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.
II. The Pre-Qin Semantics of Dòng
In Pre-Qin texts, dòng is a concept rich in meaning.
Its most basic meaning is "physical motion." Tao Te Ching (Chapter 26): "Heaviness is the root of lightness; stillness is the master of motion (zào, 躁)." Here, zào is synonymous with dòng. But in a deeper philosophical sense, dòng points to all change, all interaction, all transformation.
The Xici Xia Zhuan says:
"Firm and yielding push against each other, giving rise to transformation."
"Pushing against each other" (xiāng tuī, 相推) is the specific unfolding of dòng—yin and yang push against each other, firmness and yielding push against each other, Heaven and Earth push against each other, and in this pushing, transformation arises.
The Xici Shang Zhuan also states:
"One yin and one yang is called the Dao; what follows this is good; what completes this is nature (xìng, 性)."
The alternation of "one yin and one yang" is the most fundamental dòng—it is not a specific thing moving, but the alternation between yin and yang itself being the dòng.
Therefore, "the movements of the world" (dòng of the world) does not mean some things in the world move while others do not; rather, it means all things in the world are in motion according to the great rhythm of yin-yang alternation. This dòng is universal, fundamental, and ceaseless.
In the Analects (Zihan):
"The Master, by the stream, said: 'It passes on just like this, never ceasing, day or night!'"
This profound sense of the constant flow of all things is the direct experience of the "movements of the world." The water flows endlessly, time never stops, and everything is in transformation—this is the most basic contemplation of the "movements of the world."