)
    • My punishment, while in prison
  • 17. Sui (隨 ䷐ To obey)
    • Marriage of Miss So-And-So
  • 18. Gu (蠱 ䷑ Affairs)
  • 19. Lin (臨 ䷒ To look Down)
  • 20. Guan (觀 ䷓ To observe or to show)
    • Existence or nonexistence of diviners in the country
  • 21. Shihe (噬嗑 ䷔ To cram)
  • 22. Bi (賁 ䷕ To embellish)s
    • Sickness of Mr. Sanzaemon Shimomura
    • The National Assembly. (Divined in April of Meiji 14 [1881])
  • 23. Bo (剝 ䷖ To take away, to deprive)
  • 24. Fu (復 ䷗ To return)
  • 25. Wuwang (無妄 ䷘ Truthfulness, without insincerity)s
    • Keyamura, a wrestler
    • The boundary disputation between China and Russia
    • Contest between main and branch of a family
    • The traveler obtains a cattle and the villager a trouble
  • 26. Daxu (大畜 ䷙ Great storing or stopping)
  • 27. Yi (頤 ䷚ To feed)s
    • Arbitration of Yokohama gas question
    • Electric light
  • 28. Daguo (大過 ䷛ Superabundance of the Great)
    • The Japanese and Chinese entanglement
  • 29. Kan (坎 ䷜ Difficulties)s
    • The expectation of money in prison
      • Mob of Saitama-ken
  • 30. Li (離 ䷝ To be related to)
    • The Saga Rebellion
  • 31. Xian (鹹 ䷞ To impress, or all)
    • The result of his loan, for Lord—
  • 32. Heng (恆 ䷟ Permanence)s
    • The Accusation against Korea
    • Rain or no rain in August 1886
    • The Divination of Korea (shown to Minister Hanabusa Yoshitada)
    • Divination for Mr. Kin-Yō-gen
    • Destination of a loan
  • 33. Dun (遯 ䷠ To Shun)s
    • Mr. Nagai’s baby
    • The English and Russian engagement at Afghanistan
  • 34. Dazhuang (大壯 ䷡ The strength of the great)s
    • Hagi Rebellion
    • Calamity from thief of Mr. M. Sugi, Vice Minister of Imperial Household Ministry
  • 35. Jin (晉 ䷢ To advance)
  • 36. Mingyi (明夷 ䷣ An injured luminary)s
    • Taxation of Meiji 19 [1886]
    • Marriage of Mr. So-and-so
    • Fortune of Buddhism
  • 37. Jiaren (家人 ䷤ Members of a family)
  • 38. Kui (睽 ䷥ Dissimilarity)s
    • A certain affair of a certain person
    • Wife and daughter of a rich family
  • 39. Jian (蹇 ䷦ Difficulty)s
    • How to pay his debt for a gentleman
    • Cholera at Yokohama in 1886 (1)
    • Cholera at Yokohama in 1886 (2)
  • 40. Jie (解 ䷧ To open, to vanish away)s
    • Debt of Yamashiroya Wasuke
    • Anticipation of Kōsen Oshō’s topic of conversation, before seeing him
  • 41. Sun (損 ䷨ Loss)s
    • Mr. Sanenobu Sugi’s sickness
    • Resolution of Mr.—
    • Destination of Yokohama Iron Works
  • 42. Yi (益 ䷩ Gain)
    • Market of Tanegami
  • 43. Guai (夬 ䷪ To clear away, to dispose of)s
    • Management of treacherous employees
    • Result of debate of Mr. -
    • Utilization of Mr. Amamiya’s earnings
  • 44. Gou (姤 ䷫ To meet)s
    • Entangling of Eastern Europe
    • Kindness rewarded by anger
  • 45. Cui (萃 ䷬ To assemble)s
    • Railway bridge over Sumida of Ueno Line
    • Will a certain nobleman be able to visit foreign lands?
  • 46. Sheng (升 ䷭ To ascend)
  • 47. Kun (困 ䷮ To be in difficulty)s
    • Will Mr. — be infected with cholera?
    • Death of a cholera sufferer (for Mr. Fujita)
  • 48. Jing (井 ䷯ A well)s
    • Life of a Nobleman
    • Disputation among the fishmongers of Yokohama
    • China and France on the Annam Affair
  • 49. Ge (革 ䷰ To reform to renew)
    • Which cause to belong, for a certain house at the Restoration War
  • 50. Ding (鼎 ䷱ A three legged kettle)s
    • The detention of Messrs. D. Fujita and G. Nakano
    • Marriage of a friend
    • Tumult in Korea
  • 51. Zhen (震 ䷲ Thunder)s
    • Difficulty of Lord —
    • Where have Mr. G. Yamada’s parents and sister gone?
  • 52. Gen (艮 ䷳ To stop)s
    • Fortune of an officer
    • Looking at Fuji from Peak Otome
  • 53. Jian (漸 ䷴ To proceed)s
    • Intermixture of foreigners
    • Mr. Jūichiro Wada’s fortune
    • Disease of Mr. Ujitaka Toda’s mother
  • 54. Guimei (歸妹 ䷵ To give a daughter in marriage)
    • Life of a public story-teller, Chōka Itō
  • 55. Feng (豐 ䷶ Affluence)
    • Condition of Yokohama Foreign Coin Transaction Company
  • 56. Lü (旅 ䷷ A traveler).s
    • Warning of fire in a coal-mine
    • Fortune of Mr. Unshou
    • Fortune of a Nobleman’s friend
  • 57. Xun (巽 ䷸ Meek)
    • The 4th of Xun is the profit of three times the capital
  • 58. Dui (兌 ䷹ To rejoice)
  • 59. Huan (渙 ䷺ To dissipate)
    • Shipwreck of Mrs. Kei Ōura
  • 60. Jie (節 ䷻ Moderation)
    • How to return his debt for a police officer
  • 61. Zhongfu (中孚 ䷼ Truthful at heart)
    • Marriage of a Nobleman
  • 62. Xiaoguo (小過 ䷽ Superabundance of the small)s
    • Petition of Mr. Kikakudō
    • Petition of the Shintoists’ club
  • 63. Jiji (既濟 ䷾ Consummation)s
    • Affairs of Europe
      • Delay of Mr. Haru Sakata’s arrival
      • Iwaiya’s payment
  • 64. Weiji (未濟 ䷿ Not yet to be consummated)
    • Subjugation of Korea

 

[1] See the works of Wai-Ming Ng and, particularly, ‘Divination in Meiji Politics: A Reading of Takashima Kaemon's Judgements on the Book of Changes (Takashima Ekidan)’ in the Dao Companions to Japanese Confucian Philosophy, 2014, 315—330.