But in the 2 1 century, the Book of Changes is unfamiliar to modern people, and even many people have a wrong prejudice against the Book of Changes. They think that the Book of Changes is a book of divination, and that the Book of Changes is a superstitious book from head to toe, and it is often avoided.
Every time I see such remarks or actions, I feel extremely sad. Sadly, my excellent traditional Yijing culture has been misunderstood, which also laments the spiritual and cultural needs of our contemporary people. So I want to speak again, to clear the name of the Book of Changes, and to popularize science for those groups who unilaterally understand the existence of the Book of Changes.
For thousands of years, there have been different opinions about what kind of book the Book of Changes is, and derivative works are also blooming.
Some people say that the Book of Changes reflects the calendar. For example, as early as ancient times, there was an official office specializing in the management of astronomical calendars, called Si Tian Jian, who talked about the calendar established by combining the knowledge of the Book of Changes with astronomy.
Some people think that the Book of Changes is used for divination and prediction, such as the saying that "gossip will determine good or bad luck". Moreover, in the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, when the state made major decisions, it set up diviners to judge good or bad luck.
Some people think that the Book of Changes is a book on military politics. For example, the ancients derived various military arrays based on the study of the Book of Changes, such as the Eight Diagrams Array and the Yuanyang Array. In addition, the ancients also used the divination and prediction function of the Book of Changes and the output of philosophical thoughts as tools of political rule.
Some people think the Book of Changes is a medical book. The Yi-ology principles such as the harmony of Yin and Yang mentioned in the Book of Changes are interlinked with traditional Chinese medicine. In ancient times, there was a saying that "I don't know how to be a doctor", which shows the close relationship between Yijing and Chinese medicine.
Others think that the Book of Changes reflects mathematics. For example, Leibniz pointed out in 17 16 that "the eight diagrams deduced by Fu contain the binary principle".
I'm telling you, there's nothing wrong with it. It's the Book of Changes. Just like the well-known Dream of Red Mansions, "Scholars see the Book of Changes, Taoism sees lewdness, talented people see lingering, revolutionaries see people, and gossips see palace secrets." At the same time, I also want to use a set of statistical results to illustrate that since Fuxi was founded, The Book of Changes has been the classic work with the most researchers and the most extended words since ancient times, and has become the object of study and elaboration by Confucianism, Taoism and alchemists. Even if Qin Shihuang burned books to bury Confucianism, the Book of Changes should be preserved. Later generations' research on calendar, divination, astrology, geomantic omen, eight-character numerology, physiognomy, military affairs, medicine and even humanistic philosophy is based on this. Its wisdom not only deeply influenced the civilization of China, but also had a great influence on the science, technology and humanities in the West, and even was listed as a must-read book by UNESCO. It is no exaggeration to say that the Book of Changes is a necessary book for us to know ourselves and the world.
It transcends all sects. Confucianism, from its own perspective, is "Confucianism and Yi";
Buddhism plays it from its own point of view, which is "Buddhism changes";
Taoism studies it from the perspective of monasticism, which is "Daoyi";
......
Tracing back to the source, let's discuss what I ching is from the root.
According to the Book of Changes, the ancient people were the kings of Xi family. When he looked up, he looked at the sky, and when he bowed his head, he looked at the laws on the ground. Observing the suitability of bird and beast culture and land, and adopting the attitude of being close to all flesh and away from all things, I started gossip to communicate the virtue of the gods and the feelings of all things. There is a similar record in Biography of Huang San.
In the official history "Preface to Historical Records of Taishi", it is recorded that the ancestors said: Fuxi is pure and honest, and he writes the gossip of Yi.
According to the above ancient documents, we can see that the Book of Changes was originally invented by Fu, the ancestor of mankind. The Book of Changes served the public at first, and it can be used to guide people's production and life in primitive tribal times, such as establishing seasons by observing the positions of astronomical stars and seeing what has been planted recently; For example, I'm going out hunting today to see if it rains; Or maybe the couple is getting married, see which day is a good day, and so on.
In a word, the essence of the Book of Changes can be understood as a set of abstract and concrete cosmology and methodology summarized by the ancients. To put it bluntly, The Book of Changes is a classic made by ancient people constantly summing up the laws of nature in their production and life, which is used to guide people's production activities and spiritual life, so that future generations can take fewer detours and take fewer evil paths. Created the earliest civilization in China.
Later, with the progress of society and the emergence of classes, the Book of Changes became a tool of class rule. The ruling class (that is, the emperor) uses Yi to predict the future, make decisions on state affairs, reflect current phenomena, and measure heaven, earth and personnel. The purpose is to conform to the general trend of the world, consolidate political power and strengthen the country.
The Book of Changes is a book that reflects and understands the development law of the whole universe and things with hexagrams. It is a unique knowledge system for Chinese civilization to understand the laws of nature and social operation. More precisely, it reveals this law and methodology with a picture of Fuxi's congenital sixty-four hexagrams in Fiona Fang as the operation core.
Therefore, we contemporary people should study the Book of Changes and enjoy the convenience brought to life by the wisdom left by the ancients. It is also necessary for us to carry forward the excellent traditional culture of the Book of Changes and let more people experience this happiness.