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 Meaning of Duàn (断)
The word duàn in Classical Chinese fundamentally means "to cut off." By extension, it means "to resolve" or "to judge." Han Feizi (Nan San): "Affairs have no constant teacher; the key is that the ruler is good at making decisions (duàn)." This means the crucial element in handling matters is the sovereign's ability to make firm decisions.
The duàn in "attaching statements to determine their auspiciousness and inauspiciousness" emphasizes "judgment"—not vague suggestion, not ambiguous metaphor, but a clear determination that can serve as a basis for action.
This is also an important difference between Yao and Xiang. The Xiang provides an iconic intuition—seeing this image allows for multiple understandings and associations. But the Yao Ci provides a convergent judgment—"auspicious," "inauspicious," "beneficial to see the Great Man," "not beneficial to cross the great river"—these are direct instructions guiding action.
From an epistemological perspective, the Xiang is open-ended, while the Yao Ci is convergent. The Xiang displays a rich space of meaning, while the Yao Ci makes a concrete choice within that space. Only when combined do they constitute the complete cognitive-decisional system of the Zhou Yi.