The Essence of the 'Great Treatise A': A Philosophical Inquiry into the Gentleman's Establishment of Life and the Order of the *Yi*
This article deeply interprets the core proposition from the 'Great Treatise A'—'That which the gentleman dwells in and finds peace is the order of the *Yi*.' It examines how the gentleman, by internalizing the Way of Heaven and Earth and utilizing the *Book of Changes* as the foundation for establishing his life, achieves a state of 'auspiciousness without detriment' through observing the images and contemplating the textual explanations, situated within the Pre-Qin context and the Confucian tradition.
I. Why is "Observing Images and Contemplating Words" the Way of Self-Cultivation$16
Up to this point, we have mainly discussed "observing Images and contemplating Words" and "observing Changes and contemplating Divinations" from the perspective of scholarship and cognition. However, the deeper meaning of this passage actually concerns the Way of Self-Cultivation—how to perfect one's personality and conduct by studying and applying the Yi.
Why say this$17 Because the "Gentleman" discussed in the Xì Cí Zhuàn is not merely a scholar or a diviner, but a moral agent. The primary pursuit of the Junzi is not knowledge or skill, but Virtue.
Analects, Zi Lu:
"Zi Lu asked about the Gentleman. The Master said: 'To cultivate oneself with reverence.' He asked: 'Is that all$18' He replied: 'To cultivate oneself in order to bring peace to others.' He asked: 'Is that all$19' He replied: 'To cultivate oneself in order to bring peace to the people. Even Yao and Shun would find that difficult in achieving peace for the people.'"
"Cultivate oneself with reverence" (Xiu Ji Yi Jing 修己以敬)—cultivate oneself while maintaining reverence. This is the Gentleman's first step. "To cultivate oneself in order to bring peace to others" (Xiu Ji Yi An Ren 修己以安人)—to bring peace to those around him by cultivating himself. "To cultivate oneself in order to bring peace to the people" (Xiu Ji Yi An Bai Xing 修己以安百姓)—to bring peace to the common people by cultivating himself.
Thus, all the learning and abilities of the Gentleman ultimately aim at "self-cultivation" and "bringing peace to others." Studying the Yi is no exception.