The I Ching was not translated into english until the turn of the 20th Century. Although Legge's version was the earlier, Richard Wilhelm's translation and interpretation emerged as the 'preferred' version after it was translated from german into english in the 1950's.

The success of Wilhelm's book, together with the lack of alternative chinese-english translations, led to the emergence of many interpretations of the I Ching which were based on Wilhelm's text.

Only in recent times have there emerged texts that have NOT been re-hashes of Wilhelm but have been attempts at creating value-free translations of chinese 'originals'.

As a result of this, the individual now has access to the I Ching without a need to read it in the original to understand it outside of Wilhelm's model. This has led to an opening-up of the I Ching in that we are no longer unconsciously constrained by the belief systems of Richard Wilhelm nor his chinese tutor. Although of quality a while ago, Wilhelm's work is starting to diminish in that there is much he missed, but our debt to him for the work he produced is still valid.