Malo Tupou An Oral History Book

A groundbreaking work on the history of the I Ching oracle. The author, SJ Marshall, did extensive research using ancient Chinese texts, discovered a text describing a solar eclipse, and was able to set the date of that eclipse through scientifically sound astronomical calculations. The author shows that a solar eclipse occurring during the June solstice of 1070 BCE would have been seen as an omen that the tyrannical Shang Dynasty's Mandate of Heaven to rule had been revoked. Based on this omen, the Zhou kings set out to overthrow the Shang and establish the Zhou Dynasty. This discovery verifies that historical events described in the I Ching actually occurred and were not mythological.

Marshall's presentation of historical personages and events is far from dry. It does not read like a scholarly tome, but is both interesting and entertaining as well as informative. The author's findings bring new meaning to some I Ching passages for those using it for divination, yet it would also be of interest to readers interested in Chinese history.