The Zhou dynasty is the first period of Chinese history from which extended texts have survived. Among them are the canonical classics of Chinese culture, which were collected and preserved at this time. The oldest of these is the famous divination text: the Book of Changes (I Ching). Riddling and ruminative, it is one of the great works of world literature and is still used as a practical guide by the people of China and East Asia today. The Book of Songs (Shijing) is a poetic anthology,
