Literature Review On The Book Of Changes Citation In Early Four Historiographies

This thesis inspects, discriminates and elaborates on the issue of The Book of Change (hereafter referred to as Change), centered on the earlier four history works. It consists of five chapters. Chapter one introduces the spreading of Change in The pre-Qin, the Western and Eastern Han Dynasties and the Wei and Jin Dynasties. It briefly clarifies the origin, growth, genre and characteristics in different periods of Change. Chapter two outlines the style of discussing Change in the earlier four history works. It sets about the citation of Change and the means of citing Change and straightens out significance and weight of Change in the earlier four history works. Chapter three focuses on the historical figures who cited Change, involving royalty, officials, scholars, eminent women and authors, analyzes their intention of citing Change and then demonstrates their inner thoughts and spirits. Chapter four explores the citation of Change beyond figures, involving Chinese Rites and Music, Measurements and Calendar, Chariots and Garments, Yi Wen Zhi, Wu Xing Zhi and so forth. It mainly inspects Jing Fang's Change and concludes the category and purpose of citing Jing Fang's Change. It also discriminates the relationship between Jing Fang's Change and The Book of Chang, pointing out the negligence of the staff of Complete Library in the Four Branches of Literature. Chapter five based on the previous argumentation, summarizes the world outlook, human relations and the way of conducting reflected in citing Change in the earlier four history works, as well as its impact on contemporary people. Finally, it comments on the relationship between the image-numerology and philosophy of Change.