Chapter 15: Summary and Deepening of the Concept of Affective Communication

Section 1: The Three Layers of Affective Communication

Synthesizing the discussions above, the pre-Qin concept of "affective communication" (Gan Tong) can be summarized into three structural layers:

First Layer: Cosmological Affective Communication—Heaven and Earth interact, and the ten thousand things transform and generate.

This is the grandest level of affective communication. Heaven and Earth interact through Yin and Yang qi, resulting in the generation of all things. This level of communication is the natural operation of the cosmos, not something achievable by human effort.

Second Layer: Human Relational Affective Communication—Male and female interact, forming the conjugal pair; the conjugal pair is rectified, and the family and state are governed.

This is the core level of affective communication. Male and female interact through natural feeling, regulated by rites and righteousness, establishing the conjugal relationship. The rectification of the conjugal pair extends outwards to become the basis for the father-son and ruler-minister relationships. This level of communication is the combination of natural disposition and human culture.

Third Layer: Spiritual Affective Communication—The Sages move the hearts of men, and the world attains peace.

This is the highest level of affective communication. The Sages use their utmost sincerity to influence the hearts of the people, causing all people to submit their allegiance and bringing peace to the world. This level of communication is the culmination of moral cultivation.

These three layers proceed upwards—Cosmos → Human Relations → Spirit—deepening layer by layer, forming a complete system of pre-Qin thought on affective communication. The phrase in the Xian hexagram’s Tuan Zhuan, "When Heaven and Earth feel each other, the ten thousand things transform and generate; when the Sages feel the hearts of men, the world attains peace," perfectly covers the cosmic and spiritual poles, with the Way of the conjugal pair at the center, covering all three grand scales with profound depth.

Section 2: The Four Essential Elements of Affective Communication

The realization of affective communication requires the presence of the following four elements:

One, Emptiness (Xu). Only with an empty heart can one communicate affectively. If the heart is full of selfish desires and preconceived notions, external things cannot enter, and the feelings of others cannot reach. The Xian Xiang Zhuan's "The noble person uses this to empty their heart to receive others" embodies this meaning.

Two, Sincerity (Cheng). Only with utmost sincerity can one communicate affectively. Feeling that is hypocritical or artificial cannot truly move people. The Zhong Yong's "Utmost sincerity is like a spirit" refers to this.

Three, Humility (Xia). Only by being humble can one communicate affectively. If the high do not descend to meet the low, the upper and lower realms become separated. The Xian hexagram’s "by the high descending to the low, by the male descending to the female" signifies this meaning.

Four, Rectitude (Zheng). Only through the Right Way can affective communication be sustained. Corrupt feelings may momentarily confuse people, but they ultimately lead to disaster. The Xian hexagram’s "favorable to rectitude" (Li Zhen) signifies this meaning.

Emptiness, Sincerity, Humility, and Rectitude—these four are the major elements of affective communication. If any one is missing, it cannot be achieved; when all four are present, true affective communication is realized.

Section 3: Affective Communication and "Central Harmony" (Zhong He)

The ultimate goal of affective communication is to achieve the state of "Central Harmony" (Zhong He).

The Zhong Yong states:

"When joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure have not yet been aroused, this is called Centrality (Zhong); when they are aroused and all act in moderation, this is called Harmony (He). Centrality is the great root of all under Heaven; Harmony is the universal path of all under Heaven. When Centrality and Harmony are fully achieved, Heaven and Earth are established in their positions, and the ten thousand things are nurtured." (喜怒哀乐之未发谓之中，发而皆中节谓之和。中也者，天下之大本也。和也者，天下之达道也。致中和，天地位焉，万物育焉。)

"Centrality" (Zhong) is the state before arousal—empty, still, impartial, and original. This is the starting point of affective communication. "Harmony" (He) is the state after arousal—moderate, balanced, and appropriate. This is the result of affective communication. "When Centrality and Harmony are fully achieved, Heaven and Earth are established in their positions, and the ten thousand things are nurtured"—this is the great function of Central Harmony.

The affective communication of the Xian hexagram aims for "Central Harmony":

Before communication, the heart is empty and centrally correct—this is Zhong. During communication, it is moderate and balanced—this is He. After communication, Heaven and Earth are established, and things are nurtured—this is the great function of Zhong He.

"Achieving Central Harmony" is the highest ideal of pre-Qin philosophy. The affective communication of the Xian hexagram is precisely the pathway leading to this ideal.

Section 4: Affective Communication and "Generating Life" (Sheng Sheng)

The fundamental spirit of affective communication is "generating life" (Sheng Sheng).

The Xi Ci Zhuan states:

"To generate and generate is called the Changes." (生生之谓易。)

"Sheng Sheng"—the ceaseless generation of life—is the fundamental spirit of the Yi.

And the generation of life relies on affective communication. If Heaven and Earth do not communicate, things will not be generated; if male and female do not communicate, progeny will not continue; if the Sages do not move the hearts of men, the world will not be at peace. Affective communication is the condition for generation, and generation is the result of affective communication.

Therefore, Xian heading the Lower Canon precisely implements the logic of "affective communication → generating life" to commence the construction of human relations. The communication between husband and wife is the starting point for the creation of life ("after male and female, there were husband and wife"), and also the starting point for all social order ("after husband and wife, there were father and son; after father and son, there were ruler and minister").

The spirit of "generating life" permeates the entire Yi, and is the main current running through pre-Qin thought. Whether it is the Confucian "Benevolence" (Ren) ("Benevolence is loving others"—love is the emotion of generation), the Daoist "Dao" ("The Dao produces One; One produces Two; Two produces Three; Three produces the ten thousand things"—the Dao is the source of generation), or the Yin-Yang school's "Transformation" (Yin-Yang transformation, ceaseless generation)—all hold "generating life" as their core spirit.

The affective communication in the Xian hexagram is the first realization of the spirit of "generating life" on the level of human relations.