| | 系辞下: |
古者包牺氏之王天下也，仰则观象于天，俯则观法于地，观鸟兽之文，与地之宜，近取诸身，远取诸物，于是始作八卦，以通神明之德，以类万物之情。 |
| Xi Ci II: |
Anciently, when Bao-xi had come to the rule of all under heaven, looking up, he contemplated the brilliant forms exhibited in the sky, and looking down he surveyed the patterns shown on the earth. He contemplated the ornamental appearances of birds and beasts and the (different) suitabilities of the soil. Near at hand, in his own person, he found things for consideration, and the same at a distance, in things in general. On this he devised the eight trigrams, to show fully the attributes of the spirit-like and intelligent (operations working secretly), and to classify the qualities of the myriads of things. |
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作结绳而为罔罟，以佃以渔，盖取诸离。 |
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He invented the making of nets of various kinds by knitting strings, both for hunting and fishing. The idea of this was taken, probably, from Lu (the third trigram, and thirtieth hexagram). |
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包牺氏没，神农氏作，斫木为耜，揉木为耒，耒耨之利，以教天下，盖取诸益。 |
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On the death of Bao-xi, there arose Shen-nong (in his place). He fashioned wood to form the share, and bent wood to make the plough-handle. The advantages of ploughing and weeding were then taught to all under heaven. The idea of this was taken, probably, from Yi (the forty-second hexagram). |
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日中为市，致天下之民，聚天下之货，交易而退，各得其所，盖取诸噬嗑。 |
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He caused markets to be held at midday, thus bringing together all the people, and assembling in one place all their wares. They made their exchanges and retired, every one having got what he wanted. The idea of this was taken, probably, from Shi He (the twenty-first hexagram). |
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神农氏没，黄帝、尧、舜氏作，通其变，使民不倦，神而化之，使民宜之。易穷则变，变则通，通则久。是以自天佑之，吉无不利，黄帝、尧、舜垂衣裳而天下治，盖取诸乾坤。 |
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After the death of Shen-nong, there arose Huang Di, Yao, and Shun. They carried through the (necessarily occurring) changes, so that the people did (what was required of them) without being wearied; yea, they exerted such a spirit-like transformation, that the people felt constrained to approve their (ordinances) as right. When a series of changes has run all its course, another change ensues. When it obtains free course, it will continue long. Hence it was that 'these (sovereigns) were helped by Heaven; they had good fortune, and their every movement was advantageous.' Huang Di, Yao, and Shun (simply) wore their upper and lower garments (as patterns to the people), and good order was secured all under heaven. The idea of all this was taken, probably, from Qian and Kun (the first and eighth trigrams, or the first and second hexagrams). |
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刳木为舟，剡木为楫，舟楫之利，以济不通，致远以利天下，盖取诸涣。 |
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They hollowed out trees to form canoes; they cut others long and thin to make oars. Thus arose the benefit of canoes and oars for the help of those who had no means of intercourse with others. They could now reach the most distant parts, and all under heaven were benefited. The idea of this was taken, probably, from Huan (the fifty-ninth hexagram). |
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服牛乘马，引重致远，以利天下，盖取诸随。 |
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They used oxen (in carts) and yoked horses (to chariots), thus providing for the carriage of what was heavy, and for distant journeys - thereby benefiting all under the sky. The idea of this was taken, probably, from Sui (the seventeenth hexagram). |
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重门击柝，以待暴客，盖取诸豫。 |
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They made the (defence of the) double gates, and (the warning of) the clapper, as a preparation against the approach of marauding visitors. The idea of this was taken, probably, from Yu (the sixteenth hexagram). |
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断木为杵，掘地为臼，臼杵之利，万民以济，盖取诸小过。 |
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They cut wood and fashioned it into pestles; they dug in the ground and formed mortar's. Thus the myriads of the people received the benefit arising from the use of the pestle and mortar. The idea of this was taken, probably, from Xiao Guo (the sixty-second hexagram). |
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弦木为弧，剡木为矢，弧矢之利，以威天下，盖取诸睽。 |
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They bent wood by means of string so as to form bows, and sharpened wood so as to make arrows. This gave the benefit of bows and arrows, and served to produce everywhere a feeling of awe. The idea of this was taken, probably, from Kui (the thirty-eighth hexagram). |
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上古穴居而野处，后世圣人易之以宫室，上栋下宇，以待风雨，盖取诸大壮。 |
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In the highest antiquity they made their homes (in winter) in caves, and (in summer) dwelt in the open country. In subsequent ages, for these the sages substituted houses, with the ridge-beam above and the projecting roof below, as a provision against wind and rain. The idea of this was taken, probably, from Da Zhuang (the thirty-fourth hexagram). |
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古之葬者，厚衣之以薪，葬之中野，不封不树，丧期无数。后世圣人易之以棺椁，盖取诸大过。 |
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When the ancients buried their dead, they covered the body thickly with pieces of wood, having laid it in the open country. They raised no mound over it, nor planted trees around; nor had they any fixed period for mourning. In subsequent ages the sages substituted for these practices the inner and outer coffins. The idea of this was taken, probably, from Da Guo (the twenty-eighth hexagram). |
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上古结绳而治，后世圣人易之以书契，百官以治，万民以察，盖取诸夬。 |
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In the highest antiquity, government was carried on successfully by the use of knotted cords (to preserve the memory of things). In subsequent ages the sages substituted for these written characters and bonds. By means of these (the doings of) all the officers could be regulated, and (the affairs of) all the people accurately examined. The idea of this was taken, probably, from Guai (the forty-third hexagram). |
