To play with its words, to savor the language within—this is what is known as the Appended Judgments (Xi Ci). What are the Appended Judgments? They are records of the words above. That is, how the ancient sages understood them, how the hexagram statements were determined, what King Wen of Zhou established as the hexagram statements, and then how we, in understanding them and relating them to the realities of life, observe the variations that arise. This is called “playing with its words.” I believe this notion of “play” carries the meaning of savoring, of continuous reflection, of ongoing exploration.
“The formation of images is called Qian (Heaven).” Thus, we say that in heaven, images are formed. The Qian hexagram represents the heaven hexagram, and the aspect of forming images belongs to the heaven hexagram. “The imitation of patterns is called Kun (Earth).” The so-called imitation refers to following the spiritual energy of the Kun hexagram in accordance with the Qian hexagram, gathering it, concentrating it, and burying it within one’s own earth—that is, planting it as a seed.
You see, thus, “the imitation of patterns is called Kun,” and “the sages had the means to perceive the profundities of the world”—that is, to seek out its profound内涵. “And they delineated its forms and appearances, representing the appropriateness of things.” This phrase may seem difficult at first glance. “Delineating its forms and appearances”—when we write an article, we make a draft; when we paint, we first sketch, create an outline, or make a quick drawing, right? Delineating forms and appearances means providing a scenario, offering a tangible, perceptible possibility. “Representing the appropriateness of things” refers to the things that grow on the earth, the people who act, and facing a specific object, we can perceive from it…
Thus, the existence we understand is actually given through an existent entity. Through this existent entity, we can pursue the metaphysical meaning behind it. The extent to which your understanding reaches is the height to which metaphysics reveals itself. So, to what level has our cultivation reached? Well, the richness and fulfillment we perceive in our lives, the height of our aesthetic achievement, is elevated to that level. Only spirit possesses infinite possibility; all physical things have their limitations.
“When the eight trigrams are arranged in order, the images are contained within them.” Good, the eight trigrams are arranged. What are they arranged based on? It is the images. Thus, “heaven displays images” conveys this meaning.
In the lower part of the Appended Judgments, it is said: “Indeed, Qian shows people ease; indeed, Kun shows people simplicity. The lines imitate this. The images resemble this. Therefore, the Yi is about images. Images are about resemblance.” Everyone, take note: the eight trigrams communicate through images. All of this starts from the images.
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