ABSTRACT
The term xing er shang xue or simply xingshangxue, which now serves as a translation of the western word “metaphysics,” is connected to a long tradition of Chinese philosophy. This term comes from the Great Appendix I of the Book of Changes (Yijing), where we read: “Therefore that which is above xing (material form) is the dao; that which is under xing is qi (implements or ontic things).”
