I Ching (Yijing)

Overview & Historical Origins

The I Ching (Wade-Giles romanization) or Yijing (Pinyin), known as the Book of Changes, is one of the oldest Chinese classical texts and divination systems, with origins dating back over 3,000 years to the Western Zhou Dynasty (1000-750 BCE) and possibly earlier. It consists of 64 hexagrams, each composed of six stacked lines that are either broken (yin) or unbroken (yang), representing the fundamental binary forces underlying all existence.

The text evolved through several historical layers: the hexagrams themselves (believed to derive from even older divination practices using oracle bones and turtle shells), the brief hexagram and line statements attributed to King Wen and the Duke of Zhou, and later philosophical commentaries known as the Ten Wings, traditionally attributed to Confucius but likely compiled by his followers during the Warring States period (475-221 BCE).

Core Philosophy: Change and Transformation

The central principle of the I Ching is that reality is not static but constantly transforming according to natural patterns. Change occurs through the dynamic interplay of yin and yang:

• Yang (—): The creative, active, masculine, bright, firm, heaven principle
• Yin (- -): The receptive, passive, feminine, dark, yielding, earth principle

Unlike Western binary opposition, yin and yang are complementary forces that transform into each other. The hexagrams capture moments in this continuous cycle of transformation, providing insight into the present situation and indicating how change is likely to unfold.

Purpose and Applications

• Divination: Receiving guidance on specific questions or situations
• Philosophical Study: Understanding the principles of change and cosmic order
• Meditation: Contemplating the hexagram images and judgments
• Decision-Making: Gaining perspective on timing and proper action
• Self-Cultivation: Aligning oneself with natural processes and moral development
• Strategic Planning: Assessing situations in business, politics, and warfare

Key Components & Structure

The Eight Trigrams (Bagua)

The foundation of the I Ching consists of eight trigrams, three-line figures representing fundamental forces of nature and aspects of reality:

The 64 Hexagrams

Hexagrams are formed by stacking two trigrams (lower and upper), creating 64 possible combinations (8 × 8). Each hexagram has a number, name, image, judgment, and commentary on each of its six lines.

Example Hexagrams (Select Notable Examples)

...and 52 more hexagrams, each with unique meanings and line commentaries.

Structure of Each Hexagram

Every hexagram entry in the I Ching contains several components:

• Number and Name: Sequential position (1-64) and Chinese name with translation
• Symbol/Image: Natural imagery associated with the trigram combination
• Judgment (Tuàn): Overall assessment of the hexagram's meaning
• Image Commentary: Symbolic interpretation suggesting proper action
• Line Texts: Six individual statements for each line position
• Changing Lines: Indications of transformation to other hexagrams

Practice & Methods

Traditional Methods of Consultation

Yarrow Stalk Method (Shì Fǎ)

The classical method using 50 yarrow stalks (one set aside, using 49):

1. Begin with 49 stalks, divide randomly into two piles
2. Set aside one stalk from the right pile
3. Count out the left pile in groups of four; remainder goes between fingers
4. Count out the right pile in groups of four; remainder goes between fingers
5. Combine remainders (will equal 5 or 9)
6. Repeat this process three times to determine one line (6, 7, 8, or 9)
7. Repeat entire process six times to build the hexagram from bottom to top

This elaborate process takes 15-20 minutes and creates a meditative state conducive to receiving insight. The method produces probabilities that favor certain line values, which traditional practitioners consider cosmologically significant.

Three Coin Method

A simplified method that became popular during the Han Dynasty:

1. Use three identical coins (traditionally Chinese coins with inscription)
2. Assign values: Heads = 3 (yang), Tails = 2 (yin)
3. Toss three coins simultaneously
4. Sum the values: 6 = changing yin, 7 = stable yang, 8 = stable yin, 9 = changing yang
5. Record the line (broken for yin, unbroken for yang)
6. Repeat six times, building from bottom to top

While faster than yarrow stalks, this method produces different probabilities for changing versus stable lines.

Interpreting the Response

Reading Strategy

The traditional approach to interpretation involves multiple layers:

1. Primary Hexagram: Read the Judgment and Image for overall situation
2. Changing Lines: Read the line texts for any moving lines (bottom to top)
3. Relating Hexagrams: If multiple lines change, sometimes read only top and bottom
4. Future Hexagram: Transform changing lines to create the resultant hexagram
5. Synthesis: Integrate all readings into coherent guidance

Formulating Questions

The quality of the question significantly affects the usefulness of the response:

• Be Specific: "How should I approach this job opportunity?" rather than "What about work?"
• Focus on Understanding: "What do I need to know about..." rather than "Will I..."
• Request Guidance: "What is the best approach to..." rather than yes/no questions
• Timing Questions: "Is now the right time to..." acknowledges the I Ching's emphasis on timing
• Single Focus: One clear question per consultation rather than multiple topics

Ethical Considerations

Traditional practice emphasizes approaching the I Ching with sincerity and respect:

• Don't consult frivolously or repeatedly on the same question
• Maintain a receptive, contemplative state rather than demanding answers
• Accept challenging or unexpected responses
• Use insights to inform decisions rather than abdicate responsibility
• Consider the oracle a teacher, not a fortune-telling device

Traditions & Variations

Philosophical Schools

Confucian Interpretation

The Confucian approach emphasizes moral development, social harmony, and proper conduct. The Ten Wings commentaries interpret hexagrams as guidance for ethical behavior, self-cultivation, and fulfilling one's role in society. Key concepts include:

• Alignment with the "Mandate of Heaven" (Tianming)
• Development of virtue (de) through proper action
• Recognition of one's position in the social and cosmic order
• Timing actions according to natural cycles

Taoist Interpretation

Taoist readings emphasize spontaneity, naturalness, and wu wei (effortless action). Rather than moral prescriptions, Taoist interpretation focuses on:

• Flowing with circumstances rather than forcing outcomes
• Recognizing the natural tendency of situations to transform
• Understanding when to act and when to refrain
• Maintaining balance and avoiding extremes

Neo-Confucian Cosmology

Song Dynasty scholars like Shao Yong developed elaborate metaphysical systems based on the I Ching, connecting hexagrams to the generation of reality itself through the Supreme Ultimate (Taiji) differentiating into yin and yang, then into four symbols, then eight trigrams, then 64 hexagrams—a cosmogonic sequence.

Western Adaptations

Jungian Psychology

Carl Jung introduced the I Ching to Western psychology, interpreting it through his concept of synchronicity—meaningful coincidences that reflect the archetypal structure of the collective unconscious. Jung saw hexagrams as representing universal psychic patterns, making consultation a method of accessing unconscious knowledge.

Wilhelm-Baynes Translation

Richard Wilhelm's German translation (1923), later rendered into English by Cary Baynes (1950) with Jung's foreword, became the standard Western version. Wilhelm studied with Chinese scholars and incorporated both Confucian and Taoist perspectives, making the text philosophically rich though sometimes departing from literal translation.

Contemporary Interpretations

Modern Western practitioners have developed various approaches:

• Psychological Tool: Using hexagrams for self-reflection and decision-making
• Creative Inspiration: Artists and writers consulting for creative direction
• Business Strategy: Corporate consultants applying I Ching principles to management
• Simplified Systems: Apps and online consultations using random number generation

Related Chinese Divinatory Practices

Feng Shui and the Bagua

The eight trigrams form the foundation of Feng Shui's Later Heaven arrangement, used to analyze spatial energy and orient buildings. Each trigram corresponds to life areas: career, relationships, wealth, health, etc.

Plum Blossom Numerology (Mei Hua Yi Shu)

Divination method using numbers derived from natural phenomena (time, observations, sounds) to generate hexagrams spontaneously without coins or yarrow stalks.

Qi Men Dun Jia

Complex divinatory system combining the I Ching with Chinese astrology, used historically for military strategy and currently for business timing and feng shui.

Primary Sources & Further Reading

Classical Texts and Translations

• Wilhelm, Richard (trans.), Baynes, Cary F. (English trans.). The I Ching or Book of Changes (1950)
  The most influential Western translation, based on Wilhelm's study with Chinese scholars. Includes Jung's foreword on synchronicity. Combines Confucian moral interpretation with accessible language, though sometimes interpretive rather than literal.
• Lynn, Richard John (trans.). The Classic of Changes: A New Translation of the I Ching as Interpreted by Wang Bi (1994)
  Scholarly translation of Wang Bi's (226-249 CE) influential commentary, representing the Neo-Taoist philosophical approach. More literal than Wilhelm, focusing on the Chinese intellectual tradition.
• Rutt, Richard (trans.). The Book of Changes (Zhouyi): A Bronze Age Document (1996)
  Academic translation emphasizing the text's original Bronze Age context, stripping away later philosophical elaborations to reveal the oracle's earliest form. Controversial but historically rigorous.
• Huang, Alfred (trans.). The Complete I Ching: The Definitive Translation (1998)
  Translation by a native Chinese speaker who studied the text during imprisonment in the Cultural Revolution. Includes detailed explanations of Chinese characters and decision-making processes, emphasizing practical application.
• Shaughnessy, Edward L. (trans.). I Ching: The Classic of Changes (1996)
  Translation of the Mawangdui silk manuscript version (168 BCE), discovered in 1973. Shows the text's form before standardization, with different hexagram sequences and variant readings.

Historical and Scholarly Studies

• Smith, Richard J. Fathoming the Cosmos and Ordering the World: The Yijing (I Ching, or Classic of Changes) and Its Evolution in China (2008)
  Comprehensive intellectual history examining how the I Ching was interpreted across different periods and philosophical schools in China, from ancient divination to Neo-Confucian cosmology.
• Redmond, Geoffrey and Hon, Tze-ki. Teaching the I Ching (Book of Changes) (2014)
  Detailed scholarly introduction covering historical development, philosophical interpretations, textual structure, and pedagogical approaches. Excellent resource for serious study.
• Kunst, Richard Alan. The Original Yijing: A Text, Phonetic Transcription, Translation, and Indexes, with Sample Glosses (1985)
  Philological study reconstructing the text's original meanings through linguistic analysis, separate from later interpretive traditions. Highly technical but foundational for understanding textual evolution.

Practical and Interpretive Guides

• Wing, R.L. The I Ching Workbook (1979)
  Accessible introduction with modernized interpretations, practical exercises, and visual diagrams. Particularly useful for beginners and contemporary applications.
• Karcher, Stephen. Total I Ching: Myths for Change (2003)
  Comprehensive guide integrating scholarly research with practical divination techniques. Includes historical context, detailed hexagram analysis, and methods for consultation.
• Blofeld, John. I Ching: The Book of Change (1965)
  Translation and commentary by a Western scholar who lived in China and studied with traditional teachers. Emphasizes Taoist interpretation and meditative approaches.

Contemporary Applications

• Minford, John (trans.). I Ching (Yijing): The Book of Change (2014)
  Modern translation incorporating recent scholarship with extensive commentary drawing on Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian sources. Emphasizes spiritual and philosophical dimensions.

Cross-References & Related Practices

Related Divination Systems

Chinese Philosophical Traditions

Archetypal Patterns

Symbolic Correspondences

The I Ching connects to numerous symbolic systems:

• Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water phases in Chinese cosmology
• Celestial Stems and Earthly Branches: Chinese calendrical system
• Animal Symbolism: Dragon, Phoenix, Tiger, Tortoise representing cosmic forces
• Seasonal Cycles: Hexagrams corresponding to times of year
• Body Systems: Correspondences with organs and meridians in Chinese medicine