太极图的"立象尽意"及其对认识论的启示

The Meaning Shown by Pictures "in Taiji Diagram and Its Inspiration to Epistemology

圣人不但对古圣哲不能尽意的哲思"立象以尽意",而且还将自己的见解也附会到已立之象中去,以至出现种类繁多的太极图。照此模式,我们将一些认识论问题的探讨亦附会到太极图中去。首先,太极图象征了人在认识过程中人的意识与客观世界的关系,即此两者的阴阳变合交感,既矛盾对立,又相辅相承,如此交错变换、循环不已的特征。其次,它还象征了个体人的"理"与"思"的思维特征,客体的"能"与主体的"可能"之间的关系,以及人的"日新"与"境界"的关系等。

The sage could not only completely understand the philosophical thinking of 'expressing meaning by showing the pictures', but also strained his interpretation to the pictures shown. Therefore, many kinds of Taiji diagrams appeared. Accordingly, we strained our interpretation of the theory of knowledge to Taiji diagram. First, Taiji diagram symbols the relationship between human's conciousness in understanding process and the objective world. That is, the alternation and interaction between positive and Negative Forces, (yin-and-yang, in chinese philosophy) which are opposite as well as supplementary to each other, lead the world to move in cycles. Second, Taiji diagram also sympols the thinking characteristics of individuals in their own principle and thinking. The relationship between objective possibility and subjective ability, and the relationship between individual's personal renewal and his ideological level.