英文摘要 |
This article elaborates on the names and functions of individual components such as mainstays, knots, and the center of the earth in the Digang Graph. Accordingly, the square earth symbolizes the chassis. The terms east-gate, south-gate, west-gate, and north-gate represent the points at which wind, rain, and the four seasons pass through. Stems and branches stand for winter solstice, summer solstice, and the five phases indicating climatic changes. In the collection by Yu Xing-wu, Tiangang is the name of the heaven-disc, and it is engraved on the back of the Han ivory disc. On account of this, Digang may possibly be the name of the earth-plate. The entire heaven and earth are configured as such: the mainstays on the square chassis are connected to the dome and ultimately attached to the Northern Dipper. In Kanyu, the male deity of the Northern Dipper traverses leftward in the heaven and the female deity moves rightward on earth. The character “kan” is similarly pronounced as “zhen,” and it symbolizes the Northern Dipper of the heaven. In turn, word “yu” signifies the chassis of the earth. In the Daluo Graph, the earthly branches are arranged counterclockwise, and this indicates the earth’s rightward rotation. The doctrine “Rightward Rotation of the Earth” in the weft texts, which was published during the transition from the West Han to the East Han, could be traced back to the early Western Han literatures of Shushu. |