I Ching Translations

Looking for good translations of the I-Ching into English and/or websites where you can access it and use it.

An excellent comparative guide is found in https://jamesdekorne.com/GBCh/ichingdl.htm. He recommends 4 translations:

• The James Legge translation – 1899
• The Wilhelm/Baynes translation – 1950
• The John Blofeld translation – 1965
• The Da Liu translation – 1975 (https://archive.org/details/ichingcoinpredic00dalirich)

More background in this recent (2016) article from the New York Review of Books.

Options

Shortlisted options by category.

Academic

These translations emphasise philological precision, historical context, and scholarly commentary.

• The Classic of Changes: A New Translation of the I Ching as Interpreted by Wang Bi – Richard John Lynn. A modern scholarly translation including Wang Bi’s commentary and full apparatus. Columbia University Press
• I Ching: The Book of Changes – James Legge. A classical 19th-century translation with original Chinese text and commentary, often used for academic study. (Various sources on the internet).
• The Original I Ching: An Authentic Translation of the Book of Changes – Margaret J. Pearson. A newer translation drawing on recent archaeological and philological findings, aiming for greater authenticity. Tuttle Publishing

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Divinatory

These versions emphasise using the I Ching as an oracle or practical tool for insight, often with interpretive commentary.

• The I Ching or Book of Changes – Richard Wilhelm (trans. Cary F. Baynes). The most widely used English version, influential in both divinatory and psychological readings. Wisdom Portal
• The Complete I Ching: The Definitive Translation – Alfred Huang. A readable and faithful version oriented toward practical use and interpretation of hexagrams. Dao Bums Forum
• I Ching, The Oracle: A Practical Guide to the Book of Changes – Modern edition. An explicitly practical guide for consultation and application.

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Spiritual

These translations emphasise the I Ching’s role in inner cultivation, meditation, and spiritual wisdom.

• The I Ching or Book of Changes – Richard Wilhelm (trans. Cary F. Baynes). Also valued in spiritual and Jungian circles for its psychological depth. ChinaFile
• I Ching – Thomas Cleary. Though debated in accuracy, valued for accessibility and contemplative tone.
• The Original I Ching: A Landmark Translation – Margaret Pearson. Emphasises direct engagement with the text’s wisdom, stripped of later interpretive overlays.