Theos-Talk Archives (January 1999 Message tt00238)

In a message dated 1/19/99 7:11:20 PM, bazzer@bazzer.co.uk writes:

>> Bazzer wrote:
>> > In passing, there is "A Tentative Translation from the Chinese" by Dr.
>> > Isabella Mears of the "Tao Teh King" published by TPH, London.  Seems
>> >to retain something of original key-note.
>>
>> 	What does the "Tao Teh King" have to do with the I-Ching?
>
>
>The "In passing . . " had no particular reference to I Ching (or Y King),
>just a pointer to Dr. Mears's "Tao Teh King" which seems to have an
>uplifting key-note.  Translations seen of I Ching seem to have lost their
>spirit, what with a number of (most?) Western commentaries revolving around
>fortune-telling and exoteric stuff like that.
>
>The term "King" could be viewed as a possible common factor, although,
>as one understands it, "King" is simply a generic term for 'classic'.
>Further passing thought is that Lao Tzu is said to be a contemporary of
>Confucius.  The latter (Confucius) is said to have written commentaries
>on I Ching. Both works may, therefore, have a common origin?  Dunno.

According to the Wilhelm-Baynes translation of the I-Ching, in many of the
comments on the hexagrams there are various sayings attributed to Lao-Tse.
Also, much of the underlying philosophy is closely related to the Tao.  The
word "King", or as Baynes translated the German to the English, "Ching",
commonly called by us, "The Book" (of changes).  Perhaps, in China, the Book
of Dzyan is called the "Chan Ching" and pronounced, Jan Jing" or "Dzyan
Dzying.  According to Wilhelm the word Ching means "Well" in Chinese.
Therefore it connotes a deep container filled with the "waters of knowledge",
so to speak.

LHM