《老子》損益觀與《周易》損益兩卦分析探討

Analysis on the ＂Decrease and Increase＂ View from ＂Laozi＂ and Hexagram for Decrease and Hexagram for Increase in ＂Book of Changes (I Ching)＂

儒道兩家分別主張人文與自然，儒家以「為學」修飾人文德性，道家以「絕學」回歸自然質樸。《老子》言「天之道，損有餘而補不足；人之道則不然，損不足以奉有餘。」故道家修練求損之又損，以至於無為；儒家修練克己復禮，好學恭敬。《周易》五經之首，包含儒家、道家、陰陽家等思想。〈損〉卦，山澤損，兌下艮上，澤卑山高，損下益上，討論損己利人的原則。〈益〉卦，風雷益，震下巽上，處上而巽，損上益下，討論上位者謙卑助益的原則。道家談損益，未見其細述實踐方式，故中士聞道，若存若亡；下士聞道，莫知所以然。道家以「道」為宇宙生成總原理，「損」「益」的動源是自然無為，虛懷若谷。《周易》〈損〉〈益〉兩卦則是表彰六爻變動，原始要終的功夫內涵，例如〈損〉卦談論「酌損」、「弗損」、「損其疾」、「三人行」、「得臣无家」等。〈益〉卦則談論「利用大作」、「用享于帝」、「用凶事」、「告公從」、「有孚惠心」、「立心勿恒」等，均含豐富義理；故君子推而行之，感而遂通，以斷天下之疑。兩者區別，一為宗法自然所生；一為剛健不息，厚德廣生。

Confucianism and Taoism respectively advocate humanity and nature. Confucianism uses ＂to learn＂ to modify humanity and morality, while Taoism returns to natural simplicity with ＂extinct subjects＂. ＂Laozi＂ said, ＂The way of heaven is to take from what has in excess in order to make up what is deficient; the way of man is otherwise, it takes from those in want in order to offer to those who already have more than enough.＂ Therefore, in the pursuit of Tao, actions are reduced daily, and fewer and fewer actions are taken to the point of none; Confucianists rehearse to subdue oneself and return to propriety, diligent in study and show deferential respect. The ＂Book of Changes＂ is the first of the Five Classics, which includes thoughts such as Confucianism, Taoism, and Yinyang philosophy. ＂Hexagram for Decrease＂ refers to a swamp under the mountain, implying damage to the low level in favor of the upper level, as described ＂Dui＂ Hexagram on the upper level and ＂Gen＂ Hexagram on the lower level, which discusses the principle of harming oneself and helping others at one's own expense. ＂Hexagram for Increase＂ refers to ＂Zhen＂ Hexagram on the lower level and ＂Xun＂ Hexagram on the upper level, implying damage to the upper level in favor of the lower level, which discusses the principle of humility and help for the lower class. Discussing profit and loss, Taoists fail to expatiate upon the practice. Therefore, when ordinary people hear Taoism, they remember a little but at the same time seem to have forgotten a bit, and always plausible; and when the people who are dull of comprehension hear Taoism, they do not know what they should do. Taoists use ＂Tao＂ as the general principle of the universe, and the source of ＂loss＂ and ＂profit＂ is natural inaction and vain, receptive as an echoing canyon. Hexagram for Decrease and Hexagram for Increase in ＂Book of Changes＂ are to recognize the changes in the six hexagrams, the original end of the kungfu connotation. For example, ＂Hexagram for Decrease＂ talks about ＂appropriate decrease＂, ＂no decrease＂, ＂pain mitigation＂, ＂Three's Company＂ and ＂acquiring unselfish ministers＂. ＂Hexagram for Increase＂ talks about ＂taking major action＂, ＂making offerings to the gods＂, ＂in misfortune＂, ＂asking for instructions＂, ＂people repaying your kindness＂, ＂no perseverance＂, etc., all of which are rich in argumentation. Therefore, a gentleman promotes and performs the Confucianism, feels enlightened through inspiration, and to determine all the suspicions in the world. The difference between the two is that one naturally springs from the patriarchal system; the other is healthy and vigorous, and passes on continually.