The “Harmony and Unity” Thought of the *Zhouyi* in Fine Traditional Chinese Culture

In mainland Chinese academic circles, the *Yijing* (Book of Changes) and the *Yizhuan* (Commentaries on the Book of Changes) are generally collectively referred to as the *Zhouyi*, whereas in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and overseas academic circles, both the *Yijing* and the *Yizhuan* are usually called the *Yijing*. The *Zhouyi* is an important Confucian classic, the first of the “Five Classics,” and also the first of the “Six Classics” and the “Thirteen Classics.” Its profound and extensive thought has been valued by thinkers, philosophers, and statesmen throughout the ages. It has not only influenced Chinese thinking for several thousand years but has also had a significant impact on Asian and world culture. In particular, its ideas of the harmony of heaven and earth and of water and fire achieving their purpose [1]1 “水火既济” (water and fire achieving their purpose) is the name of the 63rd hexagram of the *Zhouyi*, *Jiji* (Already Fording), which symbolizes the successful completion of a task through the harmonious interaction of opposites. contain the concepts of constant change, harmony, and unity, which have a far-reaching and broad influence and merit in-depth study.

我国大陆的学术界一般把《易经》《易传》统称为《周易》，而我国港台地区以及国外学术界则通常把《易经》《易传》都称为《易经》。《周易》是重要的儒家经典，是“五经”之首，也是“六经”“十三经”之首，其思想博大精深为历代思想家、哲学家、政治家所重视，不仅影响中国人的思维几千年，而且对亚洲及世界文化产生也产生很大影响。尤其是其中的天地和合、水火既济思想，蕴含了变动不居、和谐、和合思想，更是影响深远而广泛，值得深入研究。

Regarding the character “和” (harmony), the *Shuowen Jiezi* (Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters) states: “From ‘mouth,’ with the sound ‘he.’” The original meaning of “和” is “responding in the same tone,” “seeking resonance,” “correspondence,” and “harmony,” extended to mean peace, amity, etc. Regarding the character “合” (unity), the *Shuowen Jiezi* explains: “(合), closing the mouth, from ‘ji’ and ‘mouth’.” The original meaning of “closing the mouth” is to bring together or shut, extended to mean coordination, harmony, cooperation, collaboration, gathering, combination, the whole, etc. The term “和合” (harmony and unity) appeared early in texts such as the *Guoyu* (Discourses of the States), the *Mozi*, and the *Shiji* (Records of the Grand Historian). “Harmony and unity” implies the contradictory unity of different things that have differences and contradictions, involving mutual opposition, mutual interdependence, mutual coordination, mutual harmony, common progress and development, and “harmony in diversity.” “Harmony and unity” is also the core value highlighted in the *Zhouyi*. In the eight trigrams, each trigram has three lines, symbolizing heaven, earth, and humanity, the three entities integrated within a single cosmic system. The eight trigrams are stacked in pairs to form the sixty-four hexagrams. The sixty-four hexagrams, each with six lines, total 384 lines, of which 192 are yang lines and 192 are yin lines. The mutual correspondence of yin and yang, the harmony and unity of yin and yang, and constant change represent the great transformation, daily renewal, and unceasing generation within the entire cosmic system. Its internal driving force is the mutual opposition, mutual interdependence, and mutual penetration of yin and yang. Heaven and earth correspond, opposites complement each other, yin and yang intermingle, and the myriad things are generated and transformed.

关于“和”字，《说文解字》曰：“从口，禾声。”“和”本义为同声相应、同气相求、相应、和谐，引申为和平、和睦等。关于“合”字，《说文解字》解释：“（合），合口也，从亼，从口”，“合口”本义是合拢、闭合之意，引申为协同、和谐、配合、合作、聚合、结合、全体等义。“和合”一词，早就出现于《国语·郑语》《墨子·尚同中》《史记·循吏列传》等典籍，“和合”蕴含有差别、有矛盾的不同事物之间相互对立、相互依存、相互协调、相互和谐、共进发展、“和而不同”的矛盾统一。“和合”也是《周易》凸显的核心价值观，八卦中每卦三爻，象征天、地、人，三者一体共处于一个宇宙大系统之中，八卦两两相叠形成六十四卦。六十四卦，每卦六爻，共三百八十四爻，其中一百九十二个阳爻、一百九十二个阴爻，阴阳相应、阴阳和合、变动不居，表征整个宇宙系统中大化流行、变化日新、生生不息，其内动力是阴阳相互对立、相互依存、相互贯通。天地相应，相反相成、阴阳交合，万物化生。

The *Zhouyi* highlights the harmony between humanity and nature. The *Zhouyi·Xici* (Appended Remarks) states: “When heaven and earth are dense and intermingling, the myriad things are transformed and purified; when male and female unite their essence, the myriad things are generated and transformed.” Humans originate from nature, interact with nature for survival, and ultimately return to nature. The harmony between humanity and nature is the highest realm pursued by the *Zhouyi*, as stated in the *Zhouyi·Wenyan* (Commentary on the Words of the Text): “The great person is one who harmonizes his virtue with heaven and earth, harmonizes his brightness with the sun and moon, harmonizes his order with the four seasons, and harmonizes his good and ill fortune with ghosts and spirits.” This highlights the coexistence of humanity and nature in harmony and unity. The “ghosts and spirits” in “harmonizes his good and ill fortune with ghosts and spirits” do not refer to the superstitious “ghosts and spirits” but to unknown things or mysterious forces in the universe. The *Zhouyi* admonishes humanity to love and care for nature in the process of transforming it, to exert human initiative to transform nature while following the laws of nature, as stated in the *Zhouyi·Tuan* (Judgment): “Follow heaven and respond to humanity.” The *Zhouyi·Xici* says, “The superior man sees the incipient moment and acts.” People must be good at discerning change, perceiving the laws of change, looking far ahead and seizing the “good opportunity,” using “change” cautiously, seeking “change” well, daring to respond to “change,” and “seeing the incipient moment and acting,” so as to reach a harmonious realm that transforms nature for the benefit of humanity.

《周易》凸显了人与自然之间的和谐。《周易·系辞》曰：“天地氤氲，万物化醇；男女构精，万物化生。”人来源于自然、交互于自然而生存、再回归自然。人与自然的和谐是《周易》追求的最高境界，正如《周易·文言》所云：“夫大人者，与天地合其德，与日月合其明，与四时合其序，与鬼神合其吉凶。”凸显了人与自然和合共存，其中的“与鬼神合其吉凶”的“鬼神”并非迷信所指的“鬼神”，而是指宇宙中的未知事物或神秘力量。《周易》告诫人类在改造自然的过程中，爱护自然、关爱自然，在遵循自然规律的前提下发挥人的能动性改造自然，正如《周易·彖》所云：“顺乎天而应乎人。”《周易·系辞》曰“君子见几而作”，人要善于明变，洞察变化之规律，高瞻远瞩抓住“良机”，慎用“变”、善求“变”、敢应“变”，“见几而作”，达至改造自然而惠于人类的和谐境界。

The *Zhouyi* highlights the harmony between people. There are differences in personality and conflicts of interest between people. Mutual understanding, mutual tolerance, harmonious coexistence, and common progress among people are of utmost importance, because harmony between people concerns the stability and development of society. The *Zhouyi·Tongren* Hexagram (Hexagram of Fellowship) states: “Fellowship in the open field. Success. It is advantageous to cross the great river. It is advantageous for the superior man to be steadfast and correct.” Its meaning implies “civilized and strong, centered and correct in response,” clarifying that as long as people set aside differences, seek common ground, uphold integrity, and unite, they can overcome all difficulties and obstacles. The *Zhouyi·Xici* states: “The way of establishing humanity is called benevolence and righteousness.” This indicates that the prerequisite for harmony between people is “benevolence” and “righteousness.” If a person lacks a heart of love for others and is selfish, harms others for personal gain, and is treacherous and faithless, it is impossible to achieve harmonious coexistence with others, nor to achieve harmonious interaction with society. The *Zhouyi* also emphasizes the importance of “sincerity and trustworthiness” for harmonious coexistence between people. For example, the *Zhouyi·Zhongfu* Hexagram (Hexagram of Inner Truth) states: “Nine in the fifth place: Having sincerity and trustworthiness, binding together. No blame.” The fifth line of the *Zhongfu* hexagram is in the central position of the upper trigram Qian (Heaven), that is, in the “center.” The fifth line is a yang line, “in the correct position,” highlighting “centeredness and correctness.” “Having sincerity and trustworthiness” means having credibility and being trustworthy; “binding together” symbolizes the scene of people uniting, cooperating, and linking hands, interconnected with each other; “no blame” means no fault or error. A person without trust cannot stand, an enterprise without trust cannot succeed, a country without trust cannot prosper. If a person loses sincerity and trustworthiness, even if they scheme with all their might, they will be isolated and helpless, ultimately falling into difficulty. The *Zhouyi* explains the harmonious coexistence between people under the premise of sincerity, trustworthiness, centeredness, and correctness, and extends this harmony to the relationship between people and society, and between states, where “the hard and the soft interweave” and “civilization stops at the proper point,” thereby realizing “a civilized world.”

《周易》凸显了人与人之间的和谐。人与人之间存在性格差异、利益冲突，人与人相互理解、相互包容、和谐相处共同进步至关重要，因为人与人之间的和谐，关系到社会的安定及发展。《周易·同人卦》曰：“同人于野，亨。利涉大川，利君子贞。”其意蕴含了“文明以健，中正而应”，阐明了人与人之间只要存异求同、守正团结，就能够战胜一切困难险阻。《周易·系辞》曰：“立人之道，曰仁曰义。”表明了人与人之间的和谐，其前提就是“仁”“义”。如果一个人没有爱人之心而自私自利、损人利己、背信弃义，就无法达到人与人的和谐共处，也无法达到与社会的和谐相处。《周易》还强调了“诚信”对于人与人之间和谐共处的重要性，例如《周易·中孚卦》曰：“九五：有孚挛如，无咎。”中孚的九五爻，处于上卦乾的中间一爻即处“中”，九五爻是阳爻“当位”，凸显“中正”。“有孚”即有信用、讲诚信；“挛如”象征人与人之间团结合作手牵手、相互牵连在一起的景象；“无咎”即无过错、无过失。一个人无信不立，一个企业无信不成，一个国家无信不兴，人如果失去诚信，即使机关算尽，也会孤立无助，终究陷入困境。《周易》阐释了诚信、中正前提下人与人之间的和谐共生，又把这种和谐扩展到人与社会、国家与国家之间“刚柔交错”“文明以止”，从而实现“天下文明”。

The *Zhouyi* highlights self-harmony. In the *Zhouyi*, whether in the eight trigrams or the sixty-four hexagrams, the total number of yin lines equals the total number of yang lines, achieving a balance of yin and yang. The eight trigrams and sixty-four hexagrams not only interpret the great cosmos of nature but also interpret the small cosmos of the human self. From the perspective of personal health preservation, only when a person’s own yin and yang are coordinated is it less likely for them to fall ill and maintain physical health. From the perspective of a person’s body and mind, the *Zhouyi·Wenyan* admonishes: “A family that accumulates goodness will surely have abundant blessings; a family that accumulates evil will surely have abundant calamities.” This emphasizes that people should practice good deeds and accumulate virtue, avoid disasters, and maintain peace of mind. The *Zhouyi·Xici* states: “If the ruler is not secret, he loses his ministers; if the minister is not secret, he loses his life; if the incipient matter is not secret, it harms its accomplishment.” Here, it admonishes people to be cautious in speech and action, to prevent disaster from coming out of the mouth. However, “cautious speech” does not mean “not speaking.” The *Zhouyi·Xici* also states: “Words that are of one mind are fragrant like orchids.” This indicates that “speech” at critical moments has great effect. “Cautious action” also does not mean not acting, but that people should be good at occupying the “center,” doing everything with “centeredness and correctness” without bias, avoiding excess or deficiency, not dwelling on the past, not fearing the future, reconciling with oneself, thereby achieving harmony and pleasure of body and mind.

《周易》凸显了自我之和谐。《周易》无论是八卦，还是六十四卦，阴爻的总数量与阳爻的总数量相等，阴阳平衡。八卦、六十四卦不仅演绎自然大宇宙，还演绎人自我小宇宙。从人的自我养生方面讲，人只有自我“阴阳”协调，才不容易得病、保持身体健康；从人的身心方面，《周易·文言》告诫：“积善之家必有余庆，积恶之家必有余殃。”强调人们要行善积德、避免灾祸，保持心灵安宁。《周易·系辞》曰：“君不密则失臣，臣不密则失身，几事不密则害成。”这里告诫人们慎言慎行，防止祸从口出。然而，“慎言”不是“不言”，《周易·系辞》还曰：“同心之言，其臭如兰。”这里说明关键时刻的“言”有很大的作用；“慎行”也不是不行动，而是人要善于处“中”，做任何事都要“中正”而不偏不倚、避免有过或不及，不纠缠过去，不惧怕未来，与自己和解，从而达到身心和谐愉悦。

Although the *Zhouyi* emphasizes “change” and “unceasing generation,” it is only under the conditions of “order,” “upholding integrity,” “coordination,” and “harmony” that “change” can positively “generate” and “develop” and bring auspiciousness. If the process of change is chaotic, disorderly, and evil, it will lead to decline and extinction. Hence, the *Zhouyi* highlights the importance of “preserving the great harmony,” that is, emphasizing the core value of “harmony and unity.” As the *Zhouyi·Tuan* states: “The way of Qian (Heaven) changes, each thing corrects its nature and destiny. Preserving the great harmony is then advantageous and correct. The first emerges from the multitude of things, and all states enjoy peace.” When the entire universe, the entire world, every country, and every person “corrects their nature and destiny” and develops and changes with centeredness and correctness, it will manifest harmony between humanity and nature, harmony between people, harmony between people and society, harmony between states, and harmony of the human self in body and mind. This will achieve “preserving the great harmony” and “all states enjoy peace.”

《周易》虽然强调“变化”“生生”，但是“变化”在“有序”“守正”“协同”“和谐”的情形下，才能正向地“生生”“发展”、呈祥。如果变动过程中杂乱、无序、邪恶，就会走向衰落、灭亡。故而《周易》凸显了“保合太和”的重要性，即强调“和合”核心价值观，就如《周易·彖》曰：“乾道变化， 各正性命，保合太和，乃利贞。首出庶物，万国咸宁。”整个宇宙、整个世界，每个国家、每个人“各正性命”、中正发展变化，就会彰显人与自然之间和谐、人与人之间和谐、人与社会之间和谐、国家与国家之间和谐、人自我身心和谐，就会达至“保合太和”“万国咸宁”。

Source: *Chinese Social Sciences Today*, February 26, 2025

文章来源：《中国社会科学报》2025年2月26日

Online Editor: Jing Mu

网络编辑：静穆