I Ching

American  

[ee jing] / ˈi ˈdʒɪŋ /

(Pinyin) Yi Jing

noun

1. an ancient Chinese book of divination, in which 64 pairs of trigrams are shown with various interpretations.

---

I Ching British  

/ ˈiː ˈtʃɪŋ /

noun

1. Also called: Book of Changes.  an ancient Chinese book of divination and a source of Confucian and Taoist philosophy. Answers to questions and advice may be obtained by referring to the text accompanying one of 64 hexagrams, selected at random

---

Etymology

Origin of I Ching

First recorded in 1875–80; from Chinese Yì jīng

Example Sentences

They are questioning, restless and look outside themselves — to their friends, to art, to the I Ching — for answers.

From New York Times • Feb. 3, 2022

In handsome artist books, Irene Chan reinterprets diversions as complex as the I Ching and as simple as bingo.

From Washington Post • Jun. 30, 2021

The most clear antecedent to the Oblique Strategies cards was John Cage’s adoption of the ancient Chinese divination system, the I Ching, to make musical decisions.

From Salon • Jun. 2, 2018

There was a man from the I Ching Research Society asking how they should treat the new texts on divination.

From The Guardian • Jun. 8, 2016

And then she remembered what the I Ching had said: a bypath...little stones, doors, and openings.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman