Oriental Health Aesthetics: The Time of Professor Qiu Zhenglun’s Explanation of the Book of Changes(49）

Yesterday, we spent the entire day exploring the relationship between the aesthetics of writing and the aesthetics of the Yi Jing, essentially integrating these concepts in our discussion. To be objective, if not for structural considerations, my introduction alone would have covered all the key points. Starting today, we’ll focus on elaborating specific aspects of our traditional classical culture. Truthfully, this part is particularly significant for you. In the past, we’ve seen waves of superficial enthusiasm for “Guoxue” (traditional Chinese learning)—what I call “Guoxue fever”—which often became more about the label than the substance. I prefer not to frame this course around “Guoxue fever”; instead, I emphasize the traditional culture of the Chinese nation, specifically the wisdom of the pre-Qin era.

Broadly speaking, the wisdom of the Chinese nation can be distilled into three pillars:
1. The wisdom of the Yi Jing
2. The wisdom of the pre-Qin philosophers—not the loosely termed “Hundred Schools of Thought,” which is a later construct, but the core philosophical traditions of that era
3. The wisdom of Zen Buddhism

These three pillars form the foundation of our culture and collective wisdom.

Yesterday’s session largely followed my intended plan, and today we continue. This is undoubtedly challenging, but through our dialogue, I’ve noticed encouraging signs of engagement. In fact, if our discussions lacked difficulties, questions, or moments of confusion, I’d consider this course a failure in some sense. It’s precisely when we encounter points of confusion—when we face obstacles in our thinking and learning—that growth happens. How should we navigate these challenges?

Today, as we delve into “The Beauty of Life in the Yi Jing,” I’d like to first share some reflections on the learning process itself.