I have read many books on I Ching but this is the best byfar. It is the only one which made its history as a text clear tome. The so called Zhouyi is the portion set in writing during the Zhou(later Chinese bronze age). Most of what we consider I Ching is actually commentary from the Han, half a milennium later. Rutt restores the early primitive text which was used for such things as deciding the auspicious occasion for (human?) sacrifices. Rutt sees the Zhou Yi as neither moral or spiritual. We can then see how the Confucian tradition made something quite different of the text with the addition of the Ten Wings. Rutt translates the original Zhou text which consists of what are the hexagram statements and line texts in later forms.He also translates the Ten Wings separately, rather than mixed with the Zhou text as Wilhelm and later Chinese editions do. Rutt's book is the best on the actual, as opposed to mythical text of the Changes. Yet he includes its history in the west and a section entitled, the Fascination of Zhouyi. If you have a serious interest in I Ching, you MUST read this book. It does not supercede the classic Wilhelm/Baynes translation but does far better in letting us see it also as an ancient Chinese text.

There is everything here about the history of the I Ching. Richard Rutt has used among others the studies by Kunst on the oldest meaning of the book (that was lost to the later Confucian commentators of the Ten Wings) to attempt a translation that comes as close as possible to the original meaning. . This brings Bronze Age China back to life, a civilization that even performed human sacrifices. A must for all serious I Ching lovers.

Richard Rutt was an Anglican Bishop living in Korea who translated many of the classic Korean songs or sijo. First published over 30 years ago by University of California Press it is now again available with a fine introduction by David McCann. Sijo is the national poem of Korean and consists of a 42 to 49 syllable poem in three lines. The first line states a theme, the seocnd line develops it and the third line is a an ironic twist or counter theme. In English the form is frequently presented in six lines. Modern sijo are not so rigidly conformed to the syllable count but not doing so takes all the fun out of it. Rutt's translation holds up very well and he presents some of the finest examples of sijo, which are sung in Korean. World weary courtiers and those distressed by urban life fled to the countryside in fourteenth century (the flight to the countryside has been going a long time)took up writing sijo. The themes are of nature, the changing seasons, the fickleness of court life and the beauty of the simple life. There is a symbol system of pine, stones, water,sun, moon, mountain etc. but it not necessary to worry about it. They are quite exquisite. Teachers of poetry will find sijo are fun to teach. Frequently the last line of a sijo will be a seventeen syllable haiku. I love this book. It is handsomely printed. It is a good reference to the classical poets of the form. Anyone with an interest in poetry and does not know sijo would be well advised to start here. Thanks to David McCann and the University of Michigan for reprinting this volume. Put it in your shopping cart without delay.--W. Edward Harris

There is everything here about the history of the I Ching. Richard Rutt has used among others the studies by Kunst on the oldest meaning of the book (that was lost to the later Confucian commentators of the Ten Wings) to attempt a translation that comes as close as possible to the original meaning. . This brings Bronze Age China back to life, a civilization that even performed human sacrifices (quite shocking!) A must for all serious I Ching lovers.

Although this book is dated, its republication has been eagerly anticipated. I am sad to report that the new edition does not contain the color plates that appeared in the original. This makes the text at times somewhat difficult to understand.

There have been a number of knitting history books but Bishop Rutt's History of Hand Knitting is perhaps the most readable. This new edition by Interweave Press has a lot to offer anyone interested in textiles and knitting. From nalbinding (a Scandinavian netting technique) to to the flourishing of knitting as a guild in the Middle Ages, and later the development of silk handknit stocking that replaced cloth leggings in Elizabethan times, the history of knitting is a fascinating story of craft combined with economics. This is one of my favorite knitting history books and I am pleased it is back in print.