Introduction to the Jing Family's Interpretation of the I Ching

Author: Guo Yu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-10-01
Features: Ban Gu's Book of Han·Biographies of Confucian Scholars mentions the transmission of the Book of Changes studies, stating that Liang Qiu He learned the Book of Changes from Tai Zhongdai Jing Fang. This Jing Fang was a disciple of Yang He from Zichuan and later became the Governor of Qizhou. During Emperor Xuan of Han's reign, hearing of Jing Fang's expertise in the Book of Changes, the emperor appointed his disciple Liang Qiu He as a Lang (a type of official). Later, Liang Qiu He repeatedly made accurate divinations, gained favor, and rose to the position of Minister of Household. He served until his old age and passed away in office, passing the position to his son, Liang Qiu Lin. Lin was a master of the Book of Changes and specialized in Jing Fang's methods. During the Ganlu period, he succeeded Wu Lu Chongzong Jun Meng as Minister of Household. It is also said that "Jing Fang learned the Book of Changes from the Qiang person Jiao Yanshou," who, during Emperor Yuan of Han's reign, "gained favor for his expertise in omens." Later, he became the Governor of Wei Commandery. Emperor Xuan ruled for 26 years, followed by Emperor Yuan, who ruled for 16 years. Thus, there were two Jing Fangs during the Han Dynasty. The Jing School Commentary on the Book of Changes we see today is the work of the later Jing Fang, and the life story we introduce here is that of the later Jing Fang.
Jing Fang (77 BC–37 BC), styled Junming, originally bore the surname Li but adopted the surname Jing through his own calculations. He was from Dongqiun in Dong Commandery (now southwest of Qingfeng County, Henan Province). He studied the Book of Changes under Jiao Yanshou from Qiang. Jiao Yanshou, styled Gan, often said, "The one who obtains my way and perishes must be Jing Fang." Jiao's teachings excelled in omens and disasters, dividing the 64 hexagrams and specifying daily events, using wind, rain, cold, and warmth as indicators, each with its own divination. Jing Fang mastered this technique and applied it with exceptional precision. His disciples once said, "Jing Fang's predictions of omens were never wrong." In the fourth year of the Youyuan era (45 BC), Jing Fang was appointed as a Lang through the selection of filial and incorrupt officials. In the first year of the Yongguang era (43 BC), there was a total solar eclipse in February, heavy snow in March, severe frost in September, and widespread famine across the empire. In the third month of the second year of the Yongguang era, another solar eclipse occurred. The court and the people were shaken, and Emperor Liu Xiang (posthumously titled Emperor Yuan) issued a self-censuring edict:
"It is said that in the reigns of Tang and Yu, the use of symbolic punishments kept the people from offending, and in the dynasties of Yin and Zhou, the enforcement of laws made villains submit. Now, I have inherited the great legacy of Emperor Gaozu and sit upon the throne of the, trembling day and night, constantly reflecting on the urgent needs of the people, never forgetting them. Yet, the Yin-Yang forces are unbalanced, the Three Lights are dimmed. The common people are in great distress, scattered on the roads, and bandits rise. The officials have grown cruel and oppressive, failing in their duty to govern the people. All of this is due to my own lack of wisdom and shortcomings in governance. The faults have reached this point, and I am deeply ashamed. As the parent of the people, if I am so inadequate, how can I expect the people to be loyal? I hereby grant a general amnesty, bestowing one rank upon the people and offering oxen and wine to households of one hundred women. I also provide for widowers, widows, orphans, the elderly, the Three Elders, filial and fraternal sons, and diligent farmers with silk."
Although the court took some measures to relieve the famine, natural disasters continued from the Yongguang to the Jianzhao eras. During this period, Jing Fang repeatedly submitted memorials predicting the arrival of disasters, with some occurring within months and others within a year, and his predictions were "always accurate." The emperor, pleased with this, summoned Jing Fang multiple times to inquire about the causes of the disasters and how to alleviate them. Jing Fang then proposed the "Examination and Assessment of Officials' Merits" based on Dong Zhongshu's Commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals. He stated, "Ancient emperors selected officials based on merit, and thus all affairs were accomplished, with auspicious signs appearing. In the later times, officials were chosen based on praise and blame, leading to the decline of merit and the occurrence of disasters. It is advisable to test the merits of officials, and disasters can be averted." The emperor, fearing the will of Heaven and desiring to "correct the king's governance through the signs of Heaven," ordered Jing Fang to lead the implementation of the "Examination and Assessment of Officials' Merits" and to hold a conference with the ministers and court officials. The conference concluded that "Jing Fang's proposals were too, and it was not feasible to have the lower and higher officials monitor each other." However, the emperor still supported Jing Fang, entrusting him with full authority to implement the policy nationwide. At the time, the court was dominated by Shi Xian, the Chief Secretary (Zhongshu Ling), a eunuch from Jinan, who made decisions on all matters, "enjoying great favor and respect from the court" (as quoted in Biographies of Flatterers in the Book of Han). Meanwhile, Jing Fang's proposed "Examination and Assessment of Officials' Merits" directly targeted Shi Xian. Once