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.
IV. "What Heaven assists is compliance" (Tian Zhi suo zhu zhe, shun ye)
What Heaven assists is the compliant person.
What is Shun (Compliance)$31 Shun means aligning with the Way of Heaven, conforming to the laws of nature, and aligning with the intrinsic logic of how things develop.
The Laozi, Chapter Eight:
"The highest Goodness is like water. Water benefits all things and does not contend; it dwells in places that people disdain, and is therefore close to the Dao."
The reason water is close to the Dao is that it is "compliant"—it flows according to the topography, not demanding, not resisting, not violating.
The Xì Cí Shang Zhuàn states:
"One Yin and one Yang constitute the Dao."
Shun means conforming to the rhythm of Yin and Yang alternation—Yang advances when it should advance, Yin retreats when it should retreat; one does not oppose the sequence of Yin and Yang, nor transgress the measure of firmness and yielding.
In human affairs, Shun means conforming to the situation, conforming to the hearts of the people, and conforming to righteousness.
The Zuo Zhuan, 6th Year of Duke Huan (桓公六年), contains the advice of Ji Liang:
"The people are the masters of the spirits. Therefore, the Sage Kings first secure the people before attending to the spirits."
"First secure the people"—first responding to the needs and interests of the people. This is the manifestation of Shun in politics.