繫辭下傳

The Great Commentary, Part Two

9 sections · Commentary by Han Kangbo · Subcommentary by Kong Yingda

章

Chapter 1

第一章

經 Classic Text

八卦成列，象在其中矣。因而重之，爻在其中矣。剛柔相推，變在其中矣。繫辭焉而命之，動在其中矣。吉凶悔吝者，生乎動者也。剛柔者，立本者也。變通者，趣時者也。吉凶者，貞勝者也。天地之道，貞觀者也。日月之道，貞明者也。天下之動，貞夫一者也。夫乾，確然示人易矣。夫坤，隤然示人簡矣。爻也者，效此者也。象也者，像此者也。爻象動乎內，吉凶見乎外，功業見乎變，聖人之情見乎辭。

Translation

The eight trigrams are set in array — images are contained within them. When they are doubled, lines are contained within them. The firm and the yielding push against each other — transformation is contained within them.

Statements are appended and mandates given — movement is contained within them. Fortune and misfortune, regret and distress arise from movement. The firm and the yielding establish the foundation. Change and penetration keep pace with the time. Fortune and misfortune mean that correctness prevails.

The Way of Heaven and Earth: correctness and contemplation. The Way of sun and moon: correctness and illumination. The movements of all under Heaven: correctness toward unity. Qian is resolute, showing people ease. Kun is yielding, showing people simplicity. The lines model these.

The images portray these. Lines and images move within; fortune and misfortune appear without. Achievement and enterprise appear through transformation. The true feelings of the sage appear in the statements.

注 Wang Bi's Commentary

夫八卦備天下之理，而未極其變，故因而重之，爻在其中矣。以著適時之功，文卦之義所存各異，交在其中矣。有變動而後有吉凶。立本，況卦；趣時，況爻。貞者正也，一也。夫有動則未免乎累，殆吉則未離乎凶。會通之變，而不累於吉凶者，其唯貞者乎。老子曰：王侯得一以為天下貞。萬變雖殊，可以執一御也。確然示人易矣，坤隤然示人簡矣。兆數見於卦也。失得驗於事也。功業由變也。辭也者，各指其所之。

Translation

The eight trigrams encompass all principles under Heaven but have not yet exhausted their transformations; therefore they are doubled, and lines are contained within them.

To manifest the achievement appropriate to the time, the meaning stored in each hexagram differs — the lines are contained within them. Only with movement and change do fortune and misfortune arise.

'Establishing the foundation' refers to the hexagram; 'keeping pace with the time' refers to the lines. Correctness (zhen) means upright and unified. Where there is movement, one is not free from entanglement; when fortune is uncertain, one is not far from misfortune.

To undergo transformation at the point of convergence and penetration without being entangled in fortune and misfortune — only the one who is correct can do this. ' Though the myriad transformations differ, one can grasp the One to govern them all.

Qian, being resolute, shows people ease; Kun, being yielding, shows people simplicity. Portents and numbers appear in the hexagrams. Gain and loss are verified in affairs. Achievement and enterprise arise from transformation. The statements each point toward their intended direction.

疏 Kong Yingda's Subcommentary

正義曰：此篇章數諸儒不同。周氏莊氏並為十二章，劉氏為九章。今從九章為說也。此第一章也。「八卦成列，象在其中矣」者，八卦既備天下之理，故象在其中。「因而重之，爻在其中矣」者，因三畫之上各更加之成六畫，象萬物之動變也。

Translation

The Correct Meaning states: The number of chapters in this text varies among scholars. Master Zhou and Master Zhuang both divide it into twelve chapters; Master Liu divides it into nine chapters. Here we follow the nine-chapter division. This is the first chapter.

'The eight trigrams are set in array — images are contained within them' — once the eight trigrams encompass all principles under Heaven, images are within them.

'When they are doubled, lines are contained within them' — upon the three-line trigrams, additional lines are added to form six-line hexagrams, symbolizing the movements and changes of the myriad things.

鎖

Unlock Full Scholarly Text

Verify your email to access the complete bilingual translation. We'll send you a one-click verification link.

Free access. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

← The Great Commentary, Part OneDiscussion of the Trigrams →