Cosmic Coherence: A Cognitive Anthropology Through Chinese Divination

This book explores the role of cognition in creating cosmologies, using the ethnography and history of Yijing divination in China to demonstrate how diviners explain the cosmos in terms of a single substance, qi, unfolding across scales of increasing complexity to create natural phenomena and human experience.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2021
Publisher: Berghahn Books

Humans possess a remarkable ability to construct systematic narratives about the world, grounded in fundamental cosmological principles. This captivating book delves into the intricate interplay between cognition and the formation of cosmologies, employing ethnographic research and historical analysis to explore the rich tapestry of Yijing divination in China. Diviners, skilled practitioners of this ancient art, interpret the vast expanse of the cosmos as a singular substance known as qi, which unfolds in a captivating dance of complexity, giving rise to the awe-inspiring natural phenomena and the rich tapestry of human experiences. By integrating a deep understanding of human cognition, this book unveils a novel perspective on cosmology, facilitating a fresh examination of comparative studies and cultural differences. It sheds light on the profound ways in which our cognitive faculties shape our understanding of the universe, offering a rich and insightful exploration of the human condition.

Weight: 510g
Dimension: 158 x 237 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800732681