________________
370
THE APPENDIXES.
SECT. I.
changes are gone through with in this way, till they form the figures pertaining to heaven or to earth. Their numbers are exactly determined, and the emblems of (all things) under the sky are fixed. (If the Yi) were not the thing most capable of change of all things under heaven, how could it effect such a result as this?
62. In (all these operations forming) the Yt, there is no thought and no action. It is still and without movement; but, when acted on, it penetrates forthwith to all phenomena and events under the sky. If it were not the most spirit-like thing under the sky, how could it be found doing this?
63. The (operations forming the) Yi are the method by which the sages searched out exhaustively what was deep, and investigated the minutest springs (of things).
6
64. Those operations searched out what was deep :'-therefore they could penetrate to the views of all under the sky. They made apparent the minutest springs of (things):'-therefore they could bring to a completion all undertakings under the sky. Their action was spirit-like :'-therefore they could make speed without hurry, and reached their destination without travelling.
65. This is the import of what the Master said, that 'In the Yt there are four things indicating the way of the sages.'
Chapter X, paragraphs 59-65, enlarges on the service rendered to men by the Yi, owing to the way in which it was made by the sages to express their views and carry into effect their wishes.
Paragraph 59 mentions the four things in which its usefulness appears. 'The emblematic figures' are the four hsiang, which are produced by the manipulation of the undivided and divided
Digitized by
Google