“形而上者谓之道,形而下者谓之器”新释——兼论《系辞》的宇宙论

New Interpretation of“Things Belonging to ring er shang are Called Dao,and Things Belonging to cing er xia are Called qi”:Also on the Cosmological Theory in Xici

历代学者对“形而上者谓之道,形而下者谓之器”的解读都存在问题。在《系辞》原文中,这两句话冠以“是故”,表明是对前面“乾坤其易之缊邪”一段的进一步推论和说明。《系辞》中的“易”有《易》之书、易道和宇宙本原三种用法,而“缊”于、“立乎”乾坤的“易”为本原易存在于乾坤的形式,可称为次生易,亦即易道。“形”义为形成,“而”犹“其”也,“上”“下”分别指抽象、超验的方面和具体、经验的方面。据此,这两句话正确的句读方式应该是:“形,而上者谓之道;形,而下者谓之器。”大意是乾坤形成,其抽象、超验的方面叫做“道”;乾坤形成,其具体、经验的方面叫做“器”。前者指存在于乾坤的次生易,即易道;后者为乾坤的物质存在形态。因而,将“metaphysics”译为“形而上学”是一场基于误读的误会。

Scholars throughout history have had problems interpreting“things belonging to xing er shang are called Dao,and things belonging to xing er xia are called qi器(utensils)”形而上者谓之道,形而下者谓之器.In the original text of Xici(Commentary on the Appended Phrases),these two sentences are prefixed with“shi gu”(therefore),indicating a further deduction and explanation of the previous paragraph“Qian and Kun are the profound content of Yi”.The term“Yi”in Xici can be used to point to three things:the Book of Changes,the Dao of the Changes,and the origin of universe.The“Yi”embodied in Qian and Kun is the form of the primi⁃tive Yi existing in Qian and Kun,which can be called the secondary Yi,also known as the Dao of Yi.The meaning of“xing”is for⁃mation,and“er”means“qi”其(possessive pronoun).“Shang”and“xia”respectively refer to abstract and transcendental,or con⁃crete and experiential aspects.Based on this,the correct way of reading these two sentences should be:“Xing,er shang is called Dao;xing,er xia is called qi.”The main idea is the abstract and transcendent aspect of the formation of Qian and Kun is called“Dao”;the specific and experiential aspects are called“qi”(utensils).The former refers to the secondary Yi that exists in Qian and Kun,namely the Dao of Yi;the latter is the material existence form of Qian and Kun.Therefore,translating“xing er shang”into“metaphysics”is a misunderstanding based on misreading.