The Primordial Tradition of Ancient China: The Esoteric Foundation of the I Ching and Chinese Cosmology
• Shares a deep understanding of the I Ching’s cosmological foundation

• Offers the meanings of the straight and broken lines of the 64 hexagrams

• Explains how the symbol of the yin-yang represents the individual’s destiny, including his emanation from, and reintegration into, Perfection

First published in French in 1905, and now translated into English for the first time, Matgioi’s book became the metaphysical core of the Traditionalist movement established by French occultist René Guénon, Julius Evola, and Ananda Coomaraswamy.

Translator Joscelyn Godwin tells how Matgioi was initiated into a Taoist secret society and was given rare access to the perennial wisdom of that tradition. His work reveals the great antiquity of Emperor Fohi, who set down the cosmogonic principles upon which the I Ching is based, and lived more than 2,000 years before Moses. Matgioi regarded Fohi as representing a school of sages unbound to any century since their wisdom is as old as humanity itself. The I Ching crystallizes a first and truest insight into the nature of reality from which the ancients derived a practical philosophy. Chinese traditionalists regard the I Ching as the first monument of consciousness and Matgioi explores it and equally important treatises by Fohi’s successors. Learn the divine nature of Chinese script, the relationship of logos and symbol, and the multiple shapes of the universe. Matgioi also explains how the yin-yang symbolizes one’s destiny, including his emanation from, and reintegration into, Perfection.

This key work echoes Emperor Fohi’s belief that the solutions to all questions can be found by bringing them back to their sources.
1147150533
The Primordial Tradition of Ancient China: The Esoteric Foundation of the I Ching and Chinese Cosmology
• Shares a deep understanding of the I Ching’s cosmological foundation

• Offers the meanings of the straight and broken lines of the 64 hexagrams

• Explains how the symbol of the yin-yang represents the individual’s destiny, including his emanation from, and reintegration into, Perfection

First published in French in 1905, and now translated into English for the first time, Matgioi’s book became the metaphysical core of the Traditionalist movement established by French occultist René Guénon, Julius Evola, and Ananda Coomaraswamy.

Translator Joscelyn Godwin tells how Matgioi was initiated into a Taoist secret society and was given rare access to the perennial wisdom of that tradition. His work reveals the great antiquity of Emperor Fohi, who set down the cosmogonic principles upon which the I Ching is based, and lived more than 2,000 years before Moses. Matgioi regarded Fohi as representing a school of sages unbound to any century since their wisdom is as old as humanity itself. The I Ching crystallizes a first and truest insight into the nature of reality from which the ancients derived a practical philosophy. Chinese traditionalists regard the I Ching as the first monument of consciousness and Matgioi explores it and equally important treatises by Fohi’s successors. Learn the divine nature of Chinese script, the relationship of logos and symbol, and the multiple shapes of the universe. Matgioi also explains how the yin-yang symbolizes one’s destiny, including his emanation from, and reintegration into, Perfection.

This key work echoes Emperor Fohi’s belief that the solutions to all questions can be found by bringing them back to their sources.
19.99 Pre Order
The Primordial Tradition of Ancient China: The Esoteric Foundation of the I Ching and Chinese Cosmology

The Primordial Tradition of Ancient China: The Esoteric Foundation of the I Ching and Chinese Cosmology

The Primordial Tradition of Ancient China: The Esoteric Foundation of the I Ching and Chinese Cosmology

The Primordial Tradition of Ancient China: The Esoteric Foundation of the I Ching and Chinese Cosmology

eBook

$19.99 
Available for Pre-Order. This item will be released on January 13, 2026

Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
WANT A NOOK?  Explore Now

Related collections and offers


Overview

• Shares a deep understanding of the I Ching’s cosmological foundation

• Offers the meanings of the straight and broken lines of the 64 hexagrams

• Explains how the symbol of the yin-yang represents the individual’s destiny, including his emanation from, and reintegration into, Perfection

First published in French in 1905, and now translated into English for the first time, Matgioi’s book became the metaphysical core of the Traditionalist movement established by French occultist René Guénon, Julius Evola, and Ananda Coomaraswamy.

Translator Joscelyn Godwin tells how Matgioi was initiated into a Taoist secret society and was given rare access to the perennial wisdom of that tradition. His work reveals the great antiquity of Emperor Fohi, who set down the cosmogonic principles upon which the I Ching is based, and lived more than 2,000 years before Moses. Matgioi regarded Fohi as representing a school of sages unbound to any century since their wisdom is as old as humanity itself. The I Ching crystallizes a first and truest insight into the nature of reality from which the ancients derived a practical philosophy. Chinese traditionalists regard the I Ching as the first monument of consciousness and Matgioi explores it and equally important treatises by Fohi’s successors. Learn the divine nature of Chinese script, the relationship of logos and symbol, and the multiple shapes of the universe. Matgioi also explains how the yin-yang symbolizes one’s destiny, including his emanation from, and reintegration into, Perfection.

This key work echoes Emperor Fohi’s belief that the solutions to all questions can be found by bringing them back to their sources.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9798888501474
Publisher: Inner Traditions/Bear & Company
Publication date: 01/13/2026
Sold by: SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format: eBook
Pages: 192

About the Author

Eugène Albert Puyou, comte de Pouvourville (August 7, 1861–December 30, 1939), known later by his Taoist name, Matgioi, was a French orientalist, warrior, novelist, and translator. He spent many years in Asia, studied with a Taoist master, and was initiated into a Taoist secret society. Joscelyn Godwin was a professor of music at Colgate University and is the author, editor, and translator of many books including Cosmic Music, The Golden Thread, and Atlantis and the Cycles of Time. Known for his translations of Fabre d’Olivet and Julius Evola, he lives in Hamilton, New York.
Joscelyn Godwin was born in Kelmscott, Oxfordshire, England on January 16, 1945. He was educated as a chorister at Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford, then at Radley College (Music Scholar), and Magdalene College, Cambridge (Music Scholar; B.A., 1965, Mus. B., 1966, M.A. 1969). Coming to the USA in 1966, he did graduate work in Musicology at Cornell University (Ph. D., 1969; dissertation: "The Music of Henry Cowell") and taught at Cleveland State University for two years before joining the Colgate University Music Department in 1971. He has taught at Colgate ever since.
From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews