The Development and Yeokhak-Based Meanings of Hoche Theory

Choi Yeen-young

doi:10.18213/jkccl.2016.33.1.014

The Hoche theory is a critical method of interpreting Book of Changes broadly, but there has been a shortage of its systematic research. This study thus set out to examine the discussion patterns of Hoche in the history of Yeokhak and propose developmental directions for future Hoche theory researches. For those purposes, the study traced the origin of Hoche that started with the buci of inscriptions on bones and tortoise carapaces excavated in Yinxu, interpreted them in diverse ways for the Yeokhak-based understanding, and examined the developmental patterns of Hoche by the periods both in China and Korea. After Jing Fang first established the Hoche theory in West Han, Zhen Zhu and Hu Bingwen more focused on 취상적 interpretations different from their masters Yi Chuan and Zhu Xi known as scholars of Yili-yi. In his Yi Xue Qi Meng, Zhu Xi stated that all trigrams operated in the four Hoches(Qian, Kun, Jiji, and Weiji). That is, he put more focus on the connections of trigrams than their interpretative aspects. Indeed Zhu Xi neither excluded Hoche nor made active use of it. In Ming Dynasty, Chen Shihyuan and Lai Zhide were active with researching and developing the Yeokhak of Han, in which the scholars of Xiang-shu said they could not interpret Yi without Xiang. In Korea, the study examined Jo Ho-ik, who was a civilian scholar in middle Joseon and investigated the Yaoci meanings of Guaci trigrams around Hoche in Book of Changes, Seo Myeong-eung, who studied Yili and Neidanxue during the reign of Kings Yeongjo and Jeongjo, and the divinatory interpretations of Dasan Jeong Yak-yong, who investigated Hoche to govern people during the reign of King Jeongjo. The Samjae of Heaven, Earth, and Man, yin and yang, spirit and matter, and time and space can penetrate into a trigram(six Hyos) through 대대 and 유행 because they are in yin and yang signs(󰁌 −). Both the school of Yili-yi and the school of Xiang-shu interpret the 64 trigrams of Book of Changes in relation to the natural objects and men. As both scholars of Xiang-shu and scholars of Yili-yi recognized the importance of 취상 in an attempt to figure out the root, the Hoche researches became even more active. Hoche is Zhongyao that is established by the reciprocal action of four Yaos except for Chuyao and Shangyao. Hoche of Hoche(Hohoche) finds its center in Sanyao and Siyao under the category of 인재. Since Sanyao and Siyao belong to 인재, they refer to the parts related to man. In addition, the Hoche theory is capable of doing comprehensive interpretations by pulling out covered meanings or complex hidden relational patterns according to the need, which means that it is difficult to interpret 역 without Hoche.

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