殷墟卜辞与阴阳学说

The Oracle Bone Inscriptions of the Yinxu Site and the Yin-yang Doctrine

司马谈《论六家要旨》云：“《易大传》：天下一致而百虑，同归而殊途。夫阴阳、儒、墨、名、法、道德，此务为治者也，直所从言之异路，有省不省耳。尝窃观阴阳之术，大祥而众忌讳，使人拘而多所畏，然其序四时之大顺，不可失也”川。阴阳家起源早，流传久，影响深远。殷墟卜辞中的一些内容与阴阳学说有关，现经整理，分论于下。

In the oracle bone inscriptions found in the Yinxu Site, there are some contents related to the yin-yang doctrine. For example, in the oracle bone inscriptions of the Anonymous Group in the reigns of Kings Lin Xin and Kang Ding, the word ＂Yuangui元簋＂ is seen for one time, which symbolized the ideal methods of tracing the beginning through the end. The ＂yuan元＂ was like the ideal method, and the ＂gui簋＂ was like the definite thing. It is said in the Xici shang （Upper section of the Great Appendix） of Yijing （Classic of Changes）, ＂that which is antecedent to the material form exists, we say, as an ideal method, and that which is subsequent to the material form exists, we say, as a definite thing.＂ In the divination inscriptions of the oracle bones found at Yinxu, the terms ＂xiao gao小告＂ and ＂ergao二告＂ are engraved beside the omen cracks, which are the ＂union of essence and breath form things, and the wandering away of the soul produces the changes （of the constitution of the essence and breath）＂ mentioned in the Xici shang of Yljing. In the Yinxu divination inscriptions, the term ＂san gao三告＂ is seen; It is said in Laozi （Daode ring） that ＂the Dao produced One; One produced Two; Two produced Three; Three produced all things.＂ The Three is the symbol of Mean and Pacification; it is said in the ＂yi益 hexagram＂ of Yijing that ＂the path of Mean, advice to the prince is followed.＂ The ＂you shi有食＂ and ＂you xin有新＂ in the Yinxu divination inscriptions are all related to blood sacrifice. The ＂you sh有食＂ meant that when blood sacrifice was offered, there were ghosts and deities sharing the offerings; the “you xin有新＂ would be ＂you xin有薪＂ , which meant the liao-burning sacrifice.