Why Entrepreneurs Are Starting to Study the I Ching

In recent years, an interesting phenomenon has been emerging: more and more entrepreneurs, founders, and managers are beginning to study the I Ching. Many people find this surprising — why is a classic from thousands of years ago regaining attention in the age of AI and big data?

The answer is actually quite simple: From its very inception, the I Ching existed for making major decisions.

1. The Original Purpose of the I Ching: A Book for Major Decisions

Today, many people mistakenly think the I Ching is just a “book of divination,” but from a historical perspective, it is essentially:

• A tool for statecraft and decision-making
• A reference for war and diplomacy
• A guide for agriculture and social governance
• A decision-making system for life’s major choices

Ancient society had no corporations, but it did have states, wars, migrations, flood control, and land reclamation. The complexity of these affairs is essentially the same as the business decisions entrepreneurs face today:

Uncertain, complex, and far-reaching in consequence.

The core of the I Ching has never been “predicting the future,” but rather:

How to make better choices in uncertain environments.

2. An Entrepreneur’s Decisions Are Fundamentally the Same as Those of Ancient Rulers

The questions entrepreneurs face every day include:

• Should we enter a new market?
• Should we increase investment?
• Should we downsize or expand hiring?
• Should we change the business model?
• Should we commit long-term to a particular partner?

These decisions often:

• Determine the life or death of a company
• Affect employees’ incomes
• Impact family well-being
• Influence the allocation of social resources

Such decisions share three common traits:

1. Information is never complete
2. The future is full of uncertainty
3. The consequences are profoundly far-reaching

And this is precisely the context the I Ching handles best — strategic judgment in complex systems.

3. The I Ching Doesn’t Give Answers — It Gives “Situational Judgment”

Entrepreneurs study the I Ching not out of superstition, but to gain three abilities:

1. Assess Timing and Position

The core concept of the I Ching is: timing and position. Whether any action succeeds depends on whether it aligns with the present moment.

The business world is no different:

• Entering a market too early → failure
• Entering a market too late → missed opportunity

Successful companies often win on “timing.”

2. Ride the Trend

The I Ching emphasizes “shi” — momentum or trend. Entrepreneurs likewise must assess:

• Industry trends
• Economic cycles
• Technological shifts

Truly outstanding entrepreneurs never move against the trend.

3. Risk Awareness

Every hexagram in the I Ching contains “fortune, misfortune, remorse, humiliation.” This is essentially an ancient risk management system.

4. Why “Small Problems” Are Not Suitable for the I Ching

Many misunderstandings about the I Ching come from asking the wrong questions, such as:

• Will my cat come back on its own?
• Will it rain tomorrow?
• Will I win the lottery today?

The problem with these questions is:

• Their scope of impact is tiny
• Their decision value is extremely low
• They have no strategic significance

The value of the I Ching is not in solving trivial matters, but in:

Providing directional judgment when life or business stands at a crossroads.

It is suited to questions like:

• Should I start a business?
• Should I pivot?
• Should I enter a new industry?
• Should I change my life path?

In other words:

The I Ching is not a life assistant — it is a strategic advisor.

5. In the Age of AI, the I Ching Is Even More Important

Many assume technology will replace ancient wisdom, but reality is the opposite.

The reason is simple:

Technology solves certainty problems. The I Ching solves uncertainty problems.

In the business world, the truly difficult part has never been calculation, but:

Choosing direction.

6. Why More Entrepreneurs Will Study the I Ching in the Future

The future business environment will become increasingly:

• Unstable
• Complex
• Rapidly changing
• Hard to predict

This means:

The importance of strategic thinking will keep rising.

And the I Ching is a strategic thinking model tested over thousands of years.

Conclusion: The I Ching Is Not Outdated — It’s Returning

Entrepreneurs turning to the I Ching is not a retreat into the past, but a return to fundamentals:

• A return to long-term thinking
• A return to strategic judgment
• A return to assessing timing and conditions

The more uncertain the world becomes, the more important the I Ching is.

Because major decisions can never be made on data alone.