The Book of Changes (I Ching) from the viewpoint of the Principle of Creation

Finally, from the viewpoint of the Principle of Creation, let us investigate the metaphysical concept at the root of East Asian philosophy which is based on the Book of Changes (I Ching). There, the origin of the universe is the Great Ultimate (Ultimate Void). From the Great Ultimate arose yang and yin, from yang and yin came forth the Five Elements—metal, wood, water, fire and earth—and from the Five Elements all things came into existence.7 Yang and yin together are called the Way (Tao), or as the Book of Changes states, “One yang and one yin: this is the Way.”8 The Way is traditionally defined as the Word. To put all this together, from the Great Ultimate arose yang and yin, or the Word, and all things came into being based on the Word. Accordingly, the Great Ultimate is the First Cause of all existing beings, the integral nucleus and harmonious subject partner of yang and yin.

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7. This is a paraphrase of the opening lines of An Explanation of the Diagram of the Great Ultimate (T’ai-chi-t’u shuo) by Chou Tun-i.

8. Book of Changes, Appended Remarks 4.

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Divine Principle

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