Semiotics & the I-Ching

Semiotics is the study of signs. It is hard to define, as a sign can be either a living organism or not. Most of us today would see semiotics as a study of the most primitive form of communication. People communicated in signs before talking was an option – it is something we still do today. How else would we know what to do at an intersection but for the red octagon? That is a prime example of a non-living organism being a sign.

The second article, written by Eugene Gormy, says that “perhaps the most widespread, canonical definition of semiotics is the definition by subject: “Semiotics is the science of signs and/or sign systems”.” He continues on to prove that “something which is usually perceived as a sign, can in some occasions be perceived (and used) as a simple thing. For example, one can read and interpret the Bible, considering it a sacred and symbolic object but one can also to kill somebody using the Bible to hit him on the head. Sometimes people give things special meanings, transforming them into signs which can be quite insignificant to other people.” I think an example of this would be the I-Ching. While it exists physically as an ancient (and classic) Chinese text, it is also seen as a system of foretelling the future.


picture of I-Ching coins found through Google at dragon-gate.com