Following the monumental Neo-Confucian synthesis of the Song Dynasty, I Ching scholarship continued to evolve and diversify through the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. While Song interpretations remained highly influential, this extended period saw new critical approaches, the revisiting of older Han Dynasty schools, and extensive scholarly debates on the text's meaning and application. The I Ching also became further integrated into various aspects of Chinese cultural and intellectual life.
This article will survey the key trends in I Ching studies during these later imperial periods, noting the emergence of different schools of thought, the emphasis on evidential research (Kaozheng) in the Qing, and the ongoing dialogue between different interpretive traditions.
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.
The Unceasing Change: The I Ching's Enduring Relevance
Reflecting on the I Ching's status leading into the modern era and its continued adaptation and influence both in China and globally.