The Taoist Connotation of Guan Hexagram in Zhou Yi

Abstract

Guan Hexagram is the twentieth of the sixty-four hexagrams in Zhou Yi. The hexagram describes the rituals of sacrificial activities, and the line describes the "watching" behavior in different states. "The wind spreads on the earth, and the ancient kings observe the people and set up teachings" is its original connotation. In the Taoist discourse system, the concept of Guan has been fully developed, and it has multiple meanings. Extending from the literal semantics of "watching", Guan runs through Taoist architecture, Taoist philosophical thoughts, and Taoist cultivation methods. In this sense, the word Guan can be regarded as one of the cores of the Taoist ideological system, which mediates and concretizes the relationship between man and God.