🃏 Tarot & Divination −19%

Chinese Poetry and Prophecy: The Written Oracle in East Asia - Ingram Academic

✍️ Michel Strickmann, Bernard Faure
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$140.00 $173.00 Save $33.00 (19%)
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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Delve into the profound connection between poetic expression and prophetic insight within Chinese civilization. This illuminating volume meticulously explores the pivotal role of written oracles and various forms of divination, particularly as they manifest in religious traditions. Michel Strickmann, renowned for his captivating scholarship, draws upon a vast repository of historical and contemporary texts to trace the intricate lineage of significant, often overlooked, prophetic works. This essential study offers an unparalleled perspective on how the Chinese interpreted and shaped their destiny through the art of the written word, revealing a deep spiritual heritage.

🃏
Tarot & Divination

Praise for this book

“Strickmann calls us to study these poems as both prosodic masterpieces and vehicles of religious praxis, ... The reader gains a new appreciation for the role of writing in Chinese ritual and the role of divination in the lives of Chinese people. The author also conveys the puissance of Chinese religion that has moved in all directions throughout the centuries.”
— China Review International
🏛 Stanford University Press 📅 2005 📖 248 pages 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9780804743341
Fun Fact
Michel Strickmann's *Chinese Poetry and Prophecy* is an academic triumph, masterfully illuminating the intricate dance between poetic expression and prophetic insight in East Asia. It excels at bringing to light previously obscure oracular texts with an engaging, scholarly voice. While indispensable for serious students of Chinese religion and cultural history, those seeking a casual introduction or practical divination techniques might find its depth challenging. Nevertheless, it stands as a cornerstone text in the field of East Asian esotericism, offering unparalleled insight into the written oracle.

📝 Description: Chinese Poetry and Prophecy: The Written Oracle in East Asia - Ingram Academic

Focusing on oracular texts, Chinese Poetry and Prophecy examines the role of divination in Chinese culture, particularly in religious practice. Drawing on a dazzling array of ancient and modern sources, the author establishes the oracular sequence of important but obscure works in his celebrated engaging style. This is the second posthumous work of Michel Strickmann to be to be edited by Bernard Faure for publication by Stanford University Press.

💎 Expert review

“
💎
Esoterica Books editorial team
Occult literature desk
This academic volume serves as a rigorous examination of written oracles in East Asia, appealing primarily to historians and specialists in religious studies. While Strickmann’s scholarship is captivating for those well-versed in the field, casual readers seeking accessible divination guides will likely find the dense historical analysis daunting. It does not suit those looking for practical tarot instructions or simple mystical anecdotes. Instead, it demands engagement with complex textual lineages and theological frameworks. Readers expecting a light reading experience may feel overwhelmed by the scholarly depth required to appreciate the intricate connections between poetic expression and prophetic destiny in Chinese civilization.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Scholars and enthusiasts of esoteric history will find immense value in this meticulous exploration of how the Chinese interpreted their fate through the written word. Michel Strickmann’s scholarship offers an unparalleled perspective on the lineage of prophetic works, revealing a deep spiritual heritage often overlooked by general readers. If you are fascinated by the intersection of poetry, divination, and religious tradition, this volume provides essential insights into the mechanisms of ancient prophecy. It is particularly rewarding for those seeking to understand how cultural narratives shape destiny, offering a profound look at the art of prediction through literature rather than mere fortune-telling.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —
⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5
★★★★★
If you are captivated by the intricate tapestry of East Asian spiritual practices, ancient divination methods, or the profound power of language to reveal destiny, this book is an indispensable guide. It offers deep insights for scholars and enthusiasts alike exploring the esoteric dimensions of…

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Esoterica Books editorial team

This academic volume serves as a rigorous examination of written oracles in East Asia, appealing primarily to historians and specialists in religious studies. While Strickmann’s scholarship is captivating for those well-versed in the field, casual readers seeking accessible divination guides will likely find the dense historical analysis daunting. It does not suit those looking for practical tarot instructions or simple mystical anecdotes. Instead, it demands engagement with complex textual lineages and theological frameworks. Readers expecting a light reading experience may feel overwhelmed by the scholarly depth required to appreciate the intricate connections between poetic expression and prophetic destiny in Chinese civilization.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While thoroughly academic, Strickmann's engaging style makes complex topics accessible. A foundational interest in Chinese culture or divination will enhance your appreciation, but it doesn't require prior expertise.
The focus is primarily on the historical, cultural, and religious significance of *written* oracular texts and the *concept* of prophecy, rather than providing instructions for performing divination rituals.

📖 Who should read this

If you are captivated by the intricate tapestry of East Asian spiritual practices, ancient divination methods, or the profound power of language to reveal destiny, this book is an indispensable guide. It offers deep insights for scholars and enthusiasts alike exploring the esoteric dimensions of Chinese thought.

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Divination's Cultural Heartbeat

This book meticulously unpacks how various forms of prophecy and fortune-telling were not mere superstitions but foundational elements woven into the very fabric of Chinese society. It highlights their pervasive influence across daily life, governance, and the spiritual landscape, demonstrating their essential function beyond simple prediction.

Decoding Written Oracles

Strickmann's work offers an unprecedented examination of specific, often esoteric, textual traditions used for prophecy. It delves into the structure, interpretation, and historical evolution of these written oracles, revealing their complex interplay with poetry and religious doctrine, and shedding light on their unique methods of revelation.

Sacred Prophetic Practices

The volume explores the deep integration of prophetic practices within Chinese religious frameworks. It illustrates how various spiritual beliefs and ritualistic activities utilized oracular pronouncements to guide adherents, interpret divine will, and shape devotional practices, underscoring prophecy's sacred and guiding power.

📜 Historical context

This work stands as a crucial contribution to the study of East Asian esotericism, building upon a long tradition of scholarship dedicated to ancient Chinese divination. It particularly enriches our understanding of written oracles, a distinct and often overlooked facet of Chinese prophetic practice, connecting it to broader religious and cultural currents throughout history, from antiquity to modern interpretations.

📚 Glossary

Oracle
Divination
Esotericism

📔 Questions to reflect on

  1. How might the integration of poetry and prophecy in ancient China reflect a different understanding of truth or reality compared to modern Western thought?
  2. Consider how a culture's dominant form of divination—be it written, oral, or observational—shapes its worldview and decision-making processes.
  3. If language itself can be a 'living conduit' for prophecy, what implications does this hold for our own contemporary use of words, particularly in sacred or artistic contexts?

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