Final answer:
The Classic of Changes or Yijing was developed over many centuries with its earliest parts dating back to around 1000 BC. Confucius is credited with compiling the text that became a key element of the Confucian canon. It became part of the Five Classics during the Han dynasty when Confucian scholars might have ascribed prophetic qualities to it.
Step-by-step explanation:
Origin and Development of the Classic of Changes (Yijing)
The Classic of Changes, also known as the Yijing or Book of Changes, is an ancient Chinese divination text. The basis for this work was developed over a long period, with its oldest parts possibly dating back to around 1000 BC and subsequent additions made up through about 100 BC. Confucius, one of the greatest Chinese sages and philosophers, was credited with compiling the Book of Changes, enhancing its significance through his involvement. This text was later incorporated into the Confucian canon and became one of the Five Classics during the Han dynasty, a time when new ideas were often embedded into old texts, which took their final form.
Confucian teachings emphasized the role of ancient sages, who were considered to possess extraordinary wisdom necessary for the development of human civilization. These sages were thought to have made fundamental technological advancements and to have established structured societies. The Yijing itself, with its complex system of divination, became a tool for understanding the patterns of both present circumstances and the future. Tales from the Han era even ascribe to Confucius the prophetic insight into the rise of the Han Empire. Therefore, while the exact origins of the Yijing are shrouded in the mists of prehistoric China, its development and significance were heavily influenced by Confucian thought, and it embodies a mixture of mythical and historical wisdom.