何謂《易經》

盧傑雄博士

香港中文大學哲學系高級講師

《易經》，又稱《周易》，可以說是中國文化中的本源。古往今來，其作者與成書問題一直有不少討論。最廣為流傳的版本，是相傳由三位不同時代的聖人創作而成。首先，由遠古的伏羲創造「八卦」；其後，由周文王演《易經》而生「六十四卦」；最後，由孔子作《易傳》解釋《易經》的哲理。如依此說，其成書時期便在西周，約在公元前十一世紀左右。　

然而，根據近人的學術研究顯示，《易經》並非一時一人所作。學界普遍認為，《易經》的成書過程非常漫長，經歷殷末周初到西周後期，即約公元前十一世紀至公元前七世紀。至於《易傳》作為闡釋《易經》的十篇文章，包括《彖上》、《彖下》、《大象》、 《小象》，《繫辭上》、《繫辭下》、《文言》、《說卦》、《序卦》和《雜卦》，這些文章則可能是春秋末年至戰國晚期的作品，約在公元前七世紀到公元前二世紀。

一般人以為《易經》只是占卜問卦之書，不過是用來預知吉凶禍福的迷信。這本其實是歷世無數有識之士眼中的「群經之首」，也正是中國文化的精粹。這本其實是歷世無數有識之士眼中的「群經之首」，也正是中國文化的精粹。「以言者尚其辭」（從卦爻辭講立身處世的道理）以及「以動者尚其變」（從卦爻的變化幫助決策行事）才是《易經》的實質，至於卜筮其實是《易經》的外在形式。這個《易經》與占卜的關係，孔子早已點明。

孔子學習《易經》不在乎趨吉避凶，而是另有目的：「我觀其德義耳也。…… 吾求其德而已，……。君子德行焉福，……。仁義焉求吉，故卜筮而稀也。」《馬王堆帛書‧要》細察六十四卦的卦爻辭，不難發現當中包含許多修德進業之道，例如謙卦九三爻辭：「勞謙。君子有終。」，叫人做事勤勞謙遜；否卦上九爻辭：「傾否。先否，後喜。」，要人徹底改過自新；豫卦初六爻辭：「鳴豫，凶。」，說的是有了名譽，耽溺享樂，就會有凶險。《論語‧述而》記載孔子發揮恆卦九三爻辭「不恆其德，或承之羞」的道理，人沒有恆心，勢將會無所成就。

總體而言，卦爻辭的內容有兩大特點：一、教人立身處世要秉持中庸、忠信、戒懼、謹慎等原則，《左傳》也曾載有六個例子，直接引用卦爻辭作為行事之標準；二、卦爻辭裡有關吉凶的「貞兆辭」或「占斷辭」，至少有九種「吉、亨、利、無咎、悔、吝、厲、咎、凶」，當中警示、告誡意味甚濃，例如「悔」、「吝」、「咎」、「無咎」，都是要人反思己過，改過遷善，怪不得孔子晚年說：「假我數年，卒以學《易》，可以無大過矣。」

首先，《易經》是最古老的哲學書。

《易經》的一套符號系統，以陰陽描述自然界「簡易」、「變易」與「不易」的變化規律。這種強調變化的哲學，令人體會到世界充滿生命力以及創造的力量。《易經》主張「陰陽平衡」與「物極必反」的哲理，也是為人處世的原則。故此，《易經》可謂最古老的哲學書。

其次，《易經》是指導人生的智慧。

《易經》的哲理是指導人生的智慧。由卦爻辭構成的《易經》，無不在教人立身處世要秉持中庸、忠信、戒懼與謹慎等原則。更重要的是，人應當效法天地，積極進取，不能有絲毫懈怠。如能時刻反思己過，改過遷善，人生自然會暢順如意。

再者，《易經》是中國文化的根源。

《易經》的自然哲學與人生哲學，影響中國文化的每一個領域。自古以來，不論是哲學、宗教、政治、經濟、軍事、文學、藝術、醫學、天文、算術、音樂以及武術等的，無不受《易經》的哲理影響，甚至作為整套理論的基礎。《易經》的哲理是中國文化的根源。

What is “I Ching”?

By Dr. Alex Lo Kit Hung
Senior Lecturer, Department of Philosophy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong


The Book of Changes, also known as the Book of Changes, can be said to be the origin of Chinese culture. Throughout the ages, there have been many discussions about its author and its completion. The most widely circulated version is said to have been created by three saints from different eras. First, the ancient Fuxi created the “Eight Trigrams"; later, King Wen of Zhou performed the “Book of Changes" and gave birth to the “Sixty-Four Hexagrams"; finally, Confucius wrote the “Book of Changes" to explain the philosophy of the “Book of Changes". According to this theory, its writing period was in the Western Zhou Dynasty, around the eleventh century BC.

However, according to recent academic research, the “Book of Changes" was not written by one person at a time. Academic circles generally believe that the writing process of the “Book of Changes" was very long, spanning from the late Yin Dynasty and early Zhou Dynasty to the late Western Zhou Dynasty, that is, from about the 11th century BC to the 7th century BC. As for the ten articles in Yizhuan (易傳) that explain the “Book of Changes", they include “彖上", “彖下", “Daxiang大象", “Xiaoxiang 小象", “Xici-Part A 繫辭上", “Xici-Part B 繫辭下", “Wenyany文言", “Shuogua說封", “Xugua序卦" and “Zagua雜卦", these articles may be works from the late Spring and Autumn Period to the late Warring States Period, about the seventh century BC to the second century BC.

Most people think that the “Book of Changes" is just a book of divination and divination, a superstitious book used to predict good and bad luck.This book is the “Prime of all classics" in the eyes of countless learned scholars throughout the ages, and it is also the essence of Chinese culture.

Firstly, I Ching (易經) is the oldest philosophical book.

A system of symbols in the “I Ching” describes the changing laws of nature in “simple”, “changing” and “unyielding” ways with yin and yang (positive and negative energies).  This philosophy of emphasizes change makes one realize that the world is full of vitality and creative power.  “I Ching” advocates the philosophies of “yin and yang balance” and “things would move in opposite directions if reaching two extremes”, which are the same principles applying to human affairs in the world.  Therefore, the “I Ching” is known to be the oldest philosophy book.

Secondly, I Ching (易經) is the wisdom that provide guidance.

The philosophy of the “I Ching” provides guidance to the wisdom of life.   The compositions of I Ching hexagrams with yin yang lines in trigrams provided philosophical interpretations which teach people the principles of moderation, loyalty, caution, and prudence for guidance on their conduct of life.  More importantly, it advises us to follow the example of heaven and earth; be active and enterprising without slacking off.  Our life will naturally be smooth and happy if we learn to reflect on our past faults and change for the better.

Furthermore, I Ching (易經) is the root of Chinese culture.

I Ching’s philosophy of natural science and life have influenced every field of Chinese culture.  Since ancient times, whether in philosophy, religion, politics, economy, military, literature, art, medicine, astronomy, arithmetic, music, and martial arts, its philosophical concept has also served as the basis of their systemic theory.  The philosophy of “I Ching” is essentially the root of Chinese culture.

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