King Wen of Zhou周文王
Basic Information基本信息
King Wen of Zhou, originally Ji Chang, was the virtuous leader of the Zhou state during the late Shang Dynasty. Imprisoned by King Zhou of Shang, he is traditionally said to have expanded Fu Xi's eight trigrams into the sixty-four hexagrams and written the judgments (Gua Ci) for each, laying the groundwork for the I Ching (Book of Changes) as a tool for divination and understanding cosmic and human patterns. He is revered as a model ruler and a key figure in the development of Chinese philosophy and governance.
周文王，名姬昌，商末周族领袖，以仁德著称。相传其被商纣王囚禁期间，将伏羲八卦推演为六十四卦，并作卦辞，奠定了《周易》作为占卜和理解宇宙人事变化工具的基础。他被后世尊为文治的典范和中国哲学及治理思想的关键奠基人。
Major Influences & Legacy主要影响与历史地位
Cosmology & Philosophical Foundations
宇宙观与哲学基础
- Development of 64 Hexagrams: Expanded the Primordial Bagua into 64 hexagrams, establishing the structure of the Zhouyi (I Ching).
- Authorship of Hexagram/Line Statements: Wrote Gua Ci and Yao Ci (Hexagram and Line Statements), associating symbols with human affairs and morality.
- Establishing Humanistic Divination Model: Shifted the focus of I Ching towards using divination for understanding human events and ethical guidance.
- 演绎六十四卦：将先天八卦扩展为六十四卦，奠定《周易》卦爻结构。
- 卦爻辞创作：编写卦辞爻辞，使卦象与人事吉凶产生对应。
- 建立人事占断模型：使易经成为占卜预测与政治哲学工具。
Foundation of I Ching Studies & Numerological Arts
易学与术数奠基
- Formalization of the Zhouyi (I Ching): Combined the hexagram system with textual interpretations, making it a Confucian classic.
- Integration of I Ching Principles and Governance: Used hexagram insights to guide ruling philosophy, influencing the legitimacy concepts of dynasties.
- 《周易》正式形成：将卦象系统与辞义结合，成为儒家经典之一。
- 易理与政治结合：以卦象指导治国理念，影响历代王权合法性。
Theoretical Source for Chinese Metaphysical Arts (Ming Li Xue)
命理学的理论源泉
- Integration of Human Affairs and Cosmic Phenomena: Proposed the idea of "observing phenomena and appending judgments" (Guan Xiang Xi Ci) to understand humans through celestial observation.
- Inspiration for the Four Pillars System: Provided the foundational concepts of "change and interaction" (Bian Yi, Hu Yi) for Stem-Branch calendrical metaphysics.
- 人事与天象融合：提出“观象系辞”的思想，用以观天知人。
- 对四柱体系的启示：为干支命理提供了“变易、互易”基础。
Religious Veneration & Deification
宗教与神格化
Revered as a "Sage King", ranked alongside Fu Xi as a foundational sage of the I Ching.
- Became a symbol in Confucian culture representing the ideal integration of governance and divination.
被尊为“圣王”，与伏羲并列为《易经》奠基圣贤。
- 在儒家文化中成为理政与占筮并重的圣哲象征。
Cultural & Institutional Influence
文化与制度影响
- Foundation of Civil Governance (Wen Zhi): Established the basis for rule by virtue and culture, integrating numerology with state rituals.
- Bagua and Calendrical Systems: Influenced the development models for Heavenly Stems, Earthly Branches, and calendrical calculations.
- 文治基础奠定：奠定文治基础，融合象数与国家礼制。
- 八卦与历法：影响天干地支与历数推演模型。
Chain of Influence on Later Figures
后世影响人物链
- Key Transmission: 64 Hexagrams + System of Hexagram/Line Statements
-
Key Influenced Figures Chain:
- Confucius (孔子)
- Dong Zhongshu (董仲舒)
- Zhu Xi (朱熹)
- Shao Yong (邵雍)
- Chen Tuan (陈抟)
- Final Outcome: Interpretive (Yili) I Ching studies, Hexagram/Line divination systems.
- 关键传承：六十四卦 + 卦爻辞系统
-
受影响的关键人物链：
- 孔子
- 董仲舒
- 朱熹
- 邵雍
- 陈抟
- 最终成果：义理易学、卦爻预测体系。
Famous Quotes经典名句
"The movement of heaven is powerful; thus the superior man makes himself strong and untiring."
"天行健，君子以自强不息。"
"The superior man, when seeing the good, moves toward it; when seeing the bad, he corrects himself."
"君子以见善则迁，有过则改。"
Summary & Conclusion总结与评价
King Wen's transformation of the Bagua into the 64 hexagrams and his composition of the hexagram statements shifted the focus of the I Ching towards human affairs and ethical governance. His work established the Zhouyi as a central text in Chinese culture, influencing not only divination practices but also Confucian philosophy, political thought, and strategic thinking for millennia.
周文王将八卦演绎为六十四卦并创作卦辞，将《易经》的重心转向人事与伦理治理。他的工作确立了《周易》在中国文化中的核心地位，不仅影响了占卜实践，更在数千年间深刻塑造了儒家哲学、政治思想和战略思维。