Study On Five Elements Theory In Yue Ling Of The Books Of Rites

The Five Elements theory is one of the most important theories in traditional Chinese culture. In the last century, as China's related academic field was undertaking comprehensive and systemic study on the theory, people were getting to know more about the theory on the basis of findings of new documents and application of new researching methods. Compared with other documents recording the theory, Yue Ling in the Books of Rites written in the pre-Qin period has not attracted due attention for a long time. Proceeding from historical recording and relics, drawing on researching results achieved by scholars in the past and present, this paper is to be focused on Yue Ling in the Books of Rites and to present a brief exposition on the development of the pre-Qin Five Elements theory so as to review the Five Elements theory as presented in Yue Ling in the Books of Rites.The paper is to discuss the sources of the Five Elements theory. By reviewing the researching results of contemporary scholars, the paper is to dig out the purpose and results of the study. The two words Five Elements was first seen in Gan Shi of the Books of History. And the Five Elements theory originated from the concept of "Five" held by Yin people.The paper is to discuss the development of the Five Elements theory in pre-Qin period. Hong Fan, in which related prescription represented the original state of the diagram of the Five Elements, serves as the earliest credible recording of the Five Elements theory. The concept of Shang Five played a key role in the development of the theory in the Spring and Autumn period; and Shi Mo also played an indispensable role. The development of the theory during this period is characterized by the concept of matching Five Elements with Five Directions and Five Colors, the matching between Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, and the idea of Five Elements leading to victory. The paper is to discuss the Five Elements theory in the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring Period. The exposition and explanation of the theory by the major scholars in the periods had greatly promoted the spreading and development of the theory, especially the thoughts generated by Si Meng and Zou Yan.The paper is to be focused on the Five Elements theory outlined in Yue Ling of the Books of Rites in addition to the development of the theory prior to Yue Ling. The time at which Yue Ling was written is the key to ascertain the status of Yue Ling in the development history of pre-Qin Five Elements theory. The author supports the opinion of Yang Kuan, who held that Yue Ling was written prior to the writing of Lv's Spring and Autumn—the 12^th century, and will provide some supplementary ideas to his thoughts. The paper will also deliberate on the general contents of Yue Ling so as to sort out the relationship between it and Zheng Ling. The paper will mainly discuss the diagram of Five Elements on the basis of the Five Elements theories by Guanzi and Zou Yan with a view to studying the expansion of the diagram and the new researching results. The idea of Five Elements leading to victory will also be touched upon.On the basis of the previous theories and arguments, the paper arrives at the conclusion that Yue Ling is the earliest work on Five Elements theory in pre-Qin period.