Archaeologists believe that "Zhong" is like a flagpole, with flags flying up and down and the flagpole standing in the middle.
"Original meaning: center; Among them, it refers to a moderate position within a certain range. "
Other academic theories
Oracle Bone Inscriptions's Chinese character "Zhong" has three wavy strokes at the bottom, which can't be ribbons. If it's a flag, how can three ribbons painted near the ground float? It is difficult to call the above three strokes a standard, and it is more accurate to explain them with flowing "Qi". The weather drops and the earth's atmosphere rises, which is popular between heaven and earth. Using these three waves to draw the shape of the gas flowing up and down is the result of the ancients' wise view of the movement characteristics of the brush and the creation of words. The interpretation of "Zhong" in Shuo Wen Jie Zi published in Han Dynasty is closer to the original intention of Chinese characters. Chinese characters themselves have a vertical axis to divide the mouth into left and right yin and yang, and a vertical axis to balance the shape and rhyme of harmonious yin and yang. Oracle Bone Inscriptions's Chinese characters, with banners at both ends, focus on describing and expressing the position of "Qi", the nature and primary and secondary of Qi inside and outside everything. The word "Zhongqi" in Zhonghe chess group emphasizes the status and characteristics of virtue and ability. Among the five elements, Xin Deyang is in the middle. Whether the energy of belief spirit and belief character have rich status in China is the basis of the harmonious unity of Yin and Yang, and also the basis of the harmonious and unified development of dialectics. The virtue of the middle position is the basis for the harmony of Yin and Yang and the smooth change of everything. Dialectics (yin-yang theory) can only explain the attributes and dynamic changes of everything. However, it is essential to deeply understand Yin and Yang, easily grasp Yin and Yang, and scientifically apply Yin and Yang (dialectics) by grasping the energy and character of Zhong Qi. The number 0. 123 revealed by Laozi is a complete philosophical system theory. When we interpret them, we should not separate them from each other with our limited knowledge, but grasp them as a whole on the basis of having internal evidence and understanding nature and nurture through wisdom. As the ancestors said: "The body is innate and acquired." Self-cultivation is an inevitable practical process.
In ancient times, not only hieroglyphics were used to express the pictographic original meaning of "zhong", but also Taoist philosophy used the "image" of polar diagram to demonstrate the harmonious, stable and spiritual role of this "zhong" in the change of yin and yang of everything. Ancestors once pointed out in "Deep Understanding of Cultivation" that "the sacred depth is passed down according to this, and the sacred depth is the true interpretation; Go to the senses at random, and the connection is round everywhere; Strategy is not owned by the gods, and divination is the last donation of elephants; There are all kinds of wonderful things around, and the body is innate and used the day after tomorrow. "It is the only way to master the Yijing, one of the Three Tombs, and it is also the necessity to master the laws of all things by using the methodology of the rule of saints in Laozi's Virtue Tao Jing and the polar rotation diagram (called polar rotation diagram in ancient times) to grasp the theory of harmony between life and qi in Laozi's mind. The theory and method of the sage's depth all depend on this biography, all in this simple and clear picture, and the golden key to understanding Laozi's thought is also in this polar picture, which is the highest evaluation and affirmation of the polar picture.