Man in the High Castle and the I Ching
(May 2026) The Man in the High Castle is a particularly intricate Netflix series about parallel universes and alternate historical outcomes, focusing on the winners and losers of World War II. In this version of history, the Allies lost the war: the Nazis control the eastern United States, the Japanese control the western states, and a neutral zone lies between them. One of the more relatable—or at least less objectionable—characters is the Japanese Trade Minister based in San Francisco. When faced with difficult decisions, he periodically consults the I-Ching, which the series describes as an “Oracle.” Because I have used the I-Ching myself and have long appreciated its qualities, I thought it might be worthwhile to describe what I understand about its origins and usefulness. The I-Ching, also known as the Book of Changes , is most widely known in the West through the translation of Richard Wilhelm , originally published in German in 1924 and later translate...