​The Study of Yi as the First Philosophy

The Study of Yi as the First Philosophy

YIN Zhaokun

(School of Philosophy, Shaanxi Normal University, Xian 710119, China)

Abstract: The first philosophy is a foundational discipline in Western philosophy, and the study of the I Ching(Yijing) in Chinese philosophy has been closely linked to first philosophy from the very beginning of Chinesephilosophical development. However, the I Ching originally started as a divination practice, which has historically been regarded as the germination of the I Ching. But divination itself is one of humanity's most primordial activitiesfor revealing hidden truths, and it fundamentally contains factors of concealment-factors that are often overlooked.The rationalization of the I Ching has made it the first philosophy in Chinese philosophy. As the first philosophy, theI Ching takes "change" (Yi) as its most fundamental principle. This principle fundamentally belongs to thephenomenological realm of correlation, and the I Ching, with "change" as its foundational principle, universallyencompasses a wide range of domains, including both natural phenomena and human affairs. The I Ching not onlypossesses the characteristics of first philosophy but also, because the principle of change is fundamentally more priorthan concepts like consciousness, existence, and givenness, the I Ching, as first philosophy, represents not only adevelopment of the I Ching itself but also provides a new possibility for first philosophy. It offers resources toaddress the contemporary domination of technology.

Key words: the study of Yi; Yi; the first philosophy; phenomenology

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