Oriental Health Aesthetics: The Time of Professor Qiu Zhenglun’s Explanation of the Book of Changes(53）

“Scholar” (学) means “awakening” (觉). Yes, it’s the “awakening” of enlightenment. In ancient times, among the ancients, “learning” (学) and “awakening” (觉) were interchangeable—they could be used as phonetic loans for each other. If you study our classics without clarifying this point, you might be able to recite them or fill in the blanks, but it would hold no real meaning for you.

Now, let’s look at its origin:

Above it, do we see a hand? Right? If you trace its evolution in oracle bone script, what are the two hands holding?

It’s yao (爻)—isn’t that the yao symbolism? Isn’t yao from the I Ching? Yes, the yao statements in the I Ching. Each yao symbolizes a position, a state of being, right?

Learning, of course, requires effort—but what is the purpose of that effort?

It is to attain awakening through learning. “Awakening” (觉) means “to wake up.”

Not just our eyes waking up, our ears waking up, our skin waking up, our sense of touch waking up—it is our consciousness waking up. See? That makes all the difference. See? Making these connections creates a new effect.

If we seize the moment, if we grasp the opportune time, in the process of learning, we can achieve awakening. And after awakening, then what?

Now, why have the two characters been confused?

Is it because when we studied classical Chinese in the past, teachers taught us a method—turning monosyllabic words into disyllabic ones?

Is that method good? Yes, it’s very useful, because most words in classical Chinese are monosyllabic.

But what we must be most vigilant about is this: monosyllabic words masquerading as disyllabic ones.

Take xue er shi xi (学而时习), right?

“Shi” (时, time) and “xi” (习, practice) are placed together, aren’t they? This creates a misunderstanding—why does the meaning of “time” (时) become distorted? It’s because “xi” (习) is placed right beside it. See?

Now, how should we understand “xi” (习)? You should find this easier to grasp.

What is the top part of “xi” (习)? What character is that?

It’s “yu” (羽), meaning “feathers.” Where do feathers grow?

Do they grow on humans? No, right? They can only grow on birds.

What does the bottom part, “bai” (白), mean?

Let me pose a question: “Where is the bird’s home?”

See, everyone looks tense now.

In the trees? In the nest? But does it just sleep there all day?

You must analyze the bird—what is its nature?

It is called a “flying creature” (飞禽).

The nest is its cradle—even its point of departure.

But it may not be its final destination.