老子“自然”的意象诠释

A Yi-xiang interpretation of Laozi s nature

《周易》以“意-象-言”这种方式展开易道,它体现着古人展开道论的根本方式,也即中国传统的思维方式。以这种展开道论的方式、思维方式为研究方法,诠释古人的思想,即所谓“意象诠释”。这种传统思维方式,在《老子》中表现为“道-象-物”这样的道论结构。老子“自然”的观念,贯通老子道论的各层面。在这一结构中,“道”为体、为微;“物”为用、为显;“象”乃道之流行展开、显微之间。道体自然,流行亦自然,展开而实显为万物自然。道体自然,其义只能称“无”;流行自然,其义“无而有象、象而无形”,恍惚、窈冥;万物自然,即方圆万象。

The Book of Changes develops the Tao of Yi in the way of the integration of meaning,image and speech,which embodies the fundamental way that the ancients developed Taoism,that is,the traditional Chinese way of thinking. Using this traditional way of thinking as a research method to interpret the thoughts of the ancients is the so-called "interpretation of Yixiang". This traditional way of thinking is expressed in the Taoist structure of "Tao-Image-Thing"in Laozi. In this structure,"Tao"is the substance and the subtlety;"Thing"is the function and the manifestation;"Image"is the development of"Tao",and it is between the subtlety and manifestation. Laozi’s concept of "nature"has penetrated through all aspects of Laozi’s theory of Taoism. Tao,the development of Tao,and things are all natural. The Tao of nature can only be called"nothing". The development of Tao of nature goes as follows: it has no shape but image,and it can be called "obscurity";natural things are everything in every part of the world.