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#Book of Changes #Great Treatise A #The Way of the Gentleman #Image and Text Interpretation #Confucian Yi Studies

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.

Tianwen Editorial Team February 7, 2026 85 min read PDF Markdown
The Essence of the 'Great Treatise A': A Philosophical Inquiry into the Gentleman's Establishment of Life and the Order of the *Yi*

Appendix: List of Pre-Qin and Pre-Han Texts Cited in This Article

  1. The Book of Changes (Including the Canon and the Ten Wings: Tuan Zhuan, Xiang Zhuan, Xì Cí Zhuàn, Wen Yan Zhuan, Shuo Gua Zhuan, Xu Gua Zhuan, Za Gua Zhuan)
  2. The Book of Documents (Shang Shu: Yao Dian, Shun Dian, Tang Shi, Hong Fan, Tai Jia, Duo Shi, Wu Yi)
  3. The Book of Odes (Shi Jing: Da Ya - Wen Wang, Da Ya - Dang, Feng Wei - Qi Ao)
  4. The Zuo Zhuan (15th Year of Duke Xi, 25th Year of Duke Xi, 9th Year of Duke Xiang, 21st Year of Duke Xiang, 30th Year of Duke Xiang, 2nd Year of Duke Zhao, 5th Year of Duke Zhao, 12th Year of Duke Zhao, 18th Year of Duke Zhao, 1st Year of Duke Min)
  5. Discourses of the States (Guo Yu: Jin Yu IV)
  6. The Analects (Lun Yu: Xue Er, Wei Zheng, Li Ren, Shu Er, Tai Bo, Zi Lu, Xian Wen, Wei Ling Gong, Yang Huo, Wei Zi, Ji Shi, Yong Ye, Yan Yuan)
  7. Mencius (Mencius: Gongsun Chou I, Li Lou I, Li Lou II, Jin Xin I, Jin Xin II)
  8. Xunzi: (Quan Xue, Da Lüe, Tian Lun, Fei Xiang)
  9. Laozi: (Chapters 8, 16, 25, 36, 40, 42, 64, 76)
  10. Zhuangzi: (Qi Wu Lun, Da Zong Shi)
  11. The Book of Rites (Li Ji: Zhong Yong, Da Xue, Yue Ji, Jing Jie)
  12. Rites of Zhou (Zhou Li: Chun Guan - Tai Bu)
  13. Guanzi: (Nei Ye, Xin Shu I)
  14. Han Feizi: (Jie Lao, Shuo Lin)
  15. Mozi: (Shang Xian)
  16. The Art of War (Sunzi Bingfa: Shi Ji Pian, Xu Shi Pian)
  17. Spring and Autumn Annals of Master Lü (Lüshi Chunqiu)
  18. Records of the Grand Historian (Shi Ji: Kongzi Shijia, Zhou Ben Ji, Zhongni Dizi Liezhuan, Rulin Liezhuan, Tai Shi Gong Zi Xu, Ri Zhe Liezhuan)
  19. Book of Han (Han Shu: Rulin Zhuan)

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