Man in the High Castle - Olivia Kinane

What was does Dick (1995) himself theorise about the I Ching? 

The IChing or also known as the book of changes is an oracle that aids with guidance and help of the person asking it a question. The IChing is an chinese oracle which has slowly been adopted by different cultures all over the world. Phillip K. Dick, a successful science fiction author, heavily used the IChing in his own personal life to help guide him in his writings. The IChing also makes a heavy appearance in his novel The Man in the High Castle (1962).  

Dick (1995) has some very strong feelings about the IChing, especially revolving who should be using it and how one should use it. According to Dick (1995) the people who use the IChing can be divided into those who use it to help guide them through their life and those who use it under the belief that it predicts their future. Within the book The Man in the High Castle (1962) the characters that use the IChing all have a different dependency on it, whether that being, total dependency, guidance or no dependency at all. For example the characters of Mr Tagomi and Frink, use the IChing when they have an important decision to make, they let the readings of the IChing help them make the next step, the IChing decides for them (Dick, 1962). Dick (1995) talks about how one can become too attached to the readings of the IChing. He discusses how the obsession with ‘predicting’ one's future ends with them not having a life at all as they are constantly predicting what will happen. He elaborates by saying that if you are not slightly insane or schizophrenic (Dick, 1995) you should not be using the oracle regularly, one should enjoy the leisure of asking questions that have no real direct impact on their life.

Dick makes it very clear that the IChing is not a future predicting device and that it is an answer to your questions. The IChing gives you an answer to the question that you asked, you can then take that response and apply it to your life or you can move on and ignore the IChings suggestion. Dick (1995) draws parallels between the IChing and the Doctors, when you seek help from them you can listen to what they diagnose or ignore what they diagnose. The idea that you need to be slighted insane to use the IChing is supported by his thoughts on the effect of the IChing. The IChing can fuel our fears and worries or dampen them (Dick, 1995). This is clearly shown within the novel of The Man in the Castle (1962).

Philip K. Dick used the oracle in his personal life to help guide him with decisions. The use of the IChing within the novel The Man in the High Castle helps to illustrate what Philip K. Dick thought of his use of the IChing and IChing in general.

Reference the article

Dick, P.K. (2001; 1962). The Man in the High Castle. London: Penguin

Dick, P.K. (1995). Schizophrenia and the I Ching. In Sutin, L. (Ed.), The Shifting Realities of Philip K. Dick (pp.175-182). New York: Vintage.

Clarity I Ching. (2015). What is the I Ching. Retrieved from http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/learn/begin/