《易传·系辞传上·第十二章》
所以《易经》所谓象，乃因圣人见天下万事万物的繁杂，而拟测其形态的种类，象征其物象的适宜，因此谓之 象 。
是故夫象，圣人有以见天下之赜，而拟诸其形容，像其物宜，是故谓之象。
Therefore, what the Changes calls images is because the sage sees how myriad things in the world are complex, and then he likens and measures their form-kind and symbolizes how their phenomena are suitable; thus it is called images.