We speak of live—”Yuan is the chief of goodness.” You see, this refers to the beginning of live, the origin of all things. The Qian hexagram speaks precisely of this spiritual live. Its Daxiang Zhuan (Great Image Commentary) states: “Heaven moves with vigor; the noble person strives unceasingly to strengthen themselves.” Have you encountered this phrase? What does “the noble person strives unceasingly to strengthen themselves” mean? Many interpret it as unwavering determination, correct? That’s true, but it remains abstract. It is an energy—the very essence of life energy itself. Observe: the spirit of “heaven moving with vigor” is one of perpetual action. Thus, our life force is also in constant motion, is it not? This is “Yuan.” Notice? It is the first character, and it also signifies spring. Within the four seasons—Yuan, Heng, Li, Zhen—Yuan represents spring, Heng summer, Li autumn, and Zhen winter.
Thus, within the culture of the I Ching, Chinese civilization has masterfully synthesized the existential environment of the Huaxia people. Our human Dao (Way) originates from the heavenly Dao. To delve into this would reveal profound richness. Now, consider the English word for “live.” You surely know it—”live,” correct? Reverse this word, and it becomes “evil.” What is evil? It is the inversion of live—the destruction of live itself. Humanity resonates deeply on this point, and this is remarkable. Therefore, cherishing live is far more than a slogan; it must begin with live itself.
What is “De” (virtue) within our concept of “Dao-De” (morality)? Dao is the essence, and De is its attribute. The greatest De under heaven is called “Sheng” (life-generating). This is what Confucius taught—the supreme virtue is life-generating. “Sheng” refers to life; thus, cherishing life is the highest virtue. For those of us who practice calligraphy, who write characters—we are truly not ordinary people. When I insist on completing a particular piece today, it is a response to your vitality.
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