The Essence of the 'Great Treatise A': A Philosophical Inquiry into the Gentleman's Establishment of Life and the Order of the *Yi*

II. Second Inquiry: Why the Yi and Not Other Texts$31

Why does it say "That wherein the Gentleman resides and finds ease is the Arrangement of the Yi," and not something else, such as the emotions of the Odes, the affairs of the Documents, the rituals of the Rites, or the harmony of Music$32

This question touches upon the unique status of the Yi among the Pre-Qin classics.

The Record of Rites, Explanation of the Classics (Li Ji, Jing Jie 礼记·经解) quotes Confucius saying:

"Entering a state, one can know its education. If the people are gentle and earnest, it is the teaching of the Odes. If they are knowledgeable and able to think far, it is the teaching of the Documents. If they are broad and easily corrected, it is the teaching of Music. If they are pure, quiet, subtle, and refined, it is the teaching of the Yi. If they are reverent, frugal, solemn, and serious, it is the teaching of Rites. If they compose arguments and relate events, it is the teaching of the Spring and Autumn Annals."

"Jie jing jing wei, Yi jiao ye (洁静精微，易教也)." "Pure, quiet, subtle, and refined"—these are the characteristics of the teaching of the Yi.

Compared to other classics, what is unique about the Yi$33

• The Odes emphasize emotion—but emotions are mutable and cannot serve as the ultimate basis for "residing and finding ease."
• The Documents emphasize history—but history is specific and concrete, not universal enough.
• The Rites emphasize norms—but norms are external and institutional, requiring an internal rationale for support.
• Music emphasizes harmony—but harmony is an effect, not a cause.
• The Spring and Autumn Annals emphasize praise and blame—but these require a standard for judgment.

The Yi, however, reveals the most fundamental law of transformation governing Heaven, Earth, and all things: the waxing and waning of Yin and Yang, the mutual push of the firm and the yielding, ceaseless change, and cyclical return. These laws are the most universal (applicable to all things) and the most fundamental (all other laws can be derived from them) and the most constant (unchanging regardless of time or place).

Therefore, only the Arrangement of the Yi is sufficient as the ultimate basis for the Gentleman's "residing and finding ease." The other classics can be seen as specific manifestations of the Way of the Yi in particular domains: the Odes are the Yi's manifestation in emotion; the Documents in history; the Rites in institutions; Music in art; and the Spring and Autumn Annals in political evaluation.

The Xì Cí Shang Zhuàn states:

"The Yi is on the same level as Heaven and Earth, thus it can encompass and correlate the Way of Heaven and Earth. Looking up, one observes the celestial phenomena; looking down, one examines the terrestrial patterns; hence, one knows the reason for obscurity and brightness. Tracing origins and returning to endings, one knows the doctrine of life and death. Essence and Qi constitute things, wandering spirits constitute change, hence one knows the disposition of spirits and deities. Corresponding to Heaven and Earth, one does not deviate. Knowing the breadth of the myriad things, the Way is utilized completely, hence one does not err. Moving along the breadth without flowing away, delighting in Heaven and knowing one's destiny, hence one does not worry. Settled firmly in benevolence, one can love. Encompassing the transformations of Heaven and Earth without overstepping, achieving all things without leaving anything out, penetrating the Way of day and night to know, hence the spirit has no fixed place and the Yi has no fixed form."

"Yi yu Tian Di Zhun, gu neng mi lun Tian Di zhi Dao (《易》与天地准，故能弥纶天地之道)." The Yi is equivalent to Heaven and Earth, thus it can encompass and correlate their Way. "Encompassing the transformations of Heaven and Earth without overstepping... hence the spirit has no fixed place and the Yi has no fixed form."

Because the Yi possesses this capacity to encompass Heaven and Earth and connect to everything, it can serve as the ultimate basis for the Gentleman's "residing and finding ease."