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Oppression, Abysmal, and Return of Light: The I Ching Symbolisms in Philip K. Dick’s The Man in the High Castle

April 06 4:15 PM - 5:30 PM

Borzello Hall, Room 116

This event is open to the public.

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Prof. John T.P. Lai will describe the multifaceted influences of the Chinese philosophical/religious text I Ching (Book of Changes) upon Philip K. Dick’s Hugo Award-winning novel The Man in the High Castle (1962). His talk will examine the ways in which the characters draw from the wellspring of ancient wisdom in the I Ching to tackle day-to-day anxiety and distress in Dick’s fictional world where the United States was occupied by Japan and Nazi Germany. Dick’s novel was the basis for the recent Amazon Studios series by the same name. 

Prof. Lai received his DPhil. from Oxford University (2005) and is currently Professor in the Department of Cultural and Religious Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong. His research interests focus on religion and literature in China, Biblical reception in Chinese contexts, and global I Ching (Book of Changes) studies.  

Sponsored by the Religious Studies Program, with assistance from the Knight Fund for Religious Studies, and the Asian Studies Program.