What kind of book is Zhouyi?

Zhouyi is one of the most important cultural classics in ancient times, which embodies the profound wisdom of the Chinese nation. It is the most attractive classic in China's traditional culture, and is known as "the head of the group classics and the source of a hundred schools of thought". Zhouyi and its derived culture are one of the roots and fountains of China's cultural development, which has had a profound and tremendous influence in the long historical evolution of China. Its influence not only covers many aspects such as traditional politics, economy and culture in China and even East Asia, but also has a close relationship with traditional architecture, medicine, music, painting and daily life in China and even East Asia. The current Book of Changes consists of the Book of Changes and the Book of Changes.

The author of the Book of Changes and the time of its completion have been debated in past dynasties. The earliest saying was that "Fuxi began to paint innate gossip", and later there was a saying that "Wang Wen was arrested and played Zhouyi". The latter statement originated from Historical Records written by Sima Qian, a historian in the Western Han Dynasty, and was mostly accepted by the ancients. Therefore, many generations agree with Sima Qian that the Book of Changes was the work of Zhou Wenwang during his imprisonment by Shang Zhouwang (4 kilometers north of Tangyin, Henan). Modern people also hold another view that the Book of Changes was not written by one person, but by a group of magicians, historians and fortune tellers in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, referring to the accumulated divination materials, historical documents and social life experience. The silk book Yijing unearthed from Mawangdui Han Tomb in Changsha confirms this view. Despite the above statement, it is certain that the Book of Changes was written in Shang and Zhou Dynasties.

The Book of Changes is a collection of works to explain and develop the Book of Changes during the Warring States Period. It is said that it originated from Confucius and was compiled by Confucius in his later research. It can also be regarded as a philosophical work that guides people to apply the laws of nature and social development. The Book of Changes consists of seven chapters, and its creation time is not very long (about five or six hundred years) from the formation of the scriptures. It is the most original and authoritative text to explain scripture. These seven articles are: Biography of Xun, Biography of Xiang, Biography of Cohesion, Biography of Classical Chinese, Biography of Shuo Gua, Biography of Preface Gua and Biography of Miscellaneous Gua, among which Biography of Xun, Biography of Xiang and Biography of Cohesion are divided into three parts.

There are many words that we are familiar with, all of which are from Yi Zhuan. For example, "one yin and one yang are called Tao", which is the first part of cohesion. "If you are poor, you will change, if you change, you will be able to pass, and the general rules will last for a long time." The second part "cohesion" came out. As for the divination of "walking", "Xiang" says: "Heaven is healthy, and gentlemen are constantly striving for self-improvement." As for the hexagram "Kun", "Xiang" said: "The terrain is Kun, and a gentleman carries things with virtue."

This paper only makes a simple and superficial introduction to Zhouyi, which is extensive and profound. After thousands of years of vicissitudes, it is timeless, ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign, and its value cannot be ignored.