Abstract: This essay traces briefly the history of the research of mental imagery made by western psychologists and summarizes the development of the latest activity cycle theory of conscious imagery. This essay makes a comparison between the activity cycle theory of conscious imagery and the traditional Chinese cultural thought contained in ancient Chinese works such as I Ching in order to provide psychological theoretical evidences concerning the research of mental imagery for the diathesis education reformation.

Key words: mental imagery, cognitive theories of mental imagery, the activity cycle theory of conscious imagery, I Ching