《易傳》的「氣本」論和莊子的「道本」論，是先秦時期頗具特色的兩種理論學說。《易傳》作者用陰陽氣論解釋宇宙萬物化生，進而用易、道、神等觀念詮釋陰陽二氣化生天地萬物何以可能，《易傳》宇宙論比較系統與圓融。莊子以「道無終始」、「未始有封」、「大道不稱」、「物物者非物」所建構的道本體論，在理論層面系統完整，在邏輯上圓融自恰，代表著先秦時期哲學思辨所達到的最高水準。《易傳》與《莊子》、《老子》諸文本之間存在一些觀念上的相通，但在核心思想與人文旨趣上，涇渭分明。《易傳》屬於儒家類著作，當是不易之論。

The Qi-based Theory in Yi Zhuan and Zhuangzi’s Tao-based theory are two distinctive theories in the pre-Qin period. The author of Yi Zhuan uses Yin (陰) and Yang (陽) to explain the creation of all things , and then uses the concepts such as Yi (易), Tao (道), Shen (神) to interpret why Yin (陰) and Yang (陽) are capable of generating all things . The cosmology in Yi Zhuan is systematic and logical, but its ontology is slightly rougher compared with Zhuangzi. Zhuangzi’s theory, which is constructed by “Tao is Continuous”, “Tao has no boundary”, “Tao is not symmetrical” and “Creator is not entity”, is systematic and logical at the theoretical level, representing the highest level of philosophical speculation in the pre-Qin period. Some concepts in Yi Zhuan are similar to those in Zhuangzi and Laozi, but they are significantly different in the core thought and humanistic purport. There is no doubt that Yi Zhuan belongs to the Confucian works.