Author Profile

Zhang Shanwen

Associate Professor of Philosophy, National Taiwan University

Zhang Shanwen is an Associate Professor at National Taiwan University specializing in Yijing textual criticism and the comparative study of excavated manuscripts. His philological expertise grounds I Ching Wisdom's content in the most reliable textual foundations.

Academic Biography

Zhang Shanwen is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at National Taiwan University. He holds a Ph.D. in Literature from Kyoto University, where he specialized in the philological analysis of pre-Qin classical texts. His career has been defined by meticulous comparative work on the textual history of the Zhouyi.

Professor Zhang is one of the foremost experts on the Mawangdui silk manuscript of the Zhouyi, having spent years comparing its readings against the received (Wang Bi) edition. His annotated edition of the silk manuscript Zhouyi is a standard reference in the field. He has also contributed to the editorial teams collating newly discovered Warring States and Han dynasty Yijing manuscripts on bamboo and silk.

At I Ching Wisdom, Professor Zhang's role is to ensure that every hexagram page, trigram explanation, and line interpretation is grounded in the most reliable textual scholarship available, while remaining readable for an international audience.

Research Areas

Yijing textual criticismExcavated Zhouyi manuscriptsHexagram structure and formationPre-Qin philology

Education

2006

Ph.D. · Chinese Literature

Kyoto University

2000

M.A. · Classical Philology

Kyoto University

1997

B.A. · Chinese Language and Literature

Kyoto University

Expertise

Yijing textual criticism and manuscript collation

Comparative analysis of excavated silk and bamboo Zhouyi manuscripts

Hexagram structure and trigram composition methodology

Editorial Focus

Ensuring textual accuracy in hexagram judgments and line statements

Explaining trigram structure and hexagram formation from primary sources

Distinguishing received-text readings from manuscript variants

Articles

FoundationsMay 15, 2026

I Ching in Five Sentences: The Core Logic of the 64 Hexagrams

The 64 hexagrams of the I Ching look overwhelming — until you understand the five structural principles that hold the whole system together. This guide unpacks them one sentence at a time.

Hexagram StudyMay 5, 2026

Hexagram 1 (The Creative) in Study: I Ching Guidance for Learning and Growth

What does Hexagram 1 (The Creative) teach about study and learning? According to the original meaning, the attributes sublimity, potentiality of success, power to further, perseverance] are paired. When an individual draws this... See how the I Ching guides intellectual growth, skill development, and the discipline of deepening knowledge.

Hexagram StudyMay 5, 2026

Hexagram 3 (Difficulty at the Beginning) in Study: I Ching Guidance for Learning and Growth

What does Hexagram 3 (Difficulty at the Beginning) teach about study and learning? Times of growth are beset with difficulties. They resemble a first birth. But these difficulties arise from the very profusion of all that is struggling to atta... See how the I Ching guides intellectual growth, skill development, and the discipline of deepening knowledge.

Hexagram HealthMay 5, 2026

Hexagram 5 (Waiting [Nourishment]) in Health: I Ching Guidance for Wellbeing and Vitality

What does Hexagram 5 (Waiting [Nourishment]) suggest about health and wellbeing? Waiting is not mere empty hoping. It has the inner certainty of reaching the goal. Such certainty alone gives that light which leads to success. This leads to t... Explore how the I Ching frames the balance of energy, rest, and renewal.

Hexagram StudyMay 5, 2026

Hexagram 10 (Treading [Conduct]) in Study: I Ching Guidance for Learning and Growth

What does Hexagram 10 (Treading [Conduct]) teach about study and learning? The situation is really difficult. That which is strongest and that which is weakest are close together. The weak follows behind the strong and worries it. The... See how the I Ching guides intellectual growth, skill development, and the discipline of deepening knowledge.

Hexagram StudyMay 5, 2026

Hexagram 15 (Modesty) in Study: I Ching Guidance for Learning and Growth

What does Hexagram 15 (Modesty) teach about study and learning? It is the law of heaven to make fullness empty and to make full what is modest; when the sun is at its zenith, it must, according to the law of heaven, turn tow... See how the I Ching guides intellectual growth, skill development, and the discipline of deepening knowledge.