<
It is a mysterious work in ancient China. Because it was popular in the Zhou Dynasty, it was called "The Book of Changes". It is respected by Confucians as the first of the group of scriptures. Judging from its arrangement and text content, it is a book for divination. This article discusses the Yijing in a broad sense, including the "Yijing" and "Yizhuan"; "Lianshan" and "Guizang" which are only mentioned by name in ancient books (whether they exist in fact or not) will not be discussed.
When Qin Shihuang burned books and harassed scholars, Li Si secretly included the "Book of Changes" in the book of medical divination and survived.
As for its author, "Historical Records" records that "King Wen was restrained and performed the Book of Changes." Therefore, the ancients mostly believed that the "Book of Changes" was written by King Wen of Zhou based on Sima Qian's theory, but modern people have different views. Because the book was written very early and the meaning of the words evolved with the times, the content of the "Book of Changes" was no longer easy to understand during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Therefore, the ancients specially wrote the "Book of Changes" to interpret the "Book of Changes". What we call "Zhouyi" today usually refers to the combination of "Book of Changes" and "Book of Changes".
Some people believe that the nature of a book of divination cannot obscure the value of the "Book of Changes" as a great work. Divination originated from human beings' desire to explain the world, and the germ of philosophy grew out of primitive religion. The "Book of Changes" provides a good example of this. In Chinese philosophy, the basic theory of yin and yang complementing each other and the unity of opposites is rooted in the Book of Changes. Later generations developed complex philosophical systems from the "Book of Changes", and both Confucian and Taoist doctrines were obviously influenced by the "Book of Changes". Modern people have interpreted the research value of philosophy, politics, history, military, folk customs and many other aspects from the "Book of Changes".
According to the records of "The Rites of Zhou", there are "Three Changes of Methods" for divination, and the "Book of Changes" is only one of them. The other two "Lianshan" and "Gui Zang" have been lost.
"Yi" was highly praised by many subsequent researchers, and many Yi studies researchers were recognized as knowledgeable scholars at that time. Those who study the Zhouyi can be roughly divided into two schools: the Yili School and the Xiangshu School. The Giri School focuses on exploring the philosophical value of the Book of Changes, while the Xiangshu School focuses on using the Book of Changes for divination. The former is like Wang Bi of the Eastern Han Dynasty and Cheng Yi of the Northern Song Dynasty, and the latter is like Jingfang of the Western Han Dynasty and Shao Yong of the Northern Song Dynasty. For example, the well-known Hetu Luoshu and Tai Chi diagrams (circular patterns with yin and yang fish) are not included in the original book of the "Book of Changes" and were added by later generations based on their understanding of the "Book of Changes".