The Study Of The Anciental Rites Of Zhouyi

This thesis has a thorough exploration into the ancient rites in ZhouYi and in the history of ZhouYi studies. The Introduction provides a review of the studies of ZhouYi, with an analysis and a summary of the historical phenomenon– explaining (providing notes to) Yi(ZhouYi ) with rites .Part Two deals with the textual analyses in relation to ZhouYi, the social life of the time reflected in ZhouYi, and the cultural background of the ancient rites. It argues that ZhouYi originates from the Yi of YingShang dynasty that precedes the dynasty when ZhouYi occurred because of the addition and reduction of Yi. ZhouYi covers a lot of the social life in the times of YingShang dynasty, and the beginning of Zhou dynasty and the ending of Yingshang dynasty. Consequently ZhouYi covers the rite system of that time. Moreover, ZhouYi was compiled in the end of YingShang dynasty and the beginning of Zhou dynasty, which is closely involved with the King of Wenwang, Zhougong. Yizhuang was compiled in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, which is closely related to Confucius, and it was finished by the 70 students of Confucius or even their students'students. The rite system or the Liyue plays a major role in the in the politic, economic and all social life in Yingshang dynasty , particularly in the beginning of Zhou dynasty. Then the rite system in the end of Yingshang dynasty and in the beginning of Zhou dynasty is discussed, and there is a further study and analysis of Zhanshi and its use and influence. So the author holds that there are four psychological levels of people in reading the world: the heavenly gods, the earthly gods, the ghost of humans, and humans, and holds that ZhouYi is a medium, through which people, particularly the witches or wizards and other witchery people, read the world, which functions as communicative medium.Part three generalizes and analyzes the ancient rites studies in the historical studies of Yi in different dynasties. Firstly there is a brief analysis of the ancient rites in the Yi study in Xianqin. Secondly, there is an analysis of the thoughts of the rites of Yi in BoShuYiZhuan. Thirdly, there is a brief argument on Mengxi's thoughts of the rites of Yi. Fourthly, this part digs into the thoughts of the rites of Yi in YiWeiQianZhuodu. Fifthly, there is a detailed discussion of the rites of Yi in Zhengxuan's Notes to Yi with an analysis and generalization of its ideas about the rites of Yi and its achievements. Sixthly, there is an analysis and study of the issue of explaining Yi with the rites as is demonstrated in Yufan's Notes to Yi. Seventhly, There is an analysis of and appropriate comment on the rites of Yi studied by Li Dingzuo, Sima Guan and Zhu Xi. Eighthly, there is an analysis and generalization of the achievements by Zhang Huiyan in his Yu's rites of Yi. Finally, there is a brief analysis and generalization of the ideas of the rites of Yi by some scholars such as Liu Shipei, Zhang Taiyan, Yi Shunyu, Hang Xinzai, Ma Qichan, and Ma Zhengbiao, of Yi studies in modern times.Part Four has a further exploration into and a study on the ancient rites of the texts of Gua and Yao. This part discovers the representational forms and the meanings of the ancient rites of ZhouYi in the book of ZhouYi, with a detailed generalization and categorization of the ancient rites in the text of Gua and Yao in ZhouYi. Some of these rites reflect the intense social innovations of the end of YingShang dynasty and the beginning of Zhou dynasty, while some reflect the Li, Yue, Xin and Zheng ( the rites, the entertainment, the punishment of crimes and the administration ) of the contemporary times, and most of rites fall within the Wuli (five rites) such as Ji, Xiong, Jun, Bing and Jia rite. There is a detailed discussion of relevant issues of the ancient rites in ZhouYi, such as the clothing rites in Kun Gua, the Education rites in Meng Gua, the sacrifice rites in ZhouYi, the Ciming rites( the rites of empowering ) and the honoring rites of awarding, nominating, ordaining, appointment and institution, the rites of funeral, the wedding and marriage rites in Guimei Gua, the wedding rites in ZhouYi, the food rites (eating and drinking ) and Xu Gua, the banquet and gifts rites, and rites of the criminal law (punishment of the crimes ) etc.In the final part there is a discussion of the relationship between Yi and rites, with a brief discussion of Rites and Administration in ZhouYi. Then this part raises the questions to be further studied and explored in the Yi studies.