乾元、坤元内涵考——兼析象数思想的发展路径

On the Connotation of Qian Yuan and Kun Yuan--Concurrent Discussion on the Development Route of Image-numerology

“乾”的本义“太一”,太一是古人最早标识的北极星。乾元内涵资始,指伏羲用数字“一”标识与北极星相关天象的过程。这在文字学上具有“道立于一”的意义,即用文字标识有形事物的开端;在历数上具有“纪于一”的意义,即历数发展的起点。坤的本字为“川”,古人以川流不息喻生生不息;“牝马”喻百位,它是之后形成加法进位规则集的基础。坤元内涵资生,指数位生生不息。乾坤二卦卦辞记载了正整数由一至万的发展路径。

The original meaning of Qian meant the One(Taiyi)or the Polaris;while Qian Yuan meant the process of Fuxi’s marking the astronomical phenomena related to the Polaris by the character One(Yi).Philologically speaking,this meant that everything started from one,namely characters were used to mark the beginning of matters;mathematically speaking,this meant the period of one,namely the beginning of mathematics.As a result,the concept of Beginning of Kun emerged.Kun meant endless;the original form of Kun was“steam”,“steady stream”was used by ancient people to indicate the meaning of endlessness.Mare symbolized hundreds of bits,as the basis for the formation of kilobit,myriabit and the rules for regrouping tens as hundreds.Hexagram-records of Hexagram Kun recorded the forming process of position and carry theory;Zisheng meant endless positions.Hexagram-records II of Hexagram Kun recorded the development route of positive integer from one to ten thousand.