Abstract: Xing is the soul of the Book of Songs，and Xiang is the root of the Book of Changes.While Xing reflects our ancient ancestors’ basic approach to knowing and dealing with the world,Xiang marks the meaning generation mechanism of subjective consciousness.The development from the Book of Songs to the Book of Changes reflects the thinking mode transition from Xing to Xiang.In the Xing thinking,meaning is detached from a phenomenon;while in Xiang thinking,meaning is derivative of a phenomenon observed.There exists the difference of sensual experience and mental processing between Xing and Xiang.For its defect of subjective disenlightenment,Xing is not regarded superior to Xiang.On the other hand,Xiang seems more advantageous for its subjective consciousness.In a sense,the ontology of Chinese philosophy is a transcendent return to Xing.

Key words: Xing, Xiang, the Book of Songs, the Book of Changes