An Argument for Yang being the Ultimate Force of Change in the Yijing
Resource
臺大中文學報, 26, 089-118
Journal
臺大中文學報
Journal Issue
26
Pages
089-118
Date Issued
2007-06
Date
2007-06
Author(s)
Cheng, C.H.
Abstract
In the last few centuries, many Yijing scholars explained Dao (the Way) in terms of the interaction of yin and yang. They assumed that the two material forces are coequal and play the same role in the Yijing. But in the early Yijing tradition, yang is considered to be a more important force of change. The reason is the Yijing describes a solar-centered universe. In the Yijing text, the references to day and light, and the four seasons are actually reflections of the cyclical movement of sunlight on the north and south hemispheres. To describe the change in sunlight, yang means sunshine and yin means shade or coldness caused by the lack of sunlight. Either way, yang is the ultimate force that causes changes to take place. In this paper, I will demonstrate how this solar-based cosmology is presented in the Yijing and how it is developed into a system of thought by commentators such as Daong Zhonghu, Xun Shuang, Wang Bi, and Zhu Xi.
Subjects
易
剛柔
乾坤
陰陽
二分二至
陽實陰虛
Qian kun
Yin yang
Yijing
I Ching
Zhou Yi
Changes
Type
journal article
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