Yi King (I Ching) - Classic Text | Alexandria
The I Ching (Yi King), also known as the Book of Changes, stands as one of humanity's oldest living oracles, a profound text whose influence extends far beyond its Chinese origins. While traditionally attributed to Confucius (551-479 BCE) as a commentator rather than its original author, his interpretations through the "Ten Wings" (shi yi) transformed what began as a Bronze Age divination manual into a sophisticated philosophical treatise that would shape Eastern thought for millennia.
Dating back to the Western Zhou period (1000-750 BCE), the core text emerged from ancient divination practices using yarrow stalks and tortoise shells. The original oracle consisted of sixty-four hexagrams—six-line figures formed by solid and broken lines—each representing different cosmic principles and life situations. Archaeological evidence from the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE) reveals early forms of these divinatory practices, though the systematic compilation would come later.
Confucius's engagement with the I Ching marked a pivotal transformation in its interpretation. His commentaries elevated the text from a mere fortune-telling device to a sophisticated system of cosmic philosophy, integrating concepts of yin and yang, the five elements, and moral wisdom. The sage allegedly declared that if granted additional years of life, he would dedicate fifty to studying the I Ching, reflecting its inexhaustible depth. This metamorphosis spawned countless scholarly interpretations across East Asia, influencing fields from statecraft to medicine.
The text's enigmatic nature continues to captivate modern minds, drawing attention from psychologist Carl Jung, who wrote the foreword to Richard Wilhelm's seminal 1950 translation, and inspiring contemporary applications in fields as diverse as business strategy and artificial intelligence. Modern scholars debate whether certain portions attributed to Confucius might have been later additions, while others explore the text's remarkable mathematical properties and potential connections to binary computing principles. The I Ching remains a living paradox: an ancient oracle that speaks to contemporary concerns, a practical guide illuminating universal patterns, and a philosophical text that continues to yield new insights across cultures and centuries. What other ancient wisdom might still await discovery within its cryptic hexagrams?