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。「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。」

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。

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 average person thinks that I Ching is only a book of divination, and it is a superstition to predict the good and the bad. However, this is really a glimpse of speculation.

Strictly speaking, “I Ching” is a set of books, synthesized by I Ching (易經) and Yizhuan (易傳).  The source of the I Ching is very ancient, and the formation process is long, probably from the late Yin Dynasty (殷未) to the late Western Zhou Dynasty (西周後期).  The Yizhuan (易傳) is the ten articles (Shiyi十翼) explaining Zhou Yi (周易), including Structure-Part A (Tuen-Part A 彖上), Structure-Part A (Tuen-Part B 彖下), The Greater Appearance (Daxiang大象), The Lesser Appearance (Xiaoxiang 小象), About the relationship of the Hexagrams-Part A (Xici-Part A 繫辭上), About the relationship of the Hexagrams-Part B (Xici-Part B 繫辭下), About the characters (Wenyan 文言), Explaining the Hexagrams (Shuogua 說卦), The order of the Hexagrams e (Xugua 序卦) and Miscellaneous sayings on the Hexagrams (Zagua 雜卦), these articles may be literature from the end of the Spring and Autumn Period to the late Warring States Period. works.

Most people think that “I Ching” is just a book of divination and questioning, but it is a superstition used to predict the good fortune of the evil.  The essence of “I Ching” is the essence of “I Ching” (the truth of living in the world from the hexagrams and lines) and the “movement” (the change of the hexagrams and lines to help decision-making). The external form of the “I Ching” .  Confucius has already pointed out the relationship between this “I Ching” and divination.  Confucius studied the “I Ching” not caring about seeking good fortune and avoiding evil, but for another purpose: “I watch its virtues and ears…. I only ask for its virtues, …. The gentleman‘s virtue and deeds are blessed, … Benevolence and righteousness seek good fortune.  Therefore, the divination is rare.”  “Mawangdui Silk Book‧ Yao“ (馬王堆帛書‧要) scrutinized the sixty-four hexagrams, and it is not difficult to find that it contains many ways to cultivate morality and enter the profession.  Modesty. A gentleman has an end.”, instructs people to be diligent and humble; in the hexagram of No, the nine lines of remarks: ”No. First no, then happy.“, to make people completely reformed; the sixth line of Enthusiasm (Yu豫) hexagram: “Ming Yu , Fierce.” It means that with reputation, indulge in pleasure, there will be fierce danger.  “The Analects of Confucius-Shuer” records that Confucius played the principle of “don‘t persevere one’s virtue, or inherit one‘s shame” in the nine-three lines of the Duration (Heng 恒) hexagram.

In general, the content of hexagram interpretations (Gauyao Ci 卦爻辭) has two major characteristics: First, it is necessary to teach people to adhere to the principles of moderation, loyalty, fear, and prudence.  Zuo Zhuan (左傳) also contains six examples that directly quote hexagram interpretations (Gauyao Ci 卦爻辭) as actions. The standard; 2. The Zhen Zhao Ci (貞兆辭) or “Acquisition and Judgment” (占斷辭) in the hexagram and line remarks about good and bad, there are at least nine types of “good luck, prosperous, profit, no blame, regret, stingy, severe, blame, fierce", among them Warnings and admonitions have strong meanings, such as “repentance", “meanness", “blame", and “no guilt". They all require people to reflect on their own mistakes and to correct their good. No wonder Confucius said in his later years: There is nothing wrong with learning Yi (易).

This book is actually the “first of the group scriptures" in the eyes of countless insightful people in the past, and it is also the essence of Chinese culture.

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

A set of symbolic systems in the “I Ching” describes the changing laws of “simply”, “changing” and “not easy” in nature with yin and yang.  This philosophy of emphasizing change makes one realize that the world is full of vitality and creative power.  The “I Ching” advocates the philosophies of “yin and yang balance” and “things must be reversed”, which is also the principle of living in the world.  Therefore, the “I Ching” is the oldest philosophical book.

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

The philosophy of the “I Ching” is the wisdom that provide guidance.  “I Ching” composed of hexagrams, always teaches the principles of moderation, faithfulness, fear and prudence.  More importantly, people should follow the example of the world and be aggressive, and there should be no slack. If you can always reflect on your past and change your kindness, your life will be smooth and happy.

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

The Natural Philosophy and Life Philosophy of “I Ching” affect every field of Chinese culture.  Since ancient times, no matter it is philosophy, religion, politics, economy, military, literature, art, medicine, astronomy, arithmetic, music, and martial arts, it has not been influenced by the philosophy of “I Ching”, and even served as the basis of the whole theory.  The philosophy of “I Ching” is the root of Chinese culture.

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