Between Emulation and Resemblance: A Fundamental Inquiry into the Microcosm of the Dao of Change
This article deeply analyzes the core proposition of 'Yáo imitating Xiàng' found in the *Xici Zhuan II* of the *Zhou Yi*, distinguishing the dynamic differences between 'imitation' (xiào) and 'analogy' (xiàng), tracing the referent of 'this' (cǐ), and interpreting how Yáo-Xiàng constitutes the epistemological framework for revealing the subtle workings of the Dao within the Pre-Qin context.
IV. Interpretations of Wang Fuzhi's School of Practical Learning
Wang Fuzhi (1619–1692) offered a distinctive interpretation in his Zhou Yi Nei Zhuan and Wai Zhuan. Wang Fuzhi opposed Wang Bi’s theory of "forgetting the Xiang," arguing that the Xiang is not a tool to be transcended, but where the Principle resides. Without the Xiang, the Principle has no place to rest.
Wang Fuzhi particularly stressed the practical meaning of xiào:
"Emulation (Xiào) does not mean empty hypothetical discussion; rather, it means that there is an actual event, and we use it to clarify the concept."
That is to say, the xiào of the Yao is not an empty analogy, but a faithful presentation of actually existing things and relationships. This interpretation carries a strong materialist flavor—the effectiveness of the symbolic system derives from its faithful reflection of the material world.
Wang Fuzhi also provided a historically philosophical reading of "meritorious achievements are seen in change." He argued that "meritorious achievements" are not fixed standards invariant over time, but are constantly renewed as the era changes. The standard for achievement in the Shang dynasty differed from that of the Zhou; the Zhou’s differed from that of the Spring and Autumn period—every era has its specific "change," and the meaning of meritorious achievement changes accordingly. This historical understanding elevates "meritorious achievements are seen in change" beyond mere divinatory technique to an important proposition in the philosophy of history.