Huángjí jīngshì guānwù wàipiān yǎnyì 皇極經世觀物外篇衍義
Elaborated-Meaning of the Outer-Chapter [of the] Observing-Things [of the] Huángjí jīngshì by 張行成 (Zhāng Xíngchéng, fl. 1132–1166, 宋, zhuàn 撰)
About the work
Zhāng Xíngchéng’s 9-juan exclusive elaboration of the Wàipiān 外篇 (Outer Chapter) of Shào Yōng’s KR3g0005 Huángjí jīngshì shū’s Guānwù piān 觀物篇 (Observing-Things Chapter) section. One of the seven works of Zhāng Xíngchéng’s Yìshuō qīzhǒng presented to the throne in 1166.
The work’s intellectual structure: Shào Yōng’s Guānwù piān (within the Huángjí jīngshì) is divided into:
- Nèipiān 內篇 (Inner Chapter): the first 4 juàn derive the order of yuánhuìyùnshì (cosmological-temporal scheme); the next 4 juàn discuss the subtleties of shēngyīn lǜlǚ (sound-voice and pitch-pipes). Per the 提要: “its principle is deep but its numerical-apparatus is brief”.
- Wàipiān 外篇 (Outer Chapter): cross-references material to develop the deeper meaning. Per the 提要: “its numerical-apparatus is detailed and its principle is clear”. The Wàipiān is therefore the appropriate starting-point for xiāntiān (Pre-Heaven) cosmological study.
Zhāng Xíngchéng accordingly developed an exclusive elaboration of the Wàipiān, supplementing missing passages, correcting transcription errors, and reorganizing the material into 9 juàn: 3 juàn on shù (number), 3 on xiàng (image), 3 on lǐ (principle).
The Sìkù 提要 makes a textual-critical observation: “from the Míng onwards, printed editions universally place the Wàipiān in front and title it as the Nèipiān*, an inversion of order. We rely on Zhāng Xíngchéng’s recension here to correct the vulgar-edition errors*“. The Sìkù-recension thus follows Zhāng Xíngchéng’s reorganization, providing what the editors take to be the more reliable structural arrangement of Shào Yōng’s text.
The work was nearly lost: Wèi Liǎowēng 魏了翁 in the late Sòng noted that Zhāng Xíngchéng “was able to obtain the Yì-numbers in detail” but that the books were “not all transmitted”. Zhū Yízūn’s Jīngyì kǎo records only KR3g0006 Suǒyǐn and not the present Wàipiān yǎnyì — confirming long submersion. The Sìkù recension is recovered from the Yǒnglè dàdiǎn in complete form per the original 9-juan structure.
For the foundational Shào Yōng work, see KR3g0005. For the related Zhāng Xíngchéng work, see KR3g0006 Suǒyǐn. For Zhāng Xíngchéng’s biography, see 張行成.
Tiyao
[Full text in source file. Dated Qiánlóng 46 (1781), seventh month.]
Translations and research
- Smith, Kidder Jr. et al. Sung Dynasty Uses of the I Ching, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1990.
Links
- ctext.org: https://ctext.org/wiki.pl?if=gb&res=569524 (Sìkù 提要 j. 108)