Learning from Historical Figures Who Consulted the I Ching

The I Ching’s enduring legacy is not only preserved in its texts and commentaries but also reflected in the lives of influential historical figures and societal practices where it was consulted for guidance, wisdom, and strategic insight. While detailed personal records of consultations are often scarce or interpreted through biographers, examining these accounts and historical uses offers valuable lessons about how the I Ching has been approached across centuries, particularly in East Asia.

Understanding how historical figures and societies engaged with the I Ching can:

• Illustrate the diverse applications of its wisdom (from statecraft and military strategy to personal ethics and economic theory)
• Provide context for different interpretive schools and their impact
• Inspire contemporary practitioners by showing the I Ching’s relevance in times of great change and challenge
• Highlight the interplay between ritual, rational thought, and morality in its application

Influential Historical Figures and Their I Ching Engagement

Confucius (Kong Fuzi, traditionally 551–479 BCE)

• Historical Connection: While the extent of Confucius’s direct authorship of the Ten Wings is debated, he is revered for intensely studying the I Ching in his later years. Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian states Confucius “loved the I Ching so much that he wore out the leather thongs binding his bamboo-slip copy three times,” wishing for fifty more years to study it.
• Lesson: Lifelong Learning and Deep Ethical Study. Confucius’s dedication underscores the I Ching’s depth and the value of sustained, reflective engagement. His focus was largely on its ethical and philosophical implications for human conduct and cosmic order, teaching the importance of integrating its wisdom into one’s moral framework.

King Wen of Zhou and the Duke of Zhou (11th century BCE)

• Historical Connection: Tradition credits King Wen (Ji Chang, c. 1152–1056 BCE) with creating the hexagram sequence and judgments (Tuan Ci) while imprisoned. His son, the Duke of Zhou (Ji Dan, d. c. 1032 BCE), is said to have authored the line texts (Yao Ci).
• Lesson: Wisdom Forged in Adversity and Foundational Governance. The I Ching’s traditional origins with figures facing political turmoil and founding a dynasty highlight its role as a guide in crisis and change. It suggests the I Ching offers resilience and strategic insight for navigating profound challenges and establishing new orders, with a deep concern for state well-being and proper rulership.

Zhu Xi (Chu Hsi, 1130–1200 CE)

• Historical Connection: A pivotal Neo-Confucian philosopher, Zhu Xi’s commentary, Zhouyi Benyi (The Original Meaning of the Zhou Changes), became an orthodox text. He emphasized a rational approach, seeking the “original meaning,” and re-popularized the yarrow stalk method. He believed the sages created the I Ching for divination to guide behavior and teach goodness. He famously consulted Hexagram 33 (Retreat) regarding a controversial memorial and decided to retire based on the outcome.
• Lesson: Systematic Study, Ethical Guidance, and Self-Cultivation through Divination. Zhu Xi’s approach values rigorous scholarship and understanding the text in its historical context. He saw divination not just as fortune-telling but as a means of self-cultivation, understanding opportunities, and making ethically sound decisions. His work encourages a balance of intellectual rigor with practical, moral application.

Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961)

• Historical Connection: The Swiss psychiatrist was deeply influenced by the I Ching via Richard Wilhelm’s translation, to which he wrote a foreword. He introduced “synchronicity” partly through his engagement with its divinatory method, which he noted followed Chu Hsi’s (Zhu Xi’s) version. He used it personally and sometimes therapeutically.
• Lesson: Psychological Insight, Cross-Cultural Wisdom, and the Archetypal Unconscious. Jung highlights the I Ching’s potential for psychological exploration and self-understanding, seeing its symbols as archetypal and its method as accessing unconscious knowledge. His work encourages exploring the I Ching for inner insights and exemplifies fruitful East-West dialogue.

Takashima Kaemon (Takashima Donshō, 1832–1914)

• Historical Connection: A prominent Meiji-era Japanese businessman, political advisor, and I Ching master. His commentary (Takashima Ekidan) detailed his divinatory experiences and applications to contemporary political, military, business, and personal matters. He attributed his success in railways, gas, and other industries to I Ching guidance.
• Lesson: Pragmatic Application in Modernization and Business. Takashima exemplifies the I Ching’s relevance in a rapidly modernizing world, using it as a practical decision-making tool and a source of strategic insight for commerce and industry, demonstrating its adaptability beyond traditional contexts.

Historical Societal Applications

Early Chinese Divination (Spring and Autumn Period, 722-468 BCE, and beyond)

• Historical Context: Records in texts like the Zuo Zhuan and Kuo Yu detail the I Ching’s application for divining matters of political importance, battle outcomes, and marriage prospects. These accounts discuss divination techniques, how diviners balanced ritual and rational considerations, the relationship of morality to augury, and responses to political pressures. Royal families across Asia consulted the I Ching on state affairs, wars, alliances, and ancestral matters for millennia. In traditional China, imperial examinations required I Ching knowledge, and scholars dedicated their lives to its study.
• Lesson: Integrated Decision-Making and Moral Considerations in Divination. The historical use shows the I Ching as a tool for high-stakes decisions, where divination was often part of a broader analytical and ethical process. It highlights the responsibility of the diviner and querent to interpret results thoughtfully within complex political and moral landscapes.

Medieval Japan (c. 1186-1603)

• Historical Context: The I Ching gained popularity among Zen Buddhist monks, courtiers, and high-ranking warriors, partly due to Neo-Confucian influence. Its theme of change resonated in a chaotic era.
  • Bureau of Divination (Onmyōryō): This official body used the I Ching for oracles, applying its symbolism and numerology to divination, astrology, medicine, and court rituals. Families like the Abe family (e.g., Abe Ariyo advising Ashikaga Yoshimitsu) were famed for accurate military predictions, advising leaders like Hōjō Yoshitoki during the Jōkyū War (1221).
  • Imperial Family and Courtiers: Emperors like Hanazono, Godaigo, and Sūkōin studied it for political philosophy and to legitimize policies. Emperor Godaigo and Sūkōin were interested in the yin-yang tradition and used it as a divination manual. Hino Suketomo, an aide to Godaigo, used I Ching arguments to persuade the emperor on policy, including changing era names.
  • Kanshitsu Genkitsu: Rector of the Ashikaga School, he was a noted diviner with close relations to figures like Takeda Shingen and Tokugawa Ieyasu, reportedly aiding Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara with shamanistic practices and feng shui.
• Lesson: Versatility in Crisis and Governance, and the Interplay of Divination with Power. The Japanese medieval period shows the I Ching’s application in political strategy, military affairs, and ritual. It demonstrates how leaders sought its wisdom to navigate turbulent times, legitimize power, and make critical decisions, often blending its philosophical insights with direct divinatory counsel.

Tokugawa Period Japan (1603-1868) – Pervasive Influence

• Historical Context: I Ching scholarship peaked, becoming one of the most influential Chinese texts, impacting medicine, politics, martial arts, sciences, arts, agriculture, commerce, and folklore. People sought its wisdom during crises.
  • Scholars and Diviners: Muro Kyūsō was famed for divination, even consulted by the “rational” thinker Arai Hakuseki on personal matters. Kaihō Gyoson worked to restore ancient divinational methods.
  • Hirata School: Figures like Okuni Takamasa used the I Ching for divination and applied its ideas to interpret Shinto history and agriculture.
  • Oracle School: Professional diviners applied the I Ching broadly to medicine, military, business, agriculture, and meteorology.
  • Economic Thought: Merchant and advisor Kusama Naokata used yin-yang principles from the I Ching to argue for a natural, non-interventionist economy.
• Lesson: Widespread Integration into Societal Fabric and Specialized Applications. The Tokugawa era illustrates how the I Ching’s principles can permeate nearly every aspect of life and be adapted by various schools of thought and professional groups for specialized practical purposes, from agricultural improvement to economic theory.

A Note on Popular Attributions

Figures like Zhuge Liang (181-234 AD), the famed strategist, are often depicted in later traditions and novels (e.g., Romance of the Three Kingdoms) as masters of I Ching divination. While such attributions highlight the cultural reverence for these figures and the I Ching, historical evidence often does not verify these specific claims (e.g., Zhuge Liang’s official biography doesn’t mention divinatory interests). This teaches the importance of critical engagement with sources when studying historical uses.

General Lessons from Historical Consultation

The historical engagement with the I Ching offers several valuable lessons for contemporary practitioners:

1. Adaptability and Pervasiveness

The I Ching has been consulted by diverse figures across roles, eras, and cultures, demonstrating its adaptability to varied questions and its penetration into many areas of life. Its principles have been applied to everything from personal ethics and spiritual development to statecraft, warfare, economics, medicine, and the arts.

2. Seriousness of Purpose and Intellectual Rigor

Historically, the I Ching was consulted on important matters with respect, sincere seeking, and often, deep intellectual engagement, as seen in its role in imperial examinations. Many notable historical figures dedicated years or decades to its study, treating it not as casual fortune-telling but as a profound repository of wisdom requiring serious scholarship.

3. Interpretation is Key

Varied interpretations and applications show the I Ching is not a static dispenser of answers. Its wisdom is unlocked through active engagement, interpretation, and thoughtful application. Historical figures often combined knowledge of commentaries, contextual understanding, and personal insight in working with the text.

4. Profound Cultural Influence

The deep engagement of these figures and societies demonstrates the I Ching’s profound impact on East Asian philosophy, ethics, governance, art, and culture. Its principles became woven into the fabric of societal thought and practice across multiple cultures and time periods.

5. Integration with Other Systems of Thought

Throughout history, the I Ching has been integrated with other philosophical and spiritual systems—Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, Shinto, and even Western psychology. This demonstrates its remarkable compatibility with diverse worldviews and its potential for cross-cultural dialogue.

Conclusion

By studying how these historical figures and societies interacted with the I Ching, we gain a deeper appreciation for its multifaceted nature and are inspired to cultivate our own meaningful and effective relationship with this timeless classic. The range of approaches—from Confucius’s ethical focus to Zhu Xi’s systematic scholarship, from Japan’s political and military applications to Jung’s psychological insights—reminds us of the text’s remarkable versatility.

These historical examples encourage contemporary practitioners to approach the I Ching with both reverence and creativity, honoring its traditional applications while finding relevant ways to apply its wisdom to modern challenges. They suggest that the most fruitful engagement with the I Ching combines sincere questioning, intellectual depth, practical application, and ongoing reflection—an approach that can continue to yield insights across changing times and contexts.