A Detailed Inquiry into the Most Auspicious Hexagram Lines in the Zhou Yi: From 'Yuan Ji' to 'Ji Wu Buli'
This article deeply investigates the system of fortune and misfortune within the 384 line statements of the *Zhou Yi* (*I Ching*), focusing on analyzing the profound meaning of 'Auspiciousness' (Ji). By systematically examining and comparing 'Yuan Ji' (Primal Auspiciousness) and other high-level auspicious statements, the study aims to discern the most felicitous line in the *Zhou Yi* and reveal the underlying philosophical wisdom and practical guidance it offers.
Chapter 25: Conclusion
Section 1: Summary
After a comprehensive review of the three hundred and eighty-four yao lyrics of the Zhouyi, an in-depth inquiry into the meaning of "auspiciousness," detailed analysis of candidate yao lyrics, examination of pre-Qin divination cases, and overall consideration of the philosophy of the Yi Zhuan, this paper reaches the following conclusion:
Among the three hundred and eighty-four yao, the most auspicious yao is Kun Six at the Fifth Place—"Yellow lower garments, supremely auspicious (Yuan Ji)."
The reasons are summarized as follows:
- From the perspective of the yao lyric judgment: "Yuan Ji" is the highest level of auspicious judgment in the Zhouyi; Kun Six at the Fifth Place explicitly receives this judgment.
- From the perspective of Yi Zhuan evaluation: The Wenyan Zhuan praises it as "utmost beauty" (美之至也)—the pinnacle of moral beauty. This is the highest evaluation of virtue for a single yao lyric in the entire Yi Zhuan.
- From the perspective of yao position conditions: Kun Six at the Fifth Place achieves centrality (occupies the center of the upper trigram), aligning with "centrality," the core of supreme goodness in the Zhouyi.
- From the perspective of virtue content: "Yellow lower garments" symbolizes the perfect unification of centrality and humility. Using the central color (yellow) for the lower garments (裳), embodying utmost virtue while