Some perceive the “Book of Changes” as merely a manual for fortune-telling, dismissing its ideology as mere superstition. However, Cheng Zhongying points out that the “Book of Changes” is not solely about divination; it is a crystallization of ancient Chinese attempts to comprehend the relationships among the world, the universe, and all things. It encompasses rich philosophical ideas and embodies profound humanistic spirit.
Speaking on the matter, Ying asserts that while contemporary economic development and technological progress have greatly liberated productivity, they have also engendered numerous new issues. Singular pursuit of economic growth may lead humanity to blindly venerate science and technology, ultimately becoming slaves to technology. He contends, “Economic development requires moral spirit, and technological innovation demands humanistic care. To be truly human, one needs self-understanding and self-management, as well as ethical and cultural education.” In this era of rapid economic expansion and ever-expanding human desires, revisiting the “Book of Changes” and rereading Confucius is akin to drinking from a clear spring or experiencing an epiphany, enabling individuals to attain a clearer self-awareness.
Ying categorizes the Confucian concept of harmony into six levels: Grand Harmony, Middle Harmony, Human Harmony, Righteous Harmony, Cooperative Harmony, and Common Harmony. Cheng Zhongying believes that, according to Confucianism, the totality of the universe’s “harmony” is termed “Grand Harmony”; the inherent “harmony” of things in the universe is “Middle Harmony”; based on Middle Harmony, the tranquility of the human heart is referred to as “Human Harmony”; In the realm of ethics, the allocation of public goods is regarded as “righteousness”; in the process of harmonizing righteousness, a nation achieves concordance, embodying “conciliation”; while the harmonious coexistence within the global community reflects “republicanism”. Hence, harmony is multifaceted, encompassing various dynamics between humanity and nature, necessitating broad care, participation, and accountability to achieve it.
