The Origin of Civilization - Understanding the World from the I Ching

Author: Lei Yuanxing / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: The Origin of Civilization translates a difficult-to-understand ancient classic into the language of the times, reviving the deceased spiritual fossils and re-entering the garden of human thought, emitting the fragrance of ancient scientific civilization. It comprehensively and systematically introduces the I Ching to science, guiding the study of the Book of Changes onto the correct track of scientific exploration. The Origin of Civilization does not focus on solving one or two so-called cutting-edge scientific problems but aims to complement and correct the current fundamental scientific system. The writing style of this book is simple yet profound, without any pretense, making it almost effortless for ordinary readers who have never encountered the Book of Changes. The Origin of Civilization strives to clarify the intrinsic connection between traditional culture and natural science from the source. Using a wealth of historical evidence and logical reasoning, the author demonstrates to readers that Taiji was an ancient model of the hydrogen atom, the Yin-Yang fish diagram is the Lo River Map, and the "Eight Trigrams" derived from it represent the actual structure of the Earth. The Lo Shu established the earliest "decimal system," the "Five Elements theory" is a direct abstraction and application of the laws of the universe's operation, the "Sixty-Four Hexagrams" diagram is an ancient periodic table, the I Ching is a fragmented classic of chemistry, and the Book of Changes is the starting point of Chinese civilization. Traditional Chinese medicine, based on the Yin-Yang theory, will make significant contributions to human civilization. Compared to other specialized works on traditional culture and the history of science, The Origin of Civilization offers a broader perspective and particularly profound insights, presenting unexpected or striking arguments at every turn. Even after finishing the book, one still feels its profound depth.
Because the Book of Changes does not mention the concept of the "Five Elements," many I Ching scholars believe that the "Five Elements" are unrelated to Taiji and the Eight Trigrams and thus fall outside the scope of I Ching studies. As a result, the relationship between the "Five Elements" and the "Eight Trigrams" can be ignored. The "Five Elements" specifically refer to the Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth phases. The theory of the "Five Elements," like modern mathematics, physics, and chemistry, has always been a tool and method used by ancient Chinese sages in their research. Whether in Taoism, medicine, military strategy, Confucianism, historiography,, or calendrical calculations, mastery of the "Five Elements" was essential. Unlike the "Eight Trigrams" theory, which is profound and abstract, the "Five Elements" theory is straightforward and easily understood. For example, fire is fire, not Li; water is water, not Kan; and earth is earth, not Kun. This theory did not emerge earlier than the "Fu Xi Eight Trigrams," and in terms of its ideological content, it should be compatible with the Yin-Yang and Eight Trigrams theory. Therefore, I infer that it originated from the "Eight Trigrams" theory, which is the theoretical source of the "Five Elements" theory.
What exactly does "Wood" in the "Five Elements" refer to? To the ordinary understanding, wood means trees, grass, timber, and all wooden utensils. For example, "Wood overcomes Water" refers to plants absorbing water as they grow, and "Fire overcomes Wood" refers to wood being burned into ashes. However, this understanding is entirely mundane and fails to grasp the true meaning of the character "Wood." The Commentary on the Hexagrams states: "Wind represents Wood, and Wind represents the wind." In other words, Wood is wind, Wind is Xun, and it is the circulation of the atmosphere. It is the rotation of the Earth's wind wheel. The operation of the wind wheel is the greatest "movement" in the universe. As one of the "Five Elements," "Wood movement" refers to the rotation of the Earth's wind wheel.
As one of the "Five Elements," "Water" is not the water in rivers, lakes, or seas. The Commentary on the Hexagrams says: "Kan represents Water." Thus, Water is Kan, representing the flow of water, the ocean currents. "Water movement" is the circulation of the hydrosphere, i.e., the rotation of the Earth's water wheel. "Earth" is not narrowly referring to the soil in the fields but to the soil of the world, the land, the Earth's crust, and the rotational movement of the Earth's crust from west to east. "Earth movement" is the rotation of the Earth's earth wheel. "Fire" is not the fire in the stove but the fire underground, the movement of magma in the mantle. "Fire movement" is the movement of the Earth's fire wheel. "Metal" is not the metal of gold but the iron core, the movement of the magnetic iron core within the magma. "Metal movement" is the rotation of the Earth's iron wheel or gold wheel. Only the rotation of the gold wheel, fire wheel, earth wheel, water wheel, and wind wheel can be called the "Five Elements." Studying the movement of these five spheres will reveal the laws of the universe's operation.
Understanding the principles of the universe before comprehending the nature of all things. The theory of mutual generation and mutual overcoming is an important part of the "Five Elements" theory. Once one understands what the "Five Elements" refer to, it is not difficult to see their true relationships of mutual generation and mutual overcoming. Wood overcomes Water, Water overcomes Earth, Earth overcomes Fire, Fire overcomes Metal, and Metal overcomes Wood. These refer to the transmission of momentum among the five wheels.