The I Ching in Poetry and Painting

The finest traditions of Chinese culture shine like a brilliant river of stars. They are our spiritual home and the very foundation and lifeblood of our people. The Book of Changes, a dazzling treasure of this excellent traditional culture, is like an ancient sacred tree rooted deep in Chinese soil. It has permeated the blood of the nation, nourishing every person's heart and forging the noble character of our people. In modern times, the Book of Changes is not only an important representative of traditional culture, but is also flourishing in fields including academic research, cultural heritage, and practical life. New meanings are continually being uncovered and interpreted, offering distinctive wisdom and insight for the development of modern society. The spirit embodied in Fuxi culture and the Ten Wings of the Zhouyi contains profound philosophy and extraordinary wisdom. Like towering pillars, they support the vast sky of the national spirit. Images and numbers are its outward form, while meaning and principle are its inner essence. Together, they bear witness to the long history and unbroken legacy of Chinese culture, making them treasures of the nation beyond question. In that distant, mysterious age of primordial ignorance, the ancient practice of tying knots to keep records captured the details of daily life and the traces of human thought in its own unique way.