A Complete Reading of Wang Fuzhi's Inner Commentary on the Book of Changes

Written by Wang Fuzhi, a thinker of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, this important work offers an in-depth interpretation of the Book of Changes and showcases his outstanding philosophical thought and profound insights into the study of the Changes.

Wang Fuzhi lived through the turbulent transition between the Ming and Qing dynasties. Driven by a commitment to preserving cultural traditions and exploring ideas, he incorporated his profound reflections on the cosmos, human life, and society into his study of the Book of Changes, completing this monumental work. Closely following the original text, the book interprets each hexagram and line, offering an in-depth analysis of both its images and numbers and its underlying principles.

In discussing images and numbers, Wang Fuzhi draws on the changes in the hexagrams to explain in detail the principles of yin and yang interacting and strength and softness complementing each other, exploring the underlying laws behind the creation and transformation of all things in the universe. In his discussion of underlying principles, he takes a philosophical approach, closely linking the Book of Changes to real life and using its teachings to explain how to conduct oneself and govern society. For example, in interpreting the Qian hexagram, he draws on its pure yang and vigorous nature to explain that a virtuous person should constantly strive to improve and advance. In discussing the Kun hexagram, he points to its gentle, accommodating nature to stress the need for broad-mindedness and great virtue.

The Inner Commentary on the Book of Changes not only carries on the traditional study of the Changes, but also reflects Wang Fuzhi's profound meditation on the universe, society, and human life against the backdrop of a turbulent era. It offers later scholars a distinctive perspective on the Book of Changes and has had a far-reaching influence on the development of Chinese philosophy. It guides readers to draw on the wisdom of the Book of Changes to understand the world, cultivate themselves, and apply their knowledge to practical affairs.