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.
III. The Position of This Chapter in the Entire Yi Zhuan
If we expand the view to the entire Yi Zhuan (The Ten Wings), the position of this chapter becomes even more prominent.
The Tuan Zhuan (Commentary on the Judgments) explains the hexagram statements, belonging to the level of "Xiang." The Xiang Zhuan (Commentary on the Images) (Great Image, Small Image) explains the hexagram images and line images, also belonging to the level of "Xiang." The Wenyan Zhuan (Words of the Wenyan) offers an in-depth exposition of the Qian and Kun hexagrams, encompassing both "Xiang" and "Yao." The Shuo Gua Zhuan (Explanation of the Trigrams) systematically explains the taking of images for the eight trigrams, belonging exclusively to the level of "Xiang." The Xugu Gua Zhuan (Hexagram Sequence Commentary) explains the ordering of the sixty-four hexagrams, involving the logical relationship between the "Xiang." The Za Gua Zhuan (Miscellaneous Trigrams Commentary) briefly summarizes the meaning of the hexagrams, belonging to the level of "Xiang" and "Meaning."
In contrast, the Xici Zhuan provides the theoretical summary and philosophical elevation of all the above. This chapter, being the core of the Xici Shang Zhuan, actually provides the theoretical bedrock for the entire Yi Zhuan—it explains what "Xiang" and "Yao" are, why they exist, and how they are generated, thus providing the meta-theoretical basis for all specific commentaries and expositions.