I-Ching history and application: An introduction
Wang Guang Yi.
Vice Chairman of Shanxi I-Ching Researching Association
1) Fuxi Age: Created Yingyang and Bagua
BC 5800, during the early of Patriarchy in Primitive Society. Fuxi drew Gua, and created Yinyang---using the symbols to representative two energies and two types objects. He created Bagua symbols to show the Eights shapes of the SKY, the EARTH, the MOUNTAIN, the WATER, the THUMDER, the FIRE, the WIND, the LAKE.
2) Zhou Dynasty: collating and formed the final 64 Guas theory and expnanation books
After FUXI created, with 5000 years changing, and application, about BC 1000 ago, it formed 64 Guas and explanation. The story told, King of Zhou and his son reaserched BAGUA and formed the I-Ching book. People said, King Zhou made Guas, Zhou Gong (the son) made explanation.
3) Confucius Age: he made the verbal explanation.
During BC 500, Confucius age, many people couldn’t understand the I-Ching book written by King of Zhou and his son, For the reading and understanding, Confucius wrote the explanation with ten articles. His written was called I-Ching Explanation, with which combined with Original as I-Ching was spreading until now. Nowadays I-Ching we used is formed during the age.
Four books and Five Theories
The writers of the I-Ching
With the above introduction, I-Ching the book was formed about 5800 years ago, the contents was not completed by one person, but with many people in different periods contributions. There are four people were recognised as main contributions:
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Fuxi
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Wen Wang, King of Zhou
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Zhou Gong, son of Wen Wang
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Confucious
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The contents of the I-Ching
The I-Ching is a Chinese ancient book of Encyclopaedia. It was called as the book “the top of all Classics, and the resources of all theories come from.”.
It covers all aspects related to all Chinese activities.
All theories of the Combination and Interaction of the Sky and Human, Hetu & Luoshu, Taichi & Yinyang, Yinyang & Bagua, Yinyang & Five Elements, Tiangan & DiZhi had guided and impacted greatly to Chinese Ancient philosophy, Politics, Culture, Astronomical, Prediction, Agriculture, Minitary, Wushu, Maths, Chemistry, Physics, and Chinese customs.
Applications of the I-Ching
Wushu
For example in Tai Chi and Bagua.
Astronomy and Calendar
I-Ching has invoved in Chinese Solar Terms delimited： Winter Solstice, Summer Solstice, Spring Equinox, Autumnal Equinox, and so on, there are 24 Solar Terms
Also it designated Chinese Era timing method and two 12 hour periods a day.
Military
In Chinese Ancient War Strategy, all actions were considered with I-Ching, such as Bagua/Five Elements battle position.
Chinese Medicine
Chinese traditional medicine: the theory of Main and collectral channels, five internal organs reinforce each other, overall treatment, treatment in below for above disease, to treat winter disease in summer, outer treatment for internal disease and so on were application of I-Ching. Acupuncture, Massage techniques were all come out from the theory of Taichi, Yinyang and five elements in I-Ching.
Environmental Design
In Chinese Ancient living environmental designing were more focus on geomantic omen precious place, balance in Yinyang and Five elements. Those were come out of the theory of I-Ching
The application of Chinese customs
I-Ching gave people management techniques and the wisdoms. It used to name Chinese after who were born, to guide professional learning choice, career choice, marriage, living environmental choice, cemetery choice (which impact young generation), travelling decision, investment decision, even Mobil phone number choosing, cloths colour choosing, friends selection and cooperation choice and so on in people’s living. Chinese people normally use the theory of naming, Bazi ( birthday), Fengshui for many life purpose.