原「原筮」

Tracing “Yuan Shi”

《易》比卦之卦辭，雖有難解之語，但都不如「原筮」一辭，異說滋夥，迄無定論，本文有鑑於斯，先就歷來之眾說加以評析，而後對可能之諸義再予辯證焉。蓋以「原」為「卜」或「田」，均無可取；又持「原」為「再」，「原筮」即「再筮」者，亦靡得其要；而其應訓為「始」，「原筮」亦即「初筮」，並復可釋作「推原」，即加以窮究之意，唯茲二者，各僅得一察焉，固須相輔相成，其義始具足耳。且其既指主爻九五「顯比」，必與之相對應，而原之正所以顯之，故當亦有「顯明」之意矣。

Although some parts of Hexagram Bi in Yi are considered difficult to interpret, they are not as controversial as the term, “yuan shi”. After extensive discussion, there is still no conclusion about it so far. In the light of this unsettlement, this thesis first analyzes the previous discourses on this subject. The latter part examines the possible definitions associated with the term. If yuan is regarded as bu (oracle bone crack) or tian (fields), neither of them makes sense in the context. Yet, when it is interpreted as zai (again), yuan shi becomes another shi. This interpretation still remains confusing in any way. Only by understanding it as the origin can we put it on the right track. Therefore, “yuan shi” (original divination), in other words, can be taken as “chu shi” (initial divination), which means “tracing the origin”. According to the yao, the diagram for divination, the Nine Five signifiess xian bi (manifestation of Bi), which suggests the inference in conformity with the original arrangement. In the way just indictated, tracing “yuan shi” is a process of revelation in which the truth shall also be manifested.