This essay aims at a philosophical interpretation via an philological analysis of Aristotle's Metaphysics, Book A, III and the "Hung-fan" chapter of Shang shu 尚書洪範篇 After a philological analysis of the text, I reach a conclusion that can be used as a "dihairesis-principle" in comparative studies between European and Chinese philosophy. I explicate the " dihairesis-principie" by showing different characteristics between the pre-Socratic "second cause" in Aristotle's Metaphysics and the "five currencies" 五行 in Shang shu. The pre-Socratic ."second cause" is unique, unchangeable and perpetual. In contrast, the "five currencies" as irresistable forces describe the direction of movement and thereby categorize all beings.