I Ching histories
There are basically two versions of the I Ching's origins: the mythical, and the historical. A few translations of the I Ching still present the mythical version as historical truth, which it is not. And some scholars of the I Ching's history describe the myth as 'fraudulent history' - which it is most definitely not!
The myth of the I Ching's origins has been accepted as historical truth in China for centuries. It was not until the last century that archaeological discoveries began to reveal a different history of the I Ching. These discoveries are fascinating, and immensely valuable to users of the I Ching for the new light they throw on the meanings of the earliest texts. However, they do not replace the myth, any more than, on a larger scale, scientific understanding of the Big Bang or DNA can replace the kind of understanding we gain from the world's creation myths. And so I have included both truths about the I Ching's history. You will notice remarkable correspondences between them.