It is argued that 'structures of power' corresponding to the semiotic scaffolding of biosemiotic theory play an important role in the workings of nature at a fundamental level. Detailed investigation into the associated complexity may form the basis of a new understanding of nature, thereby bringing to fruition ideas advanced by C. S. Peirce in the nineteenth century. The lecture was given on May 6th. 2018, in Hangzhou, China, and the slides can be viewed independently at https://philpapers.org/archive/JOSCOA-2.pdf. The accompanying abstract expounds these ideas in more detail.