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.
III. The Relationship Between "Contemplating Words" and "Observing Images"
"When the Gentleman resides, he observes their Images and contemplates their Words" (Ju ze guan qi xiang er wan qi ci)—here two verbs are used: "observe" (Guan) and "contemplate" (Wan), corresponding to two objects: "Images" (Xiang) and "Words" (Ci).
What is the difference between "observing Images" and "contemplating Words"$4 Why not "contemplate their Images and observe their Words"$5
I believe "observe" leans toward a visual, holistic, and intuitive grasp, while "contemplate" leans toward the process of repeated savoring, detailed textual engagement, and deep internalization.
Observing Images is like climbing high to gaze afar—seeing all the mountains below—grasping the overall structure. Contemplating Words is like strolling through a garden—appreciating every flower and blade of grass, savoring the subtle beauty of every detail.
Together—"observing their Images and contemplating their Words"—it is a comprehensive and deep method of study: grasping the overall structure while meticulously appreciating every detail. This is a holistic approach.