Unfurling the I Ching: A Systematic Guide to the Ten Wings of Confucius

Introduction: A Philosophical Classic

The I Ching, or Book of Changes, began as a short manual for divination. Its core text contains 64 hexagrams with brief, often mysterious judgments that helped people seek guidance about their future.

However, the I Ching we know today is much deeper. This change happened because of commentaries called the Ten Wings, or Shí Yì (十翼).

What are the Ten Wings?

The Ten Wings are seven different commentaries. Three of these are split into two parts, making ten sections in total. People usually say Confucius and his followers wrote them, and later these texts were added to the original book.

They explain the core text in new ways. The Ten Wings changed the I Ching from a book of answers into a book of wisdom. This article will guide you through each of these important wings.

The change was big:

• Before the Ten Wings: Mainly a tool for fortune-telling.
• After the Ten Wings: A complete text about the universe, ethics, and human growth.

Exploring the Shí Yì

Now we will look at each of the Ten Wings. We'll explain what they do, their main ideas, and how they shaped the I Ching's legacy. This approach shows how layers of meaning built one of the world's great philosophy books.

First & Second Wings: Tuan Zhuan

The Tuan Zhuan (彖傳), or "Commentary on the Judgments," comes in two parts. It explains the main Judgment text for each of the 64 hexagrams.

This commentary goes beyond simple fortune-telling. It looks at the hexagram as a complete symbol by studying how its upper and lower parts relate to each other. It also thinks about the nature of each line and its position.

The Tuan Zhuan focuses on the overall meaning of the situation shown by the hexagram. It helps readers move from thinking about "good or bad" outcomes to understanding deeper forces and the right ethical response.

Third & Fourth Wings: Xiang Zhuan

The Xiang Zhuan (象傳), or "Commentary on the Images," is also in two parts. Each part has a different purpose.

The first part, the "Great Images" (大象, Dà Xiàng), comments on the whole hexagram. It explains what the two trigrams symbolize, connecting natural images (like Mountain over Water) to moral lessons for the "superior person" (君子, jūnzǐ).

The second part, the "Small Images" (小象, Xiǎo Xiàng), gives brief comments on each of the six lines in a hexagram. These comments explain what each changing line means. The Xiang Zhuan made the I Ching into a guide for self-improvement and moral growth.

Fifth Wing: Wenyan Zhuan

The Wenyan Zhuan (文言傳), or "Commentary on the Words," is special. It's a long and deep philosophical exploration, but it only looks at the first two hexagrams: ☰ Qian (The Creative) and ☷ Kun (The Receptive).

This wing explores the deep cosmic and ethical meaning of these two basic hexagrams, which stand for the main forces of Yang and Yin. It studies their virtues, movements, and core meaning in great detail.

The Wenyan Zhuan has this narrow focus for a reason. It shows how important Qian and Kun are to the entire system of 64 hexagrams. It teaches readers how to engage with the text at its deepest level.

Sixth & Seventh Wings: Xici Zhuan

Known as "The Great Treatise" or Dà Zhuàn (大傳), the Xici Zhuan (繫辭傳) is the most complete and philosophical wing. It provides the big-picture framework for understanding the I Ching as a whole system.

The Xici Zhuan talks about how the cosmos began from a single source, the Taiji (太極, Supreme Ultimate). It explains how the Taiji creates the two main forces of yin and yang, which then create the trigrams and everything that exists.

This text also explores how we can know things through the I Ching. It explains how wise people can use it to understand patterns in the universe and live in harmony with the Dao. It has the most famous quotes about the I Ching's purpose and methods, making it a complete philosophical system.

Eighth Wing: Shuo Gua Zhuan

The Shuo Gua Zhuan (說卦傳), or "Discussion of the Trigrams," works like an important reference book. It focuses entirely on the eight trigrams (八卦, bāguà), which are the building blocks of hexagrams.

This wing gives long lists of things that match each trigram. It connects them to family members, animals, directions, seasons, body parts, and qualities. For example, the trigram ☲ Lí connects to fire, the sun, the middle daughter, and brightness.

The Shuo Gua Zhuan is essential for deeply understanding hexagram imagery. Its symbol catalog became important for later Chinese arts, including Traditional Chinese Medicine, Feng Shui, and martial arts.

Ninth Wing: Xu Gua Zhuan

The Xu Gua Zhuan (序卦傳), or "Sequence of the Hexagrams," explains the logic behind the order of the 64 hexagrams in the classic King Wen sequence.

It argues that the order isn't random but tells a continuous story of cosmic, social, and personal development. Each hexagram naturally follows from the one before it.

For instance, it explains that after Hexagram 1 (Qian, Creation) and 2 (Kun, Nurturing), it makes sense that Hexagram 3 (Zhun, Difficulty at the Beginning) comes next, because all new things face early challenges. This wing changes the I Ching from separate states into a flowing journey.

Tenth Wing: Za Gua Zhuan

The final wing is the Za Gua Zhuan (雜卦傳), or "Miscellaneous Hexagrams." It's a short, packed text that helps people remember the hexagrams.

It discusses hexagrams in related pairs, highlighting their core relationship with a short, memorable phrase. For example, it states, "Decrease and Increase are the beginning of plenitude and emptiness."

This wing doesn't follow the standard order but groups hexagrams by their opposing or related meanings. It's a great tool for quick review and for understanding the essential tension or harmony between different situations.

The Ten Wings at a Glance

While all Ten Wings add to the I Ching, they do so in different ways. Some are philosophical, some are structural, and others directly interpret the text. The following table gives a clear summary of their roles.

Understanding Their Roles

This reference allows for quick comparison of how each commentary adds to the whole. A person using the I Ching can use these different perspectives to build a rich and insightful reading, moving from structure to ethics to metaphysics.

Using the Ten Wings

Knowing the Ten Wings becomes powerful when you apply it to your own I Ching practice. They give you tools to go beyond surface readings and have a deep conversation with the text.

A Practical Walk-through

Imagine you've cast a hexagram and received Hexagram 29, Kǎn (The Abysmal), with the third line changing. Here's how you might use the wings.

First, read the core text. This means the Judgment for Hexagram 29 and the text for the third line. This is your starting point.

Next, deepen your understanding with the Tuan and Xiang. Read the Tuan Zhuan for Hexagram 29 to understand the overall pattern of "repeated danger" and why being sincere matters. Then, look at the "Great Image" Xiang Zhuan, which gives ethical advice: "The superior person, in accordance with this, walks in lasting virtue and practices the business of instruction." The "Small Image" for line three will explain its specific context.

Then, broaden the context. Check the Xu Gua Zhuan to understand why Hexagram 29 appears where it does in the sequence. What situation led to this state of danger? Look at the Za Gua Zhuan to see what hexagram it contrasts with, revealing another layer of meaning.

Finally, reflect philosophically. Use principles from the Xici Zhuan to think about the nature of change, danger, and staying strong. This wing helps you place your personal situation within the grand, cyclical patterns of the cosmos.

Legacy of the Ten Wings

The Ten Wings I Ching commentaries are much more than simple additions. They are the lens that transformed the I Ching, ensuring it stayed relevant for thousands of years.

More Than Commentary

These texts didn't just explain the I Ching; they recreated it. They turned a cryptic divination manual into the rich tapestry of Chinese philosophy.

The Ten Wings show how interpretation can unlock deep wisdom from ancient symbols. It's a living practice that continues to guide lives today, changing a book of chance into a book of meaningful change.