易YI

Course Overview · 课程概览

The Book That Changes
Everything

The I Ching — also called the Book of Changes (易经) — is the oldest of the Chinese classics, written over three thousand years ago. It is not a fortune-telling manual. It is a sophisticated system for understanding the patterns of change that govern all phenomena: nature, society, and the individual.

In this two-day course, you study with a Guoxue master who has dedicated his life to the I Ching. You will learn the structure of the 64 hexagrams, understand the philosophy of Yin and Yang, explore the Five Elements (Wu Xing), and practice the ancient method of casting hexagrams with yarrow stalks.

"The I Ching does not predict the future. It reveals the pattern of the present — so you can move in harmony with change, not against it." — Master Zhouli

What You Learn · 学习内容

Four Pillars of I Ching Study

Each module builds on the last. By the end of day two, you will be able to cast and interpret your own hexagram — and understand why it matters.

Module 1 · 第一修

The 64 Hexagrams — Structure & Meaning

Understand the binary logic at the heart of the I Ching. Every hexagram is built from six lines — broken (Yin) and solid (Yang) — forming 64 unique patterns.

The trigram system: 8 fundamental forces of nature
How upper and lower trigrams combine into hexagrams
Key hexagrams: Qian (Creative), Kun (Receptive), Tai (Peace)
The Judgment, the Image, and the Moving Lines

Module 2 · 第二修

Yin-Yang & the Philosophy of Change

The I Ching is built on one profound observation: everything changes, and change follows patterns. Yin and Yang are not opposites — they are a dynamic unity.

Yin-Yang theory: complementarity, not conflict
The Taiji diagram and its hidden meanings
Cycles of advance and retreat in nature and life
How the I Ching influenced Chinese medicine, art, and strategy

Module 3 · 第三修

Five Elements — Wu Xing Theory

Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water — the Five Elements are not substances but phases of transformation. Understanding their generating and overcoming cycles unlocks the I Ching's practical applications.

The generating cycle (Sheng): Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal → Water
The overcoming cycle (Ke): Wood overcomes Earth, Fire overcomes Metal…
Applying Wu Xing to seasons, emotions, organs, and directions
How Five Elements appear in hexagram interpretation

Module 4 · 第四修

Practical Divination — Casting & Reading

The culmination of the course: you learn to cast a hexagram using the traditional yarrow stalk method (and the simplified coin method), then interpret it with the master's guidance.

Yarrow stalk method: the ancient 50-stalk ritual
Three-coin method: quick casting for daily practice
Identifying moving lines and their transformations
Interpreting your personal hexagram with Master Zhouli

The 64 Hexagrams · 六十四卦

Eight Primary Trigrams

All 64 hexagrams are built from these eight fundamental trigrams (八卦). Each represents a force of nature, a family member, a direction, and a quality of change.

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QIAN · CREATIVE

乾

Heaven, strength, the father. Pure Yang energy. Initiating force and unyielding power.

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KUN · RECEPTIVE

坤

Earth, devotion, the mother. Pure Yin energy. Nurturing, yielding, containing all things.

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KAN · ABJECT

坎

Water, danger, the middle son. Flowing, penetrating. The perils that test and transform.

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LI · CLINGING

离

Fire, clarity, the middle daughter. Illuminating, dependent. Awareness that depends on fuel.

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ZHEN · AROUSING

震

Thunder, movement, the eldest son. Shock that awakens. The sudden impulse that begins all change.

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XUN · GENTLE

巽

Wind, penetration, the eldest daughter. Gentle influence that enters everywhere. Persistence in subtlety.

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GEN · KEEPING STILL

艮

Mountain, stillness, the youngest son. Resting, completion. Knowing when to stop is the highest wisdom.

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DUI · JOYOUS

兑

Lake, joy, the youngest daughter. Open,pleasure, connection. The delight of genuine exchange.

Chinese Cosmology · 中国宇宙观

Yin-Yang & the Five Elements

The I Ching rests on two interlocking frameworks: the binary dance of Yin and Yang, and the five-phase cycle of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Together, they describe all change.

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Yin-Yang · 阴阳

太极之道

Nothing is purely Yin or purely Yang. Each contains the seed of the other. Day becomes night; activity becomes rest; strength becomes softness. The I Ching maps 64 states of this eternal transformation — and teaches you to read which way the wind is blowing.

阴Yin: dark, cold, passive, inward

阳Yang: light, hot, active, outward

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Wu Xing · 五行

生克循环

The Five Elements are not substances — they are phases. Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water, Water generates Wood. This generating cycle (Sheng) and its counterpart overcoming cycle (Ke) explain how all phenomena interact.

木Wood

火Fire

土Earth

金Metal

水Water

The Ancient Art · 古法占筮

How Divination Works

The I Ching is not superstition — it is a structured method for clarifying your situation through symbolic reflection. The hexagram you cast mirrors the pattern of the moment.

Formulate Your Question

Not "What will happen?" but "What is the nature of this situation?" The I Ching responds to sincere inquiry, not anxious demand for certainty.

Cast the Hexagram

Using yarrow stalks (the ancient ritual) or three coins (the practical method), you generate six lines from bottom to top — each solid (Yang) or broken (Yin).

Read & Interpret

With Master Zhouli's guidance, you read the Judgment, the Image, and any moving lines. The interpretation reveals the pattern — and suggests harmonious action.

"The wise person does not predict the future. They understand the present — and act accordingly. This is what the I Ching teaches."

Your Master · 授业恩师

Master Zhouli

周礼先生

Master Zhouli is one of China's most respected Guoxue scholars, specializing in the I Ching and its relationship to traditional Chinese cosmology. He studied under three generations of I Ching masters and has spent over 25 years teaching the Book of Changes to both Chinese and international students.

His approach is rigorously intellectual yet deeply practical. He does not treat the I Ching as mysticism — he treats it as a living philosophical system that offers genuine clarity in complex situations. His students routinely describe the experience as "life-changing."

All sessions with Master Zhouli are conducted through our bilingual cultural interpreter, with direct conversation and Q&A strongly encouraged.

25+YEARS TEACHING

3GENERATIONS OF MASTERS

600+INT'L STUDENTS

Preparing Yourself · 心理准备

What to Expect

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Real Divination

You will cast your own hexagram using both the yarrow stalk and coin methods. This is not a demo — you will experience the real practice from start to finish.

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Deep Text Study

You will read passages from the I Ching in the original Chinese (with full English translation). This is genuine scholarship, not a superficial overview.

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Philosophy, Not Fortune-Telling

The I Ching is a book of wisdom, not a crystal ball. Master Zhouli teaches it as a philosophical system for understanding change, not as superstition.

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Traditional Study Room

The course takes place in a dedicated Guoxue study room — incense, scrolls, tea, and quiet. The environment is designed for deep concentration.

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Take-Home Tools

You will receive a set of three traditional Chinese coins and a yarrow stalk bundle to continue your practice at home, along with a reading guide.

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Certificate Issued

On completion, you receive a bilingual certificate hand-stamped with Master Zhouli's personal seal, documenting your study of the I Ching.

Practical Details · 实用信息

Everything You Need to Know

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Location
Dedicated Guoxue study room in central Chengdu, decorated with traditional scrolls, calligraphy, and incense. A space designed for deep focus.
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Course Fee
¥2,000 RMB fixed rate, billed as part of your actual expenses. Included exclusively in the 15-day journey package; available as an add-on for 7 & 10-day packages.
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What to Wear
Comfortable clothing. The study room is climate-controlled. You will be sitting at a traditional desk for extended periods.
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Transport
Full transfer from your Chengdu hotel to the study venue and back, included in your overall trip cost.

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Phones & Devices
Please keep devices silent during sessions. Photography is welcome during breaks. The study room is a space for contemplation.
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Language
All sessions interpreted live into English by your dedicated bilingual cultural guide. Original Chinese texts provided alongside full translations and commentary.
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Tea & Refreshments
Traditional Chinese tea served throughout the sessions. A Sichuan lunch is included both days, with dietary accommodations available.
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Included In
I Ching & Guoxue course is included exclusively in the 15-day Grand Journey. Available as an add-on for shorter packages.

I Ching &Guoxue Wisdom

The Book That ChangesEverything