Following the Han Dynasty, the turbulent Six Dynasties period and the subsequent reunification and cultural flourishing under the Tang Dynasty brought new intellectual currents to bear on I Ching scholarship. While Confucianism remained significant, Daoist philosophy (particularly Xuanxue, or "Mysterious Learning") and the increasing presence of Buddhism in China introduced fresh perspectives and interpretive methodologies.
This article will examine how these new influences reshaped the understanding of the I Ching, with a focus on key figures such as Wang Bi, whose commentary became highly influential, and how Daoist and burgeoning Buddhist ideas interacted with the classic text.
Han Dynasty: I Ching's Canonization and Early Interpretive Schools
Examining the I Ching's formal canonization as a Confucian classic during the Han Dynasty and the emergence of the foundational Yili (Meaning/Principle) and Xiangshu (Image/Number) schools of interpretation.
The Great Synthesis: I Ching and Neo-Confucianism in the Song Dynasty
Detailing the flourishing of Neo-Confucian interpretations of the I Ching during the Song Dynasty, highlighting key figures like Zhou Dunyi, Shao Yong, Cheng Yi, and Zhu Xi and their cosmological and ethical frameworks.