Jae-Hwan Jung, [SciFi/Man in HighCastle]

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

‘The I Ching’, also known as ‘The Book of Changes’ is the world's oldest oracle. It is an ancient Chinese manual. It is the most loved and revered book of Chinese wisdom. It is the accumulated experience of over 2,500 years of diviners and sages, and beyond that of unimaginably ancient oral traditions. It is the voice that has been offering people help and wise, genial guidance for generations.

Dick (1995) used the concept of ‘the I Ching’ in a lot of his works, including ‘The Man in the High Castle’. He uses ‘The Book of Changes’ to develop the direction of his works. ‘The I Ching’, the ancient Chinese divination text affects to the whole story. There is a character called ‘Hawthome Abendsen’ who is an author writes novel in the story. Dick (1995) uses ‘the I Ching’ to decide whether a character should talks to Abendson that he is the targeting of the assassins. Dick (1995) believes that ‘the I Ching’ is a very important literacy device in his works. “I speak from experience. The Oracle - the I Ching – told me to write that piece.” “Being told by the I Ching to write a piece explaining why not to do what the I Ching advice.” (Dick, 1995). ‘The I Ching’ is his life.

There is one thing that Dick (1995) theorizes ‘the I Ching’ differently from other people. It is about a fortunetelling. Many people believes that ‘the I Ching’ as a fortunetelling device. However, Dick (1995) does not agree with it. “You, too, can use it, for anything, in fact, that you want except for foretelling the future.” (Dick, 1995). 
Dick (1995) also mentions that “The book is analytical and diagnostic, not predictive.”

In conclusion, ‘The I Ching’ is the world's oldest oracle. Dick (1995) uses ‘the I Ching’ to develop the direction of his works. It is not only for his writing. He believes ‘the I Ching’ can be used in every area except foretelling the future. 'The Book of Changes' was his life.

Reference

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.