About the author
Bent Nielsen is the author of A Companion to Yi Jing Numerology and Cosmology (Routledge, 2002), an academic reference work on the Yi Jing, or I Ching. The book addresses what Nielsen identifies as an imbalance in Western scholarship on the text, which has favored the yili, or 'meaning and pattern,' tradition of interpretation over the xiangshu, or 'image and number,' tradition, the strand that takes the imagery and numerology of the hexagrams and trigrams as its starting point for divination and cosmology. Written as a scholarly companion rather than a practical divination manual, it is aimed at readers with an existing interest in Chinese classical studies and the history of the Yi Jing's interpretive traditions.
📖 Where to start with Bent Nielsen
💬 What our editors say about Bent Nielsen's books
“Nielsen’s reference work is a significant contribution to the field, meticulously documenting the *xiangshu* tradition that Western audiences frequently overlook. The encyclopedia format makes it a practical tool for researchers…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on A Companion to Yi Jing Numerology and Cosmology
“Bent Nielsen delivers a vital corrective to Western Yi Jing scholarship by prioritizing mathematical structure over ethical teaching. This bilingual encyclopedia provides necessary clarity on Xiangshu traditions, mapping complex…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on A Companion to Yi Jing Numerology and Cosmology
