Xiong Shili’s Phenomenological Approach to the Book of Changes

In the 1932 version of his New Treatise on the Uniqueness of Consciousness, Xiong Shili interprets the classical Chinese Book of Changes as an illustration of the basic configurations of consciousness. His interpretation relies on concepts developed by Yogācāra Buddhism, which he criticizes, adapts, and translates into language that can then be applied to the Confucian and Neo-Confucian traditions. As a result, Xiong’s interpretation of the Book of Changes bears comparison with more recent phenomenological readings of both Yogācāra Buddhism and Neo-Confucianism.