The Yijing, also known as the I Ching, is an ancient Chinese divination text that ranks among the oldest of the Chinese classics. Originally compiled during the Western Zhou period (1000–750 BC), it served primarily as a manual for divination.
During the Warring States and early imperial periods (500–200 BC), the text evolved into a cosmological work featuring philosophical commentaries called the Ten Wings. It became part of the Chinese Five Classics in the 2nd century BC, serving as a foundation for divination practices across the Far East and as a subject of extensive scholarly commentary. Between the 18th and 20th centuries, the Yijing gained significant influence in Western interpretations of East Asian philosophical thought.