Interpreting and Investigating the Chapter: 'The Sage Perceived the Profundities of the World' — The Primordial Code of *Xiang* and *Yao*
This paper deeply investigates the core proposition, 'The Sage perceived the profundity (Ze) of the world,' within the *Xi Ci Zhuan* (Commentary on the Appended Judgments) of the *Zhou Yi*, analyzing the original Pre-Qin semantics of 'Ze,' 'Xiang' (Image), and 'Yao' (Line). It focuses on explaining the cognitive leap of the Sage through 'looking up and observing down,' transforming deep textures (Ze) into external simulations (Xiang), and reveals the intrinsic connection between the 'Yao' and ancient ritual systems, thereby reconstructing the foundation of Yi learning theory.
I. The Intent of the Xici Zhuan
To understand the deeper meaning of a passage, we must know the question that motivated its writing.
The Xici Zhuan (Upper and Lower Chapters) is the most philosophically profound text of the Yi Zhuan (The Ten Wings). Unlike the Tuan Zhuan or Xiang Zhuan, which explain hexagrams and lines sequentially, the Xici Zhuan discusses the fundamental principles of the Zhou Yi from a higher perspective. It can be said that the Xici Zhuan answers these fundamental questions: "What is the Yi$2 Why is it effective$3 How did it originate$4"
The discussion of "Xiang" and "Yao" in this chapter provides the core answer to the question, "What is the essence of the Yi$5" The author of the Xici Zhuan (whether Confucius himself or his later disciples) tells us here:
The essence of the Yi is two complementary symbolic systems—the "Xiang" system and the "Yao" system. The "Xiang" system is used to express the deep structure of the world’s myriad things; the "Yao" system is used to express the world’s process of change. Together, they constitute a complete tool for cognition and decision-making.