Introduction to the I Ching/ Some Things to Consider Before Getting an I Ching Reading by Jonathan Zap What is the I Ching? The I Ching is an ancient Chinese oracle between five and six thousand years old. Its exact origins are lost in the mists of time as no written record has been discovered that can tell us of its earliest development. The I Ching is considered the world's oldest book, far older than the earliest books of the Bible. The I Ching is more central to Eastern culture than the Bible is to Western culture. For example, the following are based on the I Ching: Taoism, Yin/Yang, T'ai Chi, Kung Fu, Feng Shui, the Tao Te Ching, Chinese medicine and herbalism (including the underlying principals of acupuncture). Zen Buddhism is also largely inspired and derived from the I Ching. ...