The Primordial Tradition of Ancient China by Matgioi [Albert de Pouvourville]

The Primordial Tradition of Ancient China (originally published in 1905), translated by Joscelyn Godwin, presents the esoteric, metaphysical foundations of the I Ching and Chinese tradition. Written by Matgioi (Albert de Pouvourville), an initiate of a Taoist secret society, the book explores the divine nature of Chinese script, cosmology, and the symbolic journey of destiny. Key Aspects of the Book:The I Ching as Metaphysics: Matgioi presents the I Ching not just as a divination tool, but as the first monument of consciousness, analyzing the 64 hexagrams' cosmological foundations. Daoist Esotericism: The work offers a deep look into the Taoist "perennial wisdom," focusing on the nature of reality and the relationship between humanity and the universe. Yin-Yang Philosophy: It explains how the yin-yang symbol represents an individual’s journey from "Perfection," through destiny, and back again. Symbolism and Structure: The book discusses the "straight and broken lines" of the hexagrams and the "logos and symbol" of Chinese characters. This English translation provides access to a seminal text that heavily influenced the European Traditionalist movement, including figures like René Guénon.

Hardback.