-Ming Ci Dong
The history of human civilization is marked by the appearance of words. So, for modern people, what kind of misty land was prehistoric before the appearance of writing? What are our ancestors doing? In the long years, how was human civilization conceived and produced? Here, exploring Taiji Map and its influence on China and the world will make us feel that the scenery of 5,000 years ago is coming to us.
Taiji diagram is profound, mysterious and quiet, just like a picture frame without words. It is both primitive and modern; It is mysterious and scientific; It belongs to China and the world. From the day it was born, people with lofty ideals in the past dynasties painstakingly studied its mystery, which was passed down from generation to generation and finally merged into the wisdom source of the Chinese nation-Taiji philosophy. Undoubtedly, the rich philosophy contained in Taiji philosophy has had a far-reaching impact on the Chinese nation and even the whole world, and has become a symbol of human civilization and culture. The question is, do China and the world still need Tai Chi philosophy? Can Taiji's philosophy still arouse condemnation in China and the world today? To answer this question, it is necessary for us to explain and summarize the philosophical implication, historical position and role, and practical significance of Taiji Diagram.
First, the origin of Taiji Diagram and China's philosophy and world philosophy and its relationship with Chinese civilization.
Taiji diagram is a circular pattern composed of black and white symmetrical, sympathetic and inclusive fish-shaped patterns, commonly known as Yin-Yang fish diagram, which is said to be made by Fuxi. The author has studied a large number of archaeological data and found that the ancient Taiji pictures five to seven thousand years ago existed in a large number of vessels (see figure 1), indicating that Taiji pictures were produced in the middle and late Neolithic Age. As an ancient totem, Taiji diagram records and expresses the understanding and thinking of China ancestors about mysterious nature with graphic language, which is the bud of China's philosophy. As the representative of Chinese ancestors in this period, Fuxi also became the deserved originator of China's philosophy. With the progress in the use of symbols, the thought of Yin and Yang embodied in Taiji Diagram has been fully displayed in Oracle Bone Inscriptions and other cultural relics in Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties and even earlier. Moreover, in the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, because symbols evolved into single words, and single words gradually formed systematic characters, a book explaining Tai Chi, Yin and Yang and Eight Diagrams appeared-The Book of Changes. The Book of Changes naturally became the first book of China's philosophy and the first book of China's semiotics, while Zhou Wenwang, who wrote the Book of Changes, naturally became the father of China's philosophy. The appearance of writing greatly promoted social civilization and progress, forming the first peak of China culture-a hundred schools of thought contend, and at the same time, two great thinkers in the history of China-Confucius and Laozi were born. At the same time, Taiji diagram has been more widely popularized and applied, and finally merged into the source of wisdom of the Chinese nation-Taiji philosophy. Under the nurture of Taiji philosophy, the Chinese nation has created a splendid civilization with a long history of 5,000 years. This indisputable fact makes us reflect on such a theoretical proposition: which comes first, philosophy or civilization?
As early as six or seven thousand years before the appearance of writing, our ancestors summed up the origin and changes of everything in the universe through the dialectical contradiction between yin and yang with the help of graphic language, which was at least two or three thousand years earlier than the origin of ancient Greek philosophy 2,600 years ago. This fully shows that Taiji diagram is not only the origin of China's philosophy, but also the origin of world philosophy. The origin of China's philosophy is one or two thousand years earlier than China's 5,000-year civilization. Based on this, we can draw the conclusion that "there was philosophy before civilization, and it was China's philosophy that gave birth to China's 5,000-year civilization".
The great Taiji thought was born in the Neolithic Age and supported the development of science and technology in China. Together with the Neolithic Age science and technology, it gave birth to the 5,000-year civilization in China. Therefore, we have reason to say that the "father" of China's 5,000-year-old civilization is Neolithic technology and the "mother" is Taiji culture. This fully shows that Taiji diagram is the root of Chinese culture and the mother of Chinese civilization! This conclusion also solves the problem of the origin of civilization in the China civilization traceability project.
Second, Taiji diagram is a graphic expression of the law of unity of opposites.
The law of the unity of opposites is the fundamental law of philosophy and the universe, and Taiji diagram is the law of the unity of opposites expressed by the graphic language of China ancestors in the Neolithic Age and the earliest graphic dialectics in the world. As a symbol and a pronoun, Taiji Circle actually represents the existence relationship and operation law of all things in the universe: Taiji Circle is divided into two parts by Yin and Yang, which is a contradiction; The existence of Yin and Yang in Taiji circle shows that Yin and Yang are both opposites and unified. The symmetry and balance of Yin and Yang figures reveal the truth that things pursue balance in a contradictory body and harmony in many contradictory balanced bodies. Just as many spices are blended into delicious food and many musical instruments are blended into beautiful music, everything in the universe and human society are developing and changing in balance, and the fundamental purpose of their development is "harmony". To some extent, the theory of yin-yang balance of Taiji diagram is more scientific and reasonable than the law of unity of opposites in modern philosophy. The philosophy of Taiji Diagram aims at "pursuing the balance of Yin and Yang", but in modern philosophy, the "struggle theory" is produced because the "purpose-means" relationship of the law of unity of opposites is not clear. Struggle theory holds that struggle is eternal, and the development of things depends on struggle. A typical example is that Hitler said in his book Mein Kampf that "all life is in eternal struggle" and took this as the guiding ideology to create a terrible World War II; China's "Cultural Revolution" was also based on the "struggle theory", that is, "taking stage struggle as the key link", which led to the catastrophe in China in 10. ...
Three, Taiji philosophy keywords and their logical relationship
Wuji, Taiji, Yin and Yang, Eight Diagrams, Five Elements and Feng Shui are the key words of Taiji philosophy, and Yin and Yang are the core of Taiji philosophy.
Infinity means no limit. Generally speaking, what is the universe? From a small point of view, what else is in the quark? The infinite philosophical significance lies in prompting us to think endlessly.
Tai Chi means limit. The largest can refer to the vast universe, and the smallest can be quarks. The philosophical significance of Taiji is that it covers the whole universe and its changes.
Yin and Yang, when ancient thinkers in China introduced the category of Yin and Yang to look at the emergence and movement of all things in the universe, philosophy came into being. The essence of Yin and Yang is China's contradictory theory. The philosophical significance of Yin and Yang lies in revealing the true meaning of philosophy, that is, everything is contradictory. In the Spring and Autumn Period, Lao Zi explained 48 pairs of contradictory relations between Yin and Yang in Tao Te Ching, making Tao Te Ching the first book with profound philosophy and the ancestor of Taoism, and Lao Zi became one of the highest gods in Taoism-the moral Buddha.
Gossip, a symbol of yin and yang. "-"means Yang; "-"means yin. Each line segment is called hexagrams, and the three hexagrams overlap into eight diagrams. The great significance of the Eight Diagrams lies in that China ancestors divided eight natural elements between heaven and earth into four pairs of dialectical contradictions of yin and yang as early as three or four thousand years ago to explain the world, thus organically combining natural elements with philosophical analysis. After entering the writing age, the eight diagrams symbols with text annotations were interpreted as the Book of Changes. The philosophical significance of the Book of Changes is to interpret the world through the combination of Yin and Yang eight diagrams symbols representing the natural elements of heaven and earth. The mysterious magic of the Book of Changes is that it highly summarizes the world with the least words: easy to change (change, move); Yin and Yang are contradiction and balance (result). The words "Yi" and "Yin and Yang" show that the world is "contradictory, changing, moving and balanced", which is the core of dialectical method. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Confucius explained the Book of Changes, namely the Ten Wings. The spirit of "self-improvement" mentioned by Confucius in divination and the thought of "carrying things for morality" mentioned in divination have now become the essence of the Chinese national spirit. Confucius' Ten Wings and King Wen's Book of Changes became the ancestors of the Book of Changes and Confucian classics. Abroad, especially in Southeast Asia, people follow Confucian philosophy and regard Confucianism as "philosophy"-Confucian letters.
The five elements are the dialectical relationship theory of material "life". The theory of five elements holds that nature is composed of five elements, which are synonymous with gold, wood, water, fire and earth. The significance of the five elements lies in revealing the relationship between "birth and restraint" in the universe, so as to achieve the balance of yin and yang, that is, the balance theory of the five elements.
Feng Shui comes from the observation and summary of nature by ancestors for millions of years in order to adapt to the natural environment and overcome natural disasters. The word "geomantic omen" comes from the combination of two natural elements, wind () and water (), which were produced in the eight diagrams four thousand years ago. The significance of geomantic omen lies in how people seek the best living environment. Guo Pu, a master of geomantic omen, said, "Qi dissipates by the wind, but the boundary water stops. The ancients gathered and posted it, and the deeds stopped. This is called Feng Shui, which is the earliest written expression of Feng Shui.
The logical relationship between the six key words of Taiji philosophy is: infinite gives birth to Taiji, which contains Yin and Yang, and Yin and Yang deduce the Eight Diagrams and Five Elements; Eight diagrams explain geomantic omen, and five elements solve the balance between material production and grams. The hierarchical relationship of these six keywords is: Wuji-Taiji, which embodies the dialectical relationship of making something out of nothing; Taiji-Yin and Yang embodies the philosophical core that everything is Yin and Yang (contradiction); Eight diagrams-the five elements belong to the further display of yin and yang; Feng shui belongs to the application level. They are linked with each other, showing China's Taiji philosophy completely and systematically. With the application of Taiji philosophy, Taiji, Yin-Yang and Five Elements have gradually developed into the core theories of China's martial arts, medicine, health preservation and geomantic omen.
Fourthly, a new explanation of Taiji diagram.
Philosophy is the key to deciphering taiji diagram. Through the philosophical interpretation of Taiji diagram, we can analyze ten philosophical theories of Taiji diagram:
Universe unification monism: Taiji circle represents that the universe is originally round, and everything in the world starts from this "one". The Big Bang theory in modern cosmology holds that the universe originated from a "singularity" is the best explanation.
Dichotomy: Divide Taiji Circle into two parts with two fish-shaped curves, S-shaped curves or other ways to distinguish Yin and Yang.
The theory of the change of everything: Taiji diagram shows the changing law of everything in the universe from infinity to infinity.
The concept of endless movement: the passionate pursuit of Pisces shows that everything in the universe is in eternal movement.
The core theory of black-and-white fisheye yin-yang handsome seal: Taiji diagram uses black-and-white fisheye, indicating that the opposing sides have their own cores. For example, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu in the Chu-Han dispute are both "fisheye".
Contradictory identity of opposites: The opposition of Yin and Yang is contained in the Taiji circle, which reveals the contradictory identity. This law tells us that tolerance is the premise of * * *, and only tolerance can * * * exist, which leads to the emergence of tolerance culture in China. Tolerance has become the virtue of the Chinese nation.
Negative law of wave ups and downs: the S curve of Taiji diagram represents a pair of waves in wave ups and downs, which embodies the negative law of twists and turns, ups and downs and contradictions in the development of things.
The concept of head-to-tail samsara: Taiji diagram shows that the head-to-tail connection of Yin and Yang fish reflects samsara.
The ultimate ideal of a comprehensive and complete life: only comprehensive can be complete, thus revealing the ideal pursuit of mankind.
Symmetrical and balanced concept of "Taiji Harmony": The concept of "Taiji Harmony" reveals the clear purpose of pursuing the balance of Yin and Yang and the harmony among many contradictory balance bodies in a contradiction-to-contradiction three-dimensional through equal and symmetrical graphics.
The outstanding contribution of the top ten philosophies of Taiji Diagram is that it puts forward three theoretical categories: yin and yang (contradiction), dichotomy (unity of opposites) and tolerance and harmony (purpose).
Verb (abbreviation of verb) The relationship between China culture and Yi Confucianism and Taoism and the balance between Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism.
When it comes to China culture, people first think of hundred schools of thought such as Confucianism, Taoism and the Book of Changes. If we regard the above culture as a subculture element, we draw a big circle and include all the subculture elements. This circle is the great culture of China. According to the first and second mentioned above, this big culture is Tai Chi culture. In other words, Taiji culture is China's great culture and primitive culture.
Tracing back to the source culture of Taiji, we can easily understand why Confucianism and Taoism won and became the mainstream culture of China culture. Then why can Confucianism and Taoism form a situation in which the three religions merge with foreign Buddhist culture? Because Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism absorbed the essence of the complementary yin and yang of Taiji source culture in academic theory, and pursued the harmonious realm of the balance between Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism: Confucianism taught people to be polite, positive and pursue the peak of their careers, which represented the rising theory and was suitable for middle-aged, young and teenagers; Taoism, on the other hand, teaches people to govern by doing nothing and return to purity, which represents the downward (return) theory and is suitable for the middle, strong and third generations. This "up and down" and "one old and one young" constitute two major ideological systems of the balance of yin and yang between Confucianism and Taoism. Both Confucianism and Taoism focus on reality, never involving the problems of birth, aging, illness and pain, and Buddhism just makes up for this defect: Buddhism focuses on the afterlife and solves the painful problems of life. Buddhism believes that people are struggling in the sea of suffering, advocating forbearance and surrender, and practice is the way to get out of the sea of suffering and reach the other shore, and obtain the paradise. In this way, Confucianism and Taoism talk about reality, Buddhism talks about afterlife, Confucianism and Taoism do not involve pain, and Buddhism relieves pain, forming a complementary relationship of yin and yang balance.
Six, "harmony"-the eternal theme of world culture
The theory of "Taiji Harmony" tells us that the fundamental purpose of human progress and social development is to seek "harmony". This fundamental purpose determines that the eternal theme of China culture is "harmony". Similarly, the eternal theme of world culture is "harmony"-peace, harmony, harmony, beauty and reconciliation, that is, world peace, social harmony, national harmony, family harmony and reconciliation for all. ...
At this point, we can explain that the Chinese culture "a hundred schools of thought contend", the world culture "chaos and disputes" and the pattern of world harmony are all caused by "harmony without difference". The so-called "harmony" is "Tai Chi Harmony". Regardless of "contention" or "contention", the fundamental purpose of pursuing "harmony" is the same. "World harmony" refers to the identity of this fundamental purpose. The so-called "difference" refers to the difference of class, angle, direction and habit represented by the fundamental purpose of "harmony", which leads to the difference of means adopted in pursuing "harmony"
China culture is a "harmonious culture" and an "inclusive culture". It is precisely because of the "harmonious culture" and "tolerant culture" that the 56 ethnic groups in China can live in harmony and friendship. Although the ultimate goal of "harmony" is the same among all nationalities and cultures in the world, the tolerance of "difference" is different, which leads to disputes, disputes, accusations and even wars! At this point, we can sum up three major reasons for world turmoil and disputes. First, based on the "struggle theory" in the law of unity of opposites; Second, some ethnic groups and cultures are not tolerant enough; Third, the biggest weakness of human nature-the greedy expansion caused by "selfishness". The theory of "Taiji Harmony" tells us that force and power can never unify the whole country, and only "harmony" can unify the whole country. Peace is the eternal pursuit of mankind. The greatest contribution of the Chinese nation to the world lies in the theory of "Taiji Harmony". The Chinese nation infiltrated by the idea of "Taiji Harmony" will surely become the backbone of world peace.
Seven, the world balance theory-the great basic law of science
The essence of science and technology is to explore, discover, study and solve contradictions in their own fields. Yin-Yang balance theory is the core theory of Taiji philosophy, and it also reveals the great basic law of science-"the world is balanced". Balance is a relative concept, which refers to a range of balance. For example, galaxies explode all the time in the universe, but it does not affect the balance of the universe. As a great basic law of science, "world balance theory" commands the basic laws of various scientific fields: from the perspective of astronomy, "the universe is balanced", and the existence of life on earth is the result of the best balance point of the universe; Geographically, the "balanced movement of the earth" has created the six major plates of the earth and the rational distribution of land, sea and mountains. There are "ecological balance", "gender balance" and "physiological balance" in biology. In physics, from "gravity" to "motion balance", from "mass conservation" to "energy conservation", including "action equals reaction" and "complementarity principle", the principle of balance has been fully demonstrated. Psychologically, there are "psychological balance" and "balance of gains and losses". Traditional Chinese medicine, health care, Tai Ji Chuan, Feng Shui, aesthetics, music, film and television, architecture and other scientific and technological industries all take "balance" as the basic criterion; In sociology, the pursuit of "stable development", "environmental friendliness (harmony between heaven and earth)", "social harmony", "world peace" and "world harmony" are the basic theories and norms.
Eight, China totem goes to the world and China takes off.
The national flag and national emblem are symbols of the country and the nation; The emblem of scientific culture is a symbol of this scientific culture. Taiji totem is widely used in the national flag and emblem, as well as in the fields of science and culture. There are two totems in China that go to the world. One is the dragon totem of "God Map". Dragon totem symbolizes divine power, auspiciousness, the apprentice, and power. The Chinese nation worships it and becomes a symbol of the Chinese nation. 1888, the Qing dynasty took the dragon totem as the national flag. In the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the China team took dragons as their clothing patterns, which showed that the Chinese nation is the descendants of dragons. Dragon totem has also gone to the world and become Bhutan's national flag pattern; The other is the "Zhe Tu" Tai Chi totem. Taiji totem symbolizes thought and wisdom, and expresses the ideal and desire of pursuing "harmony". Taiji totem has a far-reaching influence on the world. It is a figure adopted as the national flag and national emblem in the world, with the most scientific cultural emblem: on the national flags and national emblems of South Korea and Mongolia; On the emblem of the General Assembly of the United Nations Committee on Racial Discrimination; Badges of Singapore and Angola Air Forces; A Study on the Emblems of Korea, German Olympic Games and Korean Asian Games: About the Nobel Prize Medal won by Danish physicist Bohr: On the world's first computer trademark developed by the United States ... There is the shadow of Tai Chi totem everywhere in many cultural (such as Yi-ology, Taoism ...) and scientific (China martial arts, Chinese medicine, health preservation, Feng Shui, physics ...) emblems.
Dragon culture derived from dragon totem is the temperament of the Chinese nation, focusing on form; Taiji culture contained in Taiji totem is the essence of Chinese civilization, with emphasis on thought. For thousands of years, China Dragon Totem and Taiji Totem have become sacred symbols of the ups and downs, endless life and spanning human history of the Chinese nation. The Chinese nation is a thoughtful "loong". As long as we don't toss about it, when loong takes off, it will be the time when China takes off, and it will also be the time when China is prosperous.
At this point, we can get the answer, among the four ancient civilizations in the world, why China has never failed, and why we have shortened the huge gap with the world since the late Qing Dynasty in just 30 years of reform and opening up. The answer is precisely because we have Taiji thought and dragon spirit, and there are/kloc-0.3 billion hardworking, industrious and tolerant people in China. Today, after 30 years of reform and opening-up, we have made remarkable achievements, thus opening the curtain of China's flourishing age. Tomorrow, in another 40 years, we will realize modernization, step into the forest of developed countries, and complete the strategic goal of "three steps" put forward by Deng Xiaoping; In the next 50 years, China will enter the prosperous China, and become a world power by the end of this century: the world's largest population, the world's cultural power, the world's economic power, the ninth century, Taiji map, and ten new propositions.
The faint Taiji diagram revealed to the world through the ages contains profound philosophical thoughts and rich cultural connotations, which has had a far-reaching impact on the process of human civilization. So, what historical and practical significance does Taiji diagram have for human beings and the world? Based on the above description, combined with my experience in learning Tai Chi culture and my concern and research on the project of exploring the source of civilization, I put forward the following ten brand-new propositions, which deserve social attention and discussion:
1. Taiji diagram is a graphic expression of the law of unity of opposites, which is more scientific and reasonable than the law of unity of opposites in modern philosophy.
Taiji culture is the mother of Chinese civilization for 5,000 years.
3. Taiji culture is the root culture of China and a great culture.
Taiji philosophy is the origin of world philosophy.
5. Tai Chi "harmony" culture is the eternal theme of world culture and the greatest contribution of the Chinese nation to the world.
"Tai Chi Harmony" is the only way to solve the world turmoil and disputes, and China will become the backbone of world peace.
7. "World balance theory" is a great basic law of science.
8.2 1 century is an era of rapid development in China, and the reform and opening-up has opened the prelude to the flourishing age of China.
9. Totem research and symbol research fill the prehistoric historical fault.
10. Taiji map is the intangible cultural heritage of the world.
Ten, actively carry out the application of Tai Chi map, but also Tai Chi map glory.
After thousands of years of vicissitudes, the ancient map will shine tomorrow. Because of its mystery and profundity, Tai Chi has been used by witchcraft for generations, and influenced by the extreme "Left" trend of thought in modern times, Tai Chi is still regarded by many modern people as a symbol of superstition and a cultural anomaly. This kind of present situation, for people of insight who love China's traditional culture, is all saddened; It is a great pity for the most tolerant Chinese nation. As descendants of the Chinese nation, we have the responsibility to change this situation, protect our "mother" culture and restore the glory of Taiji philosophy. Today, when we vigorously advocate cultural revival, we should hold high the banner of protecting Taiji culture, inherit, study and popularize Taiji culture in a down-to-earth manner, and let the world, especially young people, know that the Chinese nation not only has Confucianism and Taoism, but also has Taiji maps and great Taiji culture all over the world! To this end, the author calls for the immediate application of Taiji map for the world intangible cultural heritage to avoid the recurrence of the "Dragon Boat Festival"; Establish a "Taiji Map" and actively carry out systematic research on Taiji culture; Establish totem research institutions, train experts in totem and semiotics, better inherit Taiji culture, carry forward Taiji philosophy, and retain the roots of human culture.
We are convinced that in the 2 1 century of economic take-off and cultural revival, the brilliance of Taiji philosophy will surely shine on the road of China's take-off and world peace.
The world's scientific and technological powers have become the backbone of world peace.