The I Ching is cryptic in nature and many interpretations of and commentaries on the text were written over time. Moreover, instead of attributing the authorship of the text to one particular historical figure, this view holds that the I Ching is a compilation of divinatory concepts that were current during the Western Zhou period. Among other things, this view expresses doubt in the existence of Fu Xi and argues that the 64 hexagrams predate the eight trigrams.

around the late 9 th century BC, toward the end of the Western Zhou Dynasty. The alternative view, which is based on modern scholarship, suggests that the I Ching was compiled at a much later date, i.e. By the time of Yu the Great, a legendary Chinese ruler who lived towards the end of the 3 rd millennium BC, the eight trigrams had developed into the 64 hexagrams which is the way the structure of the I Ching is arranged. Legend has it that the eight trigrams were supernaturally revealed to Fu Xi. According to the traditional Chinese view, the I Ching was written by the mythical sage king Fu Xi, who is believed to have lived during the first half of the 3 rd millennium BC. There are two main views regarding the authorship of the I Ching.

The influence of the I Ching is still felt even today as many concepts that characterize the traditional Chinese world view, including Yin and Yang, Qi, and the Five Elements are expounded in this ancient text. Although the I Ching was originally used for divination purposes, it later became an important part of the Chinese philosophical system as well. It is the oldest of the Five Classics of Confucianism and offers practical wisdom for any situation and an ordering of the universe. The I Ching (commonly translated as вЂBook of ChangesвЂ™ or вЂClassic of ChangesвЂ™) is an ancient philosophical Chinese text and one of the most important books in world literature.

Philosophy of i ching