Study Of The Value Orientation In The Book Of Changes By Two Words Of Judgment: "Ji" & "Xiong"

The Book of Changes is originated from divination, and formed in compilation, therefore, the interpretation of the Book of Changes must take into account two elements of "divination" and "compilation". In the divinatory sentences, the words of judgment are the key marks of the originating, and also are best able to express the value orientation of the Book of Changes. In all of the words of judgment, "ji" and "xiong" (auspicious and inauspicious) are the most representative ones.At first, this article unscrambles the divinatory sentences which contain "ji" and "xiong" respectively and those which contain these two words simultaneously. In this way, we search for the value orientation represented by the two words of judgment. Through this process, we can see that the Book of Changes use these two value judgments as a means to guide people to improve behavior by moral cultivation as an internal security in order to get the ultimate happiness for human self.The investigation on value orientation of the Book of Changes by studying on two words of judgment, respects the history of its formation, and methodologically, sets a high value on its effect as a book of divination serving as a connecting link between the proceeding and the following in the history of Chinese Philosophy; and reveals the value orientation of the Book of Changes existing in the following development of thoughts as the original resource.