Abstract
This paper explores modern China’s national memory through the lens of the Zhouyi. Traditional Chinese historiography often regards ancient China as a golden age. In the 20th century, the Doubting Antiquity School, led by Gu Jiegang, questioned this perspective, advocating for a reevaluation of ancient Chinese texts. During this period, many scholars revisited these ancient texts. This paper finds that 20th-century Yi-ology exhibited a tendency toward “telling China’s story well,” as scholars used the Zhouyi to reconstruct a new ancient historical discourse. This discourse, while based on ancient history, served 20th-century China with the goal of reshaping modern China’s national memory. The paper introduces the 20th-century research achievements in Zhouyi studies and examines the original significance of Yi during the Zhou Dynasty, which is crucial for understanding why Zhouyi has consistently been regarded as a Chinese canon. Finally, it argues that the Zhouyi has played a significant role in shaping China’s national identity by reconstructing national memory through the 20th-century discourse.
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