Between Numbers and Images: the Many Meanings of Trigram Li 離 in the Early Yijing

象數之間－離卦在早期《易經》的多重意涵

史亞當(Adam C. SCHWARTZ)

《饒宗頤國學院院刊》 5期 (2018/05) Pp. 47-85

摘要

This paper examines the images of trigram Li 離 in the Yijing 易經, with a focus on images in the Shuogua 說卦 commentary. The Shuogua presents images either found in or to be extrapolated from the base text within a structured and highly interpretive system that forms ＂image programs＂ for each of the eight trigrams. I argue the Shuogua's image programs have a defined architecture, and its images are not random lists of words collected without an agenda and devoid of relationships and mutual interaction with others. My main thesis is a high percentage of images in the Changes developed through a simple and direct pictographic method, like the one used in a recently discovered Warring States period divination guidebook called *Shifa 筮法 (Method of milfoil divination), that was done by matching the graphic shapes of individual numbers and the overall shapes of numbers in three-line combination to shapes of real objects and logographs. If a diviner could see so many pictographic images in single numbers and sequences of numbers in combination, like what we now see in operation in the Shifa, then we ought to assume that a deeper repository of subjective and innovative images could be observed in number combinations at the multiline, trigram, and hexagram levels. Stated directly, trigram and hexagram diagrams were not pictorially meaningless; numbers produced images, and images produced the words and judgments that formed early layers of text. Professional diviners had an expert knowledge of the tradition and Warring States use of the Changes continued to develop and explain image programs for the eight trigrams along these guidelines.

關鍵字

Warring States divination ； expert knowledge ； Shifa ； Yijing ； Trigram Li

並列摘要

本文探討《易經》離卦代表的象，尤其是〈說卦〉所列出的各種意象。〈說卦〉把基礎文本中提到或引申出來的意象，放進一個結構井然、高度詮釋性的系統下闡述，而八卦各自的「意象程式」正是由此系統生成。本文提出〈說卦〉的意象程式具備明確的架構，所載卦象並非毫無章法地隨意羅列，象與象之間實不乏關聯和互動。我的主要論點是《易》類文獻裡為數甚夥的意象是由簡單而直觀的方式生發出來，譬如新近發現的戰國占筮書《筮法》，成象的方式是通過將單爻象，以及三爻組合裡數字卦畫的整體形象，跟萬物的形狀或文字的字形互相配對。假如占卜者能從單一數字或數字序列的組合中看到如許之多「象形之象」，如《筮法》所示者，我們有理由相信可以從數爻、單卦和重卦的數字組合裡，觀察出更深層次的主觀和創新意象。一言蔽之，單卦和重卦之象絕非無所取義；數生卦，卦生象，象生辭，數、卦、象、辭則共同構成最早的《易》類文本。專業占卜人掌握筮卦傳統的專門知識，而戰國時期的《易》占在沿用傳統筮法的同時，對八卦的意象程式加以發揚和闡釋。

並列關鍵字

戰國占卜 ； 專門知識 ； 《筮法》 ； 《易經》 ； 離卦