Appendix: The Evolution of the I Ching: A Chronological Overview
Pre-Zhou Period (Before 1046 BC):
Legendary origins attributed to Fu Xi
Basic concepts of yin and yang, and possibly early forms of trigrams
Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC):
Development of the "Zhouyi" or "Changes of Zhou"
Establishment of 64 hexagrams with basic judgments
Core divination system with changing lines
Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC):
Beginning of philosophical interpretations
Possible start of the "Ten Wings" commentaries
Possible start of Individual Line Readings
Traditionally attributed to King Wen of Zhou and the Duke of Zhou, but modern scholarship suggests they were likely composed and compiled by various scholars and diviners over an extended period.
Warring States Period (475-221 BC):
Completion of the "Ten Wings" commentaries (traditionally attributed to Confucius)
Expansion of philosophical interpretations
Integration with emerging schools of thought (Confucianism, Taoism)
Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD):
Major synthesis of I Ching with other philosophical systems
Association of trigrams with directions, seasons, family members, body parts
Integration with Five Elements (Wu Xing) theory
Emergence of "image and number" school of I Ching interpretation
Six Dynasties to Sui Dynasty (220-618 AD):
Further development of symbolic correspondences
Influence of Buddhist thought on interpretations
Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD):
Popularization of the three-coin divination method
Integration of I Ching principles into poetry and literature
Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD):
Neo-Confucian interpretations, especially by Shao Yong and Zhu Xi
Development of elaborate numerological systems based on the I Ching
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD):
Revival of interest in earlier Han dynasty interpretations
Publication of major compilations and commentaries
Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD):
Scholarly textual studies of the I Ching
Attempts to reconstruct original meanings and strip away later accretions
Early Modern Period (17th-18th centuries):
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz's encounter with the I Ching (1697)
Leibniz recognizes similarities between I Ching's binary system and his own binary arithmetic
Leibniz's correspondence with Joachim Bouvet about I Ching (1701-1703)
Leibniz publishes "Explanation of Binary Arithmetic" (1703), influenced by I Ching
Enlightenment and Colonial Era (18th-19th centuries):
First translations of I Ching into European languages
Jean-Baptiste Régis's Latin translation (completed 1737, published 1834)
James Legge's English translation (1882)
Modern Era (20th century onwards):
Western translations and interpretations
Psychological interpretations by Carl Jung (1920s-1930s)
Aleister Crowley's "Liber Trigrammaton" (1944), connecting I Ching to his magical system
John Cage's use of I Ching in musical compositions (1950s-1960s)
Claude Shannon's information theory connections to I Ching binary system (1940s-1950s)
Alan Watts (1915-1973): Wrote "The Way of Zen" (1957). British philosopher and popularizer of Eastern philosophy. Wrote about and lectured on the I Ching.
Terence McKenna's Timewave Zero theory based on King Wen sequence of hexagrams (1970s-1990s)
Philip K. Dick's use of I Ching in "The Man in the High Castle" (1962)
Integration with modern scientific and philosophical concepts
Digital adaptations and new divination methods
DNA-I Ching correlations proposed by various researchers (late 20th century)
This chronology shows the I Ching's evolution from an ancient divination manual to a complex philosophical system, and its continued influence on various fields of study and creative endeavors in the modern era. Each period added new layers of interpretation, reflecting changing intellectual landscapes across history and cultures.
Last updated