Abstract:The Book of ChangesGua-Yao statements can basically be analyzed into two parts: divinatory queries and judgments. The judgment terms in the latter reflect considerably the cultural value construction orientation implied in those statements. Informed by the cultural markedness theory of semiotics, a cultural value markedness analysis of the terms is made, which shows that, in the early Zhou people’s construction of their cultural value system, the middle category leans towards the polar side of auspiciousness, making it the unmarked category and the other side of ominousness the marked category, and the middle plays a dominant role in the divinatory judgment of Book of Changes,orienting to praying for blessings and against calamities, with an overall trendy feature of pursuing good fortune and avoiding disasters. Besides, the analysis of the type of “great auspicious” terms proves that they are concerned with important aspects of early Zhou people’ cultural values with regard to their state and society.
Keywords:Book of Changes, divinatory judgment terms,cultural markedness theory, semiotics
