Here is the translation of the provided content: "Full of scenery into the divination book"

Author: Lü Shubao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: The "wind and things" mentioned in this book refer to landscapes and imagery. In the preface, the extensibility of landscape imagery, the layers of linguistic imagery, and the scope of material for this study's in-depth exploration of imagery are discussed. It is argued that the means of capturing imagery to elucidate principles in the Book of Changes by Bu Shu is essentially literary. The book is divided into five chapters: Introduction, Exploration of Imagery in the Book of Changes, Exploration of Character Imagery in the Book of Changes, Exploration of Linguistic Imagery in the Book of Changes, and a General Theory of Capturing Imagery to Elucidate Principles. Excerpt: The inherent richness is the fruit of the partial liberation of the subjective emotions of early humans from their original religious emotions (non-subjective emotions), and it is the morning star heralding the great liberation of subjective emotions and the high elevation of ontological spirit during the Warring States and Wei-Jin periods. Now, let us look at the social collective emotions revealed in the awareness of law-like imagery. The collective emotions driven by social psychological tendencies in the Book of Changes primarily manifest in the construction of law-like imagery in the text. The Mawen edition of the Commentary on the Changes, "The Meaning of the Changes," says: "Life (nature) is both literary and martial, though one may study hard, it cannot be attained." This discusses the nature being innate. What is the nature? "The innate nature is benevolence and righteousness, which form the basis of righteousness and the regulation of rigidity and flexibility" (ibid). "The innate nature is benevolence and righteousness," as the convergence of benevolence and moral character, creates a tripartite overlap (not fusion) of the Heavenly Way, Earthly Virtue, and Human Nature. This makes the unity of heaven and humanity in the "Great Image of the Heaven" section of the "Qian" hexagram in the Book of Changes, "The Heaven moves with vigor, and the nobleman strives ceaselessly to strengthen himself," have a phylogenetic basis. Human nature is the initial root of social collective emotions. In fact, this theoretical construction model does not need to be sought in unearthed artifacts like "The Meaning of the Changes." The recognized "Zi said" or quasi-"Zi said" in existing classics seems closer to "Confucius said" than the "Zi said" in "The Meaning of the Changes." In the "Yang Huo" chapter of the Analects, it is said: "How does Heaven speak? The four seasons proceed, and a hundred things grow—how does Heaven speak?" This is another expression of "The Heaven moves with vigor": highly confident actions declare everything without the need for self-promotion or explanation; wandering about, showing off, and incessant talk often indicate a lack of sincerity and confidence. In the "Questions of Duke Ai" in the Rites of Zhou, Duke Ai asks Confucius: "May I ask what the nobleman values in the Heavenly Way?" Confucius replies: "Its ceaseless movement. Like the sun and moon moving east and west without stopping, this is the Heavenly Way. It does not close itself off for long; this is the Heavenly Way. It achieves things without effort, and this is the Heavenly Way. It achieves things and makes them clear, and this is the Heavenly Way." According to Confucius's annotation by Kong Yingda, this passage means: "The celestial body is formless, moving ceaselessly, like the sun and moon moving east and west without stopping. Heaven gives birth to all things without closing itself off, allowing it to last long, growing summer after summer. It achieves things without seeing Heaven's actions, and the things Heaven creates are already accomplished, with their merits clearly manifest." Unceasing action naturally brings recognition of merits, which is consistent with the thoughts of Confucius in the earlier "Yang Huo" passage.