Rhetorical Uses of the I Ching - Beyond Divination

While the I Ching is most famously known as an oracle for divination—a tool to seek guidance on unknown future outcomes or hidden aspects of the present—its profound texts and resonant imagery have also been employed in a distinctly different manner: rhetorically. This involves using the Book of Changes not to determine an unknown, but to analyze an existing situation, bolster a pre-existing argument, or lend classical authority to a particular viewpoint.

Distinguishing Rhetorical Use from Divination

It’s crucial to understand the difference:

• Divination: The diviner approaches the I Ching with a question about an unknown. The process of casting (using yarrow stalks, coins, or other methods) generates a hexagram, and the text associated with that hexagram is then interpreted as the oracle’s response, providing new information or guidance. The text determines the message in response to the query.

• Rhetorical Use: The individual already has an argument, an analysis of a situation, or a point they wish to make. They then actively choose an appropriate hexagram, trigram, or specific textual passage from the I Ching that aligns with their pre-existing conclusion. The I Ching text is used to add weight, classical authority, or illustrative depth to their established position.

In essence, with divination, the I Ching speaks to the situation. With rhetorical use, the speaker uses the I Ching to speak about the situation.

Historical Examples and Applications

Throughout Chinese history, scholars, officials, and writers have drawn upon the I Ching for rhetorical purposes:

• Political Argumentation: Officials or advisors might quote passages from the I Ching to support a particular policy, critique a ruler’s actions, or advocate for a certain course of statecraft. By linking their arguments to the revered wisdom of the sages, they could lend them greater persuasive power.

  For example, if arguing for caution and careful preparation, one might invoke Hexagram 3, Zhun (Difficulty at the Beginning), or if advocating for decisive leadership, one might reference aspects of Hexagram 1, Qian (The Creative).

• Moral Exhortation: Confucian scholars, in particular, used the I Ching to illustrate and reinforce ethical principles. They would select texts that highlighted virtues like sincerity, perseverance, modesty, or the importance of fulfilling one’s duties.

• Literary Embellishment: Poets and writers have incorporated I Ching imagery and allusions into their works to add depth, resonance, and a sense of connection to classical tradition.

• Retrospective Analysis: After an event has occurred, one might use the I Ching to analyze why it happened or to frame its significance. For instance, after a military victory or defeat, a scholar might identify a hexagram that seems to perfectly encapsulate the dynamics that led to that outcome, using the I Ching’s framework to explain the past.

Why Use the I Ching Rhetorically?

• Cultural Authority: The I Ching holds immense cultural authority in East Asian traditions. Citing it could lend an air of profound wisdom and unassailable truth to one’s words.

• Shared Symbolic Language: For an audience familiar with the I Ching, its symbols and texts provided a shared vocabulary for discussing complex situations and abstract principles.

• Conciseness and Depth: The I Ching’s language is often dense and evocative, capable of conveying complex ideas in a few well-chosen words or a potent image.

• Timeless Wisdom: By linking a contemporary argument to the timeless principles of the I Ching, a speaker could suggest that their viewpoint was not merely personal opinion but was aligned with the fundamental order of the cosmos.

Considerations and Potential Pitfalls

While rhetorical use is a legitimate aspect of the I Ching’s historical application, it’s important to be aware of potential issues:

• Misrepresenting Divinatory Intent: It’s crucial not to confuse rhetorical application with genuine divination. If someone is selectively quoting the I Ching to prove a point they already hold, they are not receiving an oracular message about an unknown.

• Selective Interpretation: Rhetorical use can sometimes involve “cherry-picking” texts that support a desired argument while ignoring other passages or hexagrams that might offer a contrary or more nuanced perspective.

• Dogmatism: Using the I Ching to lend an unquestionable authority to one’s own opinions can shut down dialogue or critical thinking.

Understanding the rhetorical uses of the I Ching adds another dimension to our appreciation of its versatility and its profound influence on East Asian thought and culture. It highlights how this ancient classic has served not only as a guide to the unknown but also as a rich source of wisdom for articulating and understanding the known.

In our final article of this core series, we will explore “Article 14: The Lifelong Art - Navigating Ambiguity and Cultivating Wisdom.”