A Dialectical Analysis of the Tripartite Qualities of 'Dao' in the Guanzi: Intricacy, Expansion, and Solidity
This paper provides an in-depth interpretation of the opening discourse on 'Dao' in the *Guanzi: Neiye*, analyzing the connotations and dialectical unity of its tripartite qualities: 'intricacy necessitates density, expansion necessitates ease, and solidity necessitates firmness.' It further explores their significance for self-cultivation and mental governance within the context of Pre-Qin and ancient thought.
I. "Ponder it, ponder it again, and ponder it anew" (思之思之，又重思之) — The Practice of Deep Contemplation
"Si" (思) here is not ordinary thinking or contemplation but a deep internal observation—using the mind to repeatedly examine, repeatedly comprehend, and repeatedly immerse oneself.
Why "ponder it again, and ponder it anew"—ponder repeatedly$25 Because the comprehension of the Dao is not a one-time intellectual activity but a process requiring continuous immersion. Just as a seed needs continuous water and sunlight to sprout, the comprehension of the Dao needs continuous "pondering" to grow.
I Ching, "Appended Phrases," Part I, states: "The Master said: 'The written word does not exhaust speech; speech does not exhaust meaning.' If so, is the meaning of the sages not visible$26 The Master said: 'The sages establish images to exhaust meaning, set up hexagrams to exhaust the forms of truth, attach words to exhaust their speech, transform and connect them to exhaust benefits, and stimulate and dance them to exhaust the numinous.'" Even though sages use images, hexagrams, words, and transformations in various ways to express themselves, it still requires the later scholar to repeatedly comprehend. "Ponder it, ponder it again, and ponder it anew" is the practice of this repeated comprehension.