When we absorb Western technology and ideas, we ignore the treasures of our own culture? But in the process, our traditional culture, such as Chinese medicine and the I Ching, has been controversial and neglected. The Book of Changes, in particular, is considered to be a typical feudal superstition, but is this really the case? What kind of wisdom is hidden in this book in the long history of thousands of years, and the following content may subvert your imagination!
In fact, the Book of Changes is not only a divination book, it is more like a comprehensive book containing philosophy, physics, medicine and other aspects of knowledge. At this point, you may ask, what does this ancient book have to do with modern science?
This is not just a philosophical abstraction, in fact, in modern physics, we can also find similar examples of the "unity of opposites", such as matter and antimatter. Scientists discovered in the 20th century that each particle has a corresponding antiparticle, that is, antimatter. Isn't this the real-life version of the balance of yin and yang?
Let's take a look at the Five Elements Theory. Based on their observations of the natural world, the ancients summarized all things in the world into five basic elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, and believed that there was a mutually beneficial relationship between these five elements. This theory bears a striking resemblance in modern ecology and environmental science.
Regarding the scientific nature of the I Ching, we can also discuss it from its mathematical model. This arrangement and combination is not only a tool for divination, but also a complex information coding system. In computer science, we use binary code to process information, and the most basic idea of binary is very similar to the yin and yang in the Book of Changes.
Let's talk about another intersection between the I Ching and modern science – the cosmology. The cosmology advocated by the I Ching is a cosmology of dynamic equilibrium, emphasizing that all things seek balance in change. At the end of the 20th century, scientists put forward the theory of cosmic dark energy and dark matter by observing the background radiation of the universe, and these invisible forces are the reason for the continuous expansion of the universe. This seemingly invisible force ensures the balance of the universe, which coincides with the philosophical ideas in the I Ching.
We cannot ignore that many famous scientists and thinkers in history have expressed high praise and interest in the Book of Changes. Albert Einstein once praised the I Ching as the key that opened the door to Asian culture. This is not only because of the cultural value of the I Ching, but also because of the profound philosophical and scientific connotations behind it.
Why is the Book of Changes regarded as a feudal superstition by some people? This is mainly because of some misreading and abuse in history. In many historical periods, people relied too much on the divination function of the I Ching and neglected its value as a philosophical and scientific system. Like many scientific theories, if we only understand and apply them one-sidedly, it is easy to go to extremes.
They found that the I Ching had a rare depth in both its logical structure and in its natural philosophy. This is why institutions of higher learning in many countries have begun to incorporate the I Ching into their curricula for philosophy and cultural studies.
At this point, you may ask, does the I Ching really work in modern society? In modern management, psychology, and even decision science, the principles of the I Ching are widely used. For example, in decision theory, by simulating the change principle of the I Ching, it can help managers better understand and predict the behavior of complex systems.
Let's take a look at the medical application of the I Ching. Many of the healing principles in traditional Chinese medicine theory, such as "curing illness before it happens" and "adapting to the four seasons", are closely related to the philosophical ideas of the I Ching. Modern medical research has found that the principles of prevention is better than cure and conforming to the laws of nature are of great significance for improving human health.
Although the I Ching is of ancient origin, the wisdom it contains is transcendent. We should re-understand the Book of Changes with a more open mind and explore its application value in modern society. The Book of Changes is not only a book of divination, but also a book of philosophy, science, and even a guide to life. It teaches us how to find patterns in change and how to maintain balance in dynamics. In this rapidly changing world, understanding and applying the wisdom of the I Ching may help us better face the challenges of life and work. Just like the ancients: the view of easy gives birth to wisdom, and the use of easy makes changes. The value of the Book of Changes is worth discovering and inheriting by each of us.