​The Way of Decrease and Increase in the Human Body and the Principle of Following and Reversing ——An Interpretation of Ju Xi’s Theory of “The Six Lines Form the Abdomen

The Way of Decrease and Increase in the Human Body and the Principle of Following and Reversing ——An Interpretation of Ju Xi’s Theory of “The Six Lines Form the Abdomen

TIAN Mingmin

(College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China)

Abstract: Through his in-depth study of Confucius’s scholarship on the Yi, Ju Xi argues that “the efficacy accomplished through the six lines” (liu yao cheng xiao, 六爻成效) constitutes one of the important hermeneutical principles for interpreting the Yijing. On this basis, he further proposes the theory that “the six lines form the abdomen” (liu yao cheng fu, 六爻成腹), through which he seeks to disclose the way of decrease and increase (sun-yi, 損益) in the human body. The theory of “the six lines form the abdomen” reveals the principle of following and reversing (shun-ni, 順逆) in human existence through transformations in the correspondences between the six trigrams—Zhen (震), Xun (巽), Li (離), Dui (兌), Kan (坎), and Gen (艮)—and the lung, heart, spleen, liver, kidney, and large intestine, respectively.The principle governing ordinary human existence is expressed as follows: “With the lung corresponding to Zhen, the feet move and the body fluids issue forth as sweat; with the heart corresponding to Xun, things are known and transformation brings forth life. The spleen corresponds to Li, manifesting illumination and differentiating things according to their kinds; the liver rejoices, while qi and blood function through Dui. Thekidney labors, the heart encounters danger, and the ears thereby attain acuity; the large intestine brings things to completion and cessation, while the hands attain constancy.” This account is consistent with the understanding of the physiology and pathology of the zang-fu organs in traditional Chinese medicine.The reverse mode of human existence is expressed as follows: “With the lung corresponding to Gen, the feet cease and the body fluids issue forth as sweat; the heart labors, knowing things and transforming them into life. The spleen corresponds to Li, manifesting illumination and differentiating things according to their kinds; the liver rejoices, while qi and blood function through Dui. The kidney corresponds to Xun, the heart encounters danger, and the ears thereby attain acuity; the large intestine becomes Zhen, while the hands come to rest.” This mode of existence can be corroborated by the voluntary practices described in Daoist texts for “returning from the acquired to the innate” (houtian fan xiantian, 後天返先天).As a core component of Ju Xi’s Yi-based medical thought, the theory of “the six lines form the abdomen” not only embodies the metaphysical dimension of Chinese life science but also exemplifies the distinctive simplicity and accessibility of Yi learning. A systematic exploration of Ju Xi’s Yi-medical thought is therefore of considerable value and significance for investigating higher-quality modes of human existence and for carrying forward the essential insights of the Chinese sciences of life. 

Keywords: Yijing; efficacy accomplished through the six lines; the six lines form the abdomen; decrease and increase in the human body; Ju Xi

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