Ten Wings

The Ten Wings ( Shí Yì) is a collection of commentaries ( zhuàn) to the classical Chinese Book of Changes ( Yìjīng) traditionally ascribed to Confucius, though they were likely composed by later scholars. These writings represent the earliest known interpretations of the Zhōuyì, the Bronze Age divination manual underlying the Book of Changes ( Yìjīng). By offering philosophical and moral insights, the Ten Wings transformed the text from a practical guide for divination into a profound treatise on metaphysics, ethics, and cosmology.

The Ten Wings consist of the following commentaries on the Book of Changes ( Yìjīng):

1. Tuàn Zhuàn, or First Commentary on the Judgment Tuàn Shàng Zhuàn
2. the Second Commentary on the Judgment Tuàn Xià Zhuàn
3. Xiàng Zhuàn, or First Overall Image Xiàng Shàng Zhuàn (sometimes called Greater Xiang or Big Images Dà Xiàng)
4. Second Overall Image Xiàng Xià Zhuàn (aka Lesser Xiang or Little Images Xiǎo Xiàng)
5. Xìcí Zhuàn, or the First Commentary on the Appended Phrases Xìcí Shàng Zhuàn
6. Xìcí Xià Zhuàn, its Second Commentary (the two Xìcí are also called the Great Commentary Dà Zhuàn, to emphasize their importance)
7. Wényán Zhuàn, Commentary on the Words
8. Xùguà Zhuàn, the Sequence of the Hexagrams
9. Shuōguà Zhuàn, the Explanation of the Trigrams
10. Záguà Zhuàn, the Assorted or Miscellaneous Hexagrams

Doubts concerning Confucius' authorship of the Wings were expressed by Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072) and Sima Guang (1019-1086) during the Northern Song dynasty. They were further consolidated by (1647-1715) and Kang Youwei (1858-1927) of the Qing dynasty. The 20th-century sinologists provide argumentation for rejection of the traditional creed.

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