易之三象与阴阳之义

The Three Symbolic Images of "Yi" and the Meaning of Yin and Yang

《说文》保存关于"易"古传的三种解释,一是蜥易,二是日月为易,三是从日从勿。取三个代表性的象,留给人观象会意。古人仰观俯察,以日月运行规律,定位时空坐标,以此作为人生存的最大背景,这也是"易"永恒不易的根本。惟其不易,方可充任其中所有变易的判断标准。

According to the three legendary interpretations of Yi preserved in Shutowen Jiezi,Yi refers to the lizard,corresponds to the sun and the moon,and stands for the sun and the flag.The three representative images encourage people to observe them and grasp the meanings.These three representative figures give people a way to understand the meaning of the character ’Yi’.Ancient men look up to the sky and observe the earth,grasping the rules that govern the motion of the sun and the moon while positioning the temporospatial coordinates.Thus,the widest background of human survival is established,and constitute the eternal and unchanging basis for Yi.Only by its unchangingness can it be the criterion of any existent changes.