From Jue Di Tian Tong to Gan Er Sui Tong:origin and evolution of Gantong
The common interpretation of Gantong(spirit communication),an important concept in the Chinese philosophy,starts from"Gan Er Sui Tong"(perception leading to openness)in the Xici commentary of the Book of Changes.The origin of this concept can actually be traced back to the ancient times when Zhuanxu quelled the unrest of the Nine Li tribes and initiated the"Jue Di Tian Tong"(separation of Heaven and Earth)which gave rise to the distinction between humans and gods and thus the need for spirit communication.During this period,the objects and realization of Gantong relied on mysterious spirits and gods.By the time of the Three Dynasties,with the enlightenment of human reason,the way and the connotation of communication between humans and supernatural beings underwent a transformation.Despite the dependence on sacrifices and divination,human virtue began to emerge.During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period,Gantong formally appeared as a philosophical concept in Yi Zhuan(Commentary on the Book of Changes),and was later endowed with implications of cosmology and ontology through the interpretations of later scholars.
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