Yijing (I Ching)
A classic based on the 64 hexagrams and their line texts, from which both the divination and philosophical schools of later generations derived.
The Yijing (I Ching) is a classic built upon the 64 hexagrams, their hexagram texts, and line texts. Its content is divided into two parts: the 'Classic' (the hexagram and line texts) and the 'Commentaries' (interpretations written by later scholars).
From it, two distinct lines of thought have emerged and continue to coexist:
- Image-Number (Xiangshu): Focuses on the symbolic imagery of hexagrams, line positions, and numerical derivations; divination falls under this tradition.
- Philosophical Meaning (Yili): Reads the hexagram and line texts as principles for conduct and governance, without engaging in divination.
⚠️ Both schools read the same book, yet their conclusions can be entirely different. This site lists the hexagram imagery and commonly accepted explanations without advocating for either approach as definitive.