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Word by Word Index

A Tribute to Bradford Hatcher

Creating a "Word by Word" translation is a monumental task. Bradford Hatcher did not just translate; he performed a rigorous textual archaeology. For every single Chinese character, he traced its lineage, verified its usage against the Mathews' Chinese-English Dictionary, and meticulously cross-referenced its meaning across different hexagrams.

Decades ago, limited by technology, he ingeniously used custom CID encodings and images to preserve the integrity of the Hanzi. He introduced a brilliant "chain" structure—threading every occurrence of a character through the entire Book of Changes—guiding readers to see not just a definition, but the living soul of the word as it evolves through the text.

This digital index is built upon his original matrix, honoring his dedication to clarity, precision, and depth.

Since the original text used images for Chinese characters, the characters here were reverse-engineered using Mathews' codes. Consequently, there may be discrepancies between Simplified and Traditional Chinese, or undetected variant characters. Feedback on any errors is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support.

Core Base

Used 20+ times. Structural characters, crucial omens, and core verbs.

111 words

Common Vocabulary

Used 5-19 times. Frequent textual imagery and standard descriptions.

300 words

乘19 匪19 弗19 蹇19 咸19 哉19 止19 反18 功18 後18 尚18 為18 先18 心18 長17 二17 交17 久17 旅17 內17 萬17 澤17 至17 比16 剝16 遁16 居16 困16 損16 文16 虩16 相16 頤16 壮16 方15 婦15 艮15 疾15 進15 坎15 克15 朋15 否15 水15 邑15 盈15 於15 預15 變14 成14 蠱14 渙14 臨14 馬14 妹14 牛14 生14 訟14 隨14 信14 亦14 雨14 畜13 鼎13 黃13 火13 木13 若13 升13 實13 需13 永13 初12 兑12 父12 國12 獲12 健12 觧12 寇12 離12 龍12 慶12 濡12 雖12 西12 喜12 養12 災12 致12 安11 賁11 承11 風11 豐11 福11 公11 夬11 既11 九11 麗11 隣11 難11 噬11 首11 四11 妄11 尾11 笑11 疑11 夷11 宜11 鸒11 包10 告10 侯10 濟10 亂10 乾10 取10 施10 受10 童10 魚10 趾10 主10 牀9 次9 飛9 故9 害9 號9 合9 艱9 漸9 戒9 晋9 酒9 睽9 烕9 南9 舍9 始9 庭9 退9 習9 恤9 血9 獄9 育9 月9 衆9 萃8 帝8 獨8 啞8 幹8 化8 即8 假8 莫8 泥8 年8 且8 禽8 戎8 眚8 聖8 說8 蘇8 遂8 五8 係8 虛8 已8 幽8 遠8 知8 百7 邦7 常7 臣7 耳7 膚7 輔7 富7 改7 媾7 和7 虎7 婚7 郊7 金7 門7 鳥7 身7 歳7 田7 通7 息7 享7 一7 譽7 曰7 雲7 章7 逐7 資7 宗7 作7 車6 顚6 東6 棟6 敦6 伐6 發6 感6 躬6 姤6 鴻6 極6 嘉6 建6 疆6 驚6 敬6 聚6 決6 恐6 類6 陵6 茅6 瞄6 鳴6 妻6 柒6 前6 群6 慎6 十6 視6 索6 惕6 維6 武6 贒6 消6 脩6 徐6 羊6 飲6 尤6 願6 載6 折6 屯6 左6 白5 醜5 處5 登5 瀆5 惡5 焚5 服5 高5 簋5 鬼5 貴5 含5 何5 厚5 戶5 及5 祭5 甲5 皆5 嗟5 懼5 考5 羸5 男5 橈5 寧5 品5 平5 牽5 勝5 思5 死5 錫5 須5 遺5 易5 陰5 又5 渝5 者5 執5

Specific Contexts

Used 2-4 times. Less frequent occurrences tied to specific hexagrams.

401 words

bi3: (the) ladle

bian4: (to) distinguish

bo3: (the) lame

chang4: (consecrated

die2: (to) bite

fu3: (and) (an) axe

gong1: (the) palace

hao3: (to) applaud

he2: (to be) through

he4: (are) sharply; (are) scolded; clamoring

hui4: nightfall

hui4: (and) (be) kind-; kind

ji1: (is) discerning

jiao1: instructs

jiu4: long-standing

jue2: (in) wild-eyed; right and left

kan4: (and) honk(ing); calls

kou3: (to) (the) mouth [the length of food chain ]

kun1: (to) receive

li3: li (around); villages ; } [50 km; 32 miles ]

li4: stands; takes

luan2: ^ (a) bond

mi2: (in) confusion

mu3: big toe(s)

pian1: fluttering

qi2: (the) appointed

qi4: (to) almost

qiu1: (the) hill(sides

rong2: tolerant

shang1: harmful

she4: (his) aim at

shen2: (and) spirits

shu4: (the) multitude of

suo3: (is) mean

wei1: ^ dignity; ^ dignified

wei2: (a) crisis

wei2: (is) contradiction

xi1: (are) smirking

xi4: (to) tie (up)

xiao4: fettered

xing1: exuberance

xing2: to sanction

xing3: visit; study

ye3: (the) wild(s)

yi4: (being) held up; dragged

yin3: (to be)led

you1: a cause for mourning

you2: (at) (the) source

you4: (is) protection

yu2: preparation

yun3: permission

zhang3: (to) complete

zhao4: (and) illuminating

zhi2: straight*(forward)

bu4: (woven) screens

chong2: (to be) repeated

chong3: sp onsorship

chuan2: (are) rushed

cong1: (quick at

di2: (the) rival(ry)

di4: (the) younger

dian4: (the) lightning

ding4: (to) resolve

dou3: (the) bushel (constellation)

duo1: (the) plentiful

fan4: confronting; rushing

fen1: (to be) (evenly

fu4: (its) axle strut

guo3: ^with thoroughness; (to) fruition

hu2: foxes; fox

huan3: letting go

ji1: ^(of) Ji (ancient Shang state); ^

ji1: (is) collected

jian4: (in) offering (^ ) (up) (^ )

le4: (and) happy; (with) pleasure

liang2: (a) fine

liu2: flow into

lu4: (on)(the) dry land

miao3: (the) one-eyed; weak

mu4: eyed; (their) eyes; glare

qi4: tears; weeping

qie4: (a nd) concubine

qin1: to relate

shan4: goodness

shi3: (and) arrows

shou3: to guard

shuo4: (the) ripe

su4: ( ^) simple

su4: invitation(s); invitation

ta1: additional

tun2: (for) piglets

wang4: full; fullness "

wen2: (but) to hear; listen to

xian2: training

xiu1: retiring from

xiu1: (the) shame

yang2: (and) promotes

yin1: crow(ing)

yong1: battlement

you3: companion

you4: (and) protect(ing)

yu4: tolerating

yun4: co nceives; (has) conceived; (is) pregnant

zhen4: stimulates

zhi3: happiness

zhi4: restraint

zhou4: (and) (in

bei4: belongings

bi2: (the) nose

bi4: (is) cracked

bian4: articulates

bu1: takes refuge; to retreat

chen2: daybreak

chi2: (the) slow

chu4: (who) butts (against)

cui1: ^ overwhelmed; ^ frustrated

cuo4: ^ mixed up

di2: seen (face to face); (a) visitor; encounter "

du4: (the) measures

duo3: ^ hanging open

er3: (t he) near

er4: (or) two; (and) (a) spare

fa2: (and) penalties

fang2: (to) defend

fei1: out(side) of; to not be; (to be) wrong

fei2: (lower) legs

fu2: sashed (nobles); sashes

fu2: (its) wheel(’s) spokes

fu2: veil; carriage screen

fu4: (the) fish

fu4: overturning

fu4: (of) (the) belly

gan1: (to be) creative

geng1: ploughing

gong1: (upper) arm

gu1: (and) (all) alone

guan1: (the) standards

huai2: embracing

huan2: (all) around

huan4: suffering

huang1: (the) wild(erness)

huang2: (the) moat [a dry ditch at the base of a wall ]

hui4: (whole) cluster

ji1: (and) climb

ji1: offer (up)

ji2: thorny; thorns

ji3: one’s (own)

ji4: (and) (the) (altar)(s) (to) grain

jia2: } jawbones: (and) mandible

jian3: (is) restrained

jie1: ^ together

jin4: penetrates

ju4: seize; grab

ju4: sandaled feet; poor shoes

kang1: (the) prosperous

kui1: diminishes

kuo4: (a) tied up; (en)closed

lei3: (and) vines

li2: brambles; (and) brambles

lian2: alliance(s)

lin2: (the) forest(’s); (the) ^ (the) forest

lu2: (their)(own) hovels

mei2: neck and shoulders

mei4: gownsleeves; embroidery; attire

mian4: (leather) masks

mie4: (to) dismiss

mo4: (and) (the) end

na4: acc epting

ni4: (the) resistant

ning2: consolidate

pei4: (be) worthy of

pei4: (flowing) banners

peng2: (place of) dominion

qian1: exceeds; (is) delayed (goes) beyond

qian1: (in) moving

qian2: (to be) hidden

qiang1: assault

qin1: to occupy

qing1: overturn

qiu2: (to) seek

quan4: (to) encourage; urging

ru2: (by the) roots "

sha1: (the) sand

sha1: sa crifices

shang1: (the) merchants

shao3: (to be) small

she2: (and) tongue

she4: (the) altar(s) to land

shen1: set forth

sheng1: sacrifices(ificial) beasts

shi1: (dead) bodies

shi4: (a) young (gentle)man

shi4: (and) young male

shou4: (winter) hunt

shuai1: diminishes

shuai4: captains

shuang1: (the) frost

su4: to be early

su4: (simple) meal

tao2: (and) weeping; lament

tu2: go on foot

xian4: entrapment

xian4: boundaries

xiang2: (the) omens

xiang4: alley; back

yan4: relaxed; at leisure

yi2: (and) sniveling

yi3: Yi(’s) [ next to the last Shang Emperor ] "

yi4: (and) discuss

yi4: (a) hundred thousand

yong2: ^ dignity(fied)

yu4: oppose; defend

yu4: ^ rope; (the) rope

yue4: (and) feet cut off; footless; [defeeted]

zai4: (to ask) two

zhan4: (at) war; do

zhi1: worthy (of); respectable; need for

zhou4: (re-) lined

zhu1: every; all of the; the many

zu3: (the) ancestors’

Hapax Legomena

Used only 1 time. Rare, highly specific terms or unique metaphorical imagery.

250 words

bao1: ( ^) (the) seedlings

bao3: (getting) fill (ed

bei4: affectation

bei4: exhausting

bi3: grandmother; late

bing3: (is) evident

bo2: (of) silk(s)

cang2: concealment

cha2: to discover

che4: hin dered

cheng1: assessing

cheng2: (the) (city) wall(s)

cheng2: corrects

chi4: (the) blush

chong2: to honor

chou2: (but) (a

chou2: ^ anxious

chui2: (let) drag

cong2: (a) thicket

cuan4: (or) (even) flee

dai4: (and) ribbons

dui4: ac cording to

duo2: to collect

fan2: (such) general

fan2: complicated

fen4: hard feeling

gan1: (the) shore(line)

gan3: presume(ption)(s)

gan4: from a Gan River gorge (Jiangxi Province) ?

gao4: (and) decrees

ge4: each being

gong1: (to) attack

gou3: the bitch

gu4: (and) (hand)cuffs

gua1: (the) melons

guai1: strangeness

guan1: (the) frontier (

guan4: (a) string(line)

he2: (are) gather

hong2: (the) vast(ness)

hui1: brightness

hui1: resplendent

ji2: (and) (to) draw

ji2: thorny brambles

jian4: (and) (the) disregarded

jiu4: suffering

jue2: parting or dying words; farewell; secret

jue2: (it) bre ak

kai1: establish

kui1: sacrifices

lan4: overripeness

le4: (leather) restraint

li4: watches over

li4: (the) calendar(s)

liang3: ^ twice

liu2: prolonged

lou4: (and) leaking

luo2: (bird) netting

man3: satis fies

mao4: prospered

mei4: (and) obscurity

mi2: (will) drain

mo4: (and) (stranded

mou2: considers

nie4: un steadily(iness); feebly

pan2: (the) leather (big

po2: ^ (to be) (of) pure

pu3: (is) everywhere

qi1: ^ grief; ^ grievous

qi3: ( ^) willow(s)

qi4: (and) tools

qi4: ^ (soon) forgotten

qian1: deficient

qiang2: invigorated

qing1: (are) articulated

qiu2: (the) cheeks

qu1: (mounted) game flushers

ren2: compassion

ren4: (are) (well-) prepare

rong2: (himself) honor(s)

ru2: (to be) (just

ru2: short coat

ruo4: (are) weak

san4: separated

sang1: (of) mulberry (v)

shang3: (the) grants

shen1: depth; the deep

sheng4: abundance

shi2: (recorded) knowledge

shi4: (an) experiment

shi4: embellishment

shi4: (their) domestic affairs

shou1: co mes in

shu3: (the) number

su2: (the) common

suan4: to reckon

tang1: Tang (founder of the Shang dynasty)

teng2: gushing (with)

tong3: the whole of

tu1: ^ breakthrough

tuo2: ^ running water; streaming

wei2: (all) alone

wei4: (is) (rich in) subtle(ty)

wo4: (helping) hand(clasp)(ed)

wo4: (is) soaked

wu1: (and) diviners

wu4: (and) awkwardly(ness); uncomfortably

xi1: pr eserved

xia2: aloofness

xian4: wild (edible) greens

xiang2: soaring

xiang2: examining details

xiao4: (the) filial (to honor one’s parents)

xin1: improvement

xing4: (its) natural disposition

xu1: (the) silk jacket; fine clothing

xu4: (to be) sequential

xu4: (to) continue

xuan2: come full circle; (make

yan3: (is) covered over

yi1: worn; wear

yi1: dependably

yi4: (bow)hunts (with tethered/harpoon arrows)

you4: deals leniently; (is) broad-minded; excuses

yu2: the first person

yu2: excess(iveness)

yu3: (and) expression

yuan2: (and) (in) gardens

yuan4: an officer

yun4: displeasure

za2: (to be) miscellaneous

zai1: 62.6 adversity

zang1: right; good order; secret

zhan1: divining

zhan1: ^turning around

zhang1: stretch

zhao1: (the) morning

zhen3: (a) resting place (to rest)

zheng4: policies

zhi2: to kick; plant

zhi4: (&) put aside

zhi4: (the) shackles

zhou1: boat’s

zhu1: (the) scarlet

zhu1: (a) (^) cane

zhu1: censorship

zhu2: (and) falter

zhuo2: (but) weigh

zu2: all together

zu2: (and) family

Data Correction Log

16.2xMathews ID error: 5739 → 5379; Pinyin error: bu2 → bu4.

46.3xPinyin error: shen1 → sheng1.

04.TPinyin error: qiu2 → qiu3.

35.6xPinyin error: fa2 → fa1.

35.0Pinyin error: fan2 → fan1.

24.4xPinyin error: fu3 → fu4.

15.TPinyin error: hao4 → hao3.

30.1xPinyin error: zhi2 → zhi1.

06.4xPinyin error: ji3 → ji2.

02.7xCharacter error, Mathews ID error: "顒" (8008) → "用" (7567).

32.5xPinyin error: zi2 → zi3.

07.5xPinyin error: zi4 → zi3.

23.1xPinyin error: zu4 → zu3.

55.2Character error: "不" (8001) → "蔀" (8001).

55.4Character error: "不" (8001) → "蔀" (8001).

55.6Character error: "不" (8001) → "蔀" (8001).

12.2xPinyin error (Mathews 3097): ren4 → ren2.

These known issues have been corrected in this digital edition. If you find other errors, please report them below.

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"The meaning of a word is its use in the language." — Wittgenstein