Yi chuan ji rang ji and SHAO Yong's prenatal image-number theory

The philosophical poems in SHAO Yong's anthology of Yi chuan ji rang ji possess a knowledge patterned structure, which not only involves deducing of the images and numbers, but also embraces philosophical connotations of the Yi learning. In addition, they contain illustrations of the system of SHAO's Yi diagrams and interpretations of his image-number theory of yuan-hui-yun-shi (departed from his prenatal image-number theory) , and relate to his understanding of the connotations of the trigrams or hexagrams of Zhouyi, by which he would extend his thinking over the society and human life. His poems expressing his views on the mind and human nature manifest the grandeur of his mind about his thorough understanding of the heaven and human, while, full of dialectical thinking, the poems concerning observing things exhibit his insights on things' changes and transformations. By using the images of the hexagrams in the poetry, he deepens the philosophical connotations of the poetry, meanwhile, makes the pondering over Yi become a spiritual enjoyment mixing philosophy and art together.