Superstition and science are two very different ways of thinking. Superstition is an irrational belief based on fear and fear of the unknown, and it is often characterized by "mysterious" and "supernatural". Science is a kind of rational thinking based on the exploration and cognition of natural laws, which is often characterized by "objective" and "verifiable".
So, is the ancient Chinese classic "I Ching" superstitious or scientific?
The scientific nature of the I Ching
The Book of Changes is an extremely rich philosophical work, which covers all aspects of the universe, life, and society. There are many scientific ideas and principles contained in it.
The idea of yin and yang is one of the core ideas of the I Ching. Yin and Yang thought believes that everything in the universe is composed of the two opposing forces of Yin and Yang. This idea has similarities with the "law of the unity of opposites" of modern science.
For example, in nature, the law of the unity of yin and yang opposites can be reflected in the alternation of day and night, the change of seasons, and the differences between men and women. In society, the law of the unity of yin and yang can be reflected in contradictions, contradictions, win-win cooperation, etc.
The Bagua diagram is the most famous symbol in the Book of Changes. The Bagua diagram is composed of two symbols, yin and yang, which can be used to describe the changes of all things in the universe. This idea has similarities with the "information theory" of modern science.
For example, Bagua diagrams can be used to describe changes in weather changes, geological movements, biological evolution, and more.
The sixty-four hexagrams are the basic unit of the I Ching. The sixty-four hexagrams represent the various states of change of all things in the universe. This idea has similarities with the "complex systems theory" of modern science.
For example, the 64 hexagrams can be used to describe the laws of change in social development, economic cycles, war situations, etc.
In addition, the Book of Changes also puts forward many scientific views, such as "the unity of heaven and man" and "Taoism and nature". These views are of great enlightenment significance for modern people to understand nature and transform the world.
For example, the idea of "harmony between man and nature" emphasizes the harmonious coexistence of man and nature, which is similar to the concept of "sustainable development" advocated by modern science.
The superstitious nature of the I Ching
The I Ching also has some superstitious ideas and principles. Fortune telling, for example, is one of the most common superstitious activities in the I Ching application. Fortune-telling is an irrational belief based on the ** of chance events.
For example, fortune telling tends to be based on hexagrams to the future, but the generation of hexagrams is often random, so the accuracy of fortune telling is not high.
In addition, the Book of Changes also puts forward some non-scientific views, such as "Manifest Destiny" and "Fatalism". These views often lead people to ignore objective laws, resulting in a negative and pessimistic attitude.
For example, the "Manifest Destiny Theory" holds that changes in personnel are determined by the Mandate of Heaven, which is inconsistent with the view of modern science that emphasizes the subjective agency of human beings.
The Book of Changes is both scientific and superstitious
The Book of Changes is an extremely rich work, which is both scientific and superstitious. We should look at the ideas and principles in the I Ching dialectically, take the essence of it, and remove the dross.
Prospects: The modern value of the I Ching.
In today's world, the scientific ideas of the Book of Changes can provide us with new ideas and inspiration for understanding nature and transforming the world.
For example, the idea of yin and yang can help us understand the contradictory relationship of the unity of opposites in nature;Bagua diagrams can help us understand the laws of change in complex systemsThe 64 hexagrams can help us grasp the trend of things.