History of the I Ching
The history of the I Ching is widely debated as its origin is buried in the midst of early pre-history. Many speculations exist, such as the revelation several thousand years ago of teachings on a tortoise shell given to the first mythical emperor of China, Fu Hsi, who then created the schema of the eight trigrams. The possibility remains open that the I Ching was the coherent vision of an unknown great sage or visionary.
What is known is that this is an ancient text; it is believed to have originated in China thousands of years ago, and may be the oldest text in humanity’s existence. It emerged in stages of development, starting out as simple graphical codes (lines and trigrams) which symbolized the patterns of nature and the movement of energy in life. A great advancement was made when King Wen of China added the written word by composing the commentary for the hexagram symbols (11th Century BCE). Numerous philosophers, religious scholars and practitioners were both influenced by the I Ching and had an impact upon its transformation through the centuries. These contributions essentially initiated what we have as the I Ching teachings today. What started as a tool for divination was expanded over time into the realm of a practice for inner development and alignment with our highest virtues.
There have been numerous interpretations of the I Ching from the archaic to the modern. Versions which have been written for current times and understanding that we have found most useful are listed in our Resources section. They provide a wealth of background knowledge and wisdom in their interpretations. The version we present here has drawn upon this expertise and insight, as well as upon the personal experiences of decades of practice. “How do you bring the spiritual principles at the heart of the I Ching into an understanding and application in our daily lives in the 21st Century?” To this end, a present-day interpretation of the teachings into the most modern language possible, with those seekers in mind who value a serious approach to self-development and change, is put forth.