英文摘要
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This paper seeks to elucidate the implications of cosmology presented in Lüshichunqiu (呂氏春秋), a work written in the late Warring States period. The main issues addressed in this paper include the basic features of the origin of all things in the universe, the process of emergence of all things from the source, and the characteristics of each stage of emergence. In terms of cosmology, Lüshichunqiu inherited the theories of the Hundred Schools of Thought in the Pre-Qin period and helped the development of cosmology in the period of the Han dynasty. I would like to analyze the theories propounded in the chapters "Huandao" (圜道) and "Dayue" (大樂) in Lüshichunqiu to examine the origin of the universe and the specific process of differentiation represented in Lüshichunqiu so that finally, I could expound the theoretical implications of the cosmology in Lüshichunqiu. Lüshichunqiu maintains the stance that basically, everything in the universe originates in 'Dao' (道) or 'TaiYi' (太一). It proposes that 'Tiandi' (天地) and 'YinYang' (陰陽) emerge out of 'Dao' (道) and 'TaiYi' (太一) to eventually form all things. Therefore, the cosmology in Lüshichunqiu follows the scheme: 'Dao' (道)='TaiYi' (太一) → 'Tiandi' (天地) → 'YinYang' (陰陽) → all things (萬物). Lüshichunqiu defines the origin of all things in the universe as 'Dao' (道) and 'TaiYi' (太一). 'Dao' refers to the essence and general discipline of all things in the universe, and 'TaiYi' refers to the primordial state of chaos before the formation of all things in the universe. The first stage in the formation of the universe is called 'Tiandi', which not only means the physical space and time, but also means 'Tiandao' (天道) and 'Didao' (地道), which are the basic principles in the formation of the universe. 'YinYang' (陰陽) corresponds to the second stage of cosmic differentiation. This refers to Yinyangerqi (陰陽二氣) as the two antagonistic forces that form all things in the universe and at the same time it also refers to 'Jingqi' (精氣) as the principle and discipline by which the two forces of Yinyangerqi (陰陽二氣) conflict with each other and at the same time, work in concert complementarily with each other. The process of the formation of the universe, emphasized in the cosmology in Lüshichunqiu, is characterized by the identification of the two attributes of the formation of all things in the universe: 'Dao' (道) and 'TaiYi' (太一). Hence, theoretically, it implies both the view that identifies 'Dao' (道) with 'Qi' (氣) and the view that regards 'Dao' and 'Qi' as two different sources. Further, the cosmology of Lüshichunqiu has a very significant influence on the development of the cosmological system in the period of the Han dynasty in China.
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