I-Ching
Current
Changing
Transformed
Current
23 - Po / Splitting Apart
Above: KÊN KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN
Below: K`UN THE RECEPTIVE, EARTH
The dark lines are about to mount upward and overthrow the last firm, light line by exerting a disintegrating influence on it. The inferior, dark forces overcome what is superior and strong, not by direct means, but by undermining it gradually and imperceptibly, so that it finally collapses.
The lines of the hexagram present the image of a house, the top line being the roof, and because the roof is being shattered the house collapses. The hexagram belongs to the ninth month (October-November). The yin power pushes up ever more powerfully and is about to supplant the yang power altogether.
This pictures a time when inferior people are pushing forward and are about to crowd out the few remaining strong and superior men. Under these circumstances, which are due to the time, it is not favorable for the superior man to undertake anything.
The right behavior in such adverse times is to be deduced from the images and their attributes. The lower trigram stands for the earth, whose attributes are docility and devotion. The upper trigram stands for the mountain, whose attribute is stillness. This suggests that one should submit to the bad time and remain quiet. It is a question not of a man`s doing, but of time conditions, which, according to the laws of heaven, show an alternation of increase and decrease, fullness and emptiness. It is impossible to counteract these conditions of the time. Hence, it is not cowardice but wisdom to submit and avoid action.
The mountain rests on the earth. When it is steep and narrow, lacking a broad base, it must topple over. Its position is strong only when it rises out of the earth broad and great, not proud and steep. So likewise those who rule rest on the broad foundation of the people. They too, should be generous and benevolent, like the earth that carries all. Then they will make their position as secure as a mountain in its tranquillity.
Above: KÊN KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN
Below: K`UN THE RECEPTIVE, EARTH
The dark lines are about to mount upward and overthrow the last firm, light line by exerting a disintegrating influence on it. The inferior, dark forces overcome what is superior and strong, not by direct means, but by undermining it gradually and imperceptibly, so that it finally collapses.
The lines of the hexagram present the image of a house, the top line being the roof, and because the roof is being shattered the house collapses. The hexagram belongs to the ninth month (October-November). The yin power pushes up ever more powerfully and is about to supplant the yang power altogether.
The Judgement
SPLITTING APART. It does not further one to go anywhere.This pictures a time when inferior people are pushing forward and are about to crowd out the few remaining strong and superior men. Under these circumstances, which are due to the time, it is not favorable for the superior man to undertake anything.
The right behavior in such adverse times is to be deduced from the images and their attributes. The lower trigram stands for the earth, whose attributes are docility and devotion. The upper trigram stands for the mountain, whose attribute is stillness. This suggests that one should submit to the bad time and remain quiet. It is a question not of a man`s doing, but of time conditions, which, according to the laws of heaven, show an alternation of increase and decrease, fullness and emptiness. It is impossible to counteract these conditions of the time. Hence, it is not cowardice but wisdom to submit and avoid action.
The Image
The mountain rests on the earth: The image of SPLITTING APART. Thus, those above can ensure their position only by giving generously to those below.The mountain rests on the earth. When it is steep and narrow, lacking a broad base, it must topple over. Its position is strong only when it rises out of the earth broad and great, not proud and steep. So likewise those who rule rest on the broad foundation of the people. They too, should be generous and benevolent, like the earth that carries all. Then they will make their position as secure as a mountain in its tranquillity.
Changing
Nine in the third place means:
The wanderers inn burns down. He loses the steadfastness of his young servant. Danger.
A truculent stranger does not know how to behave properly. He meddles in affairs and controversies that do not concern him, and thus he loses his resting place. He treats his servant with aloofness and arrogance, and thus he loses the man`s loyalty. When a stranger in a strange land has no one left on whom he can rely, the situation becomes very dangerous.
The wanderers inn burns down. He loses the steadfastness of his young servant. Danger.
A truculent stranger does not know how to behave properly. He meddles in affairs and controversies that do not concern him, and thus he loses his resting place. He treats his servant with aloofness and arrogance, and thus he loses the man`s loyalty. When a stranger in a strange land has no one left on whom he can rely, the situation becomes very dangerous.
Nine in the fourth place means:
The wanderer rests in a shelter. He obtains his property and an ax. My heart is not glad.
This describes a wanderer who knows how to limit his desires outwardly, though he is inwardly strong and aspiring. Therefore, he finds at least a place of shelter in which he can stay. He also succeeds in acquiring property, but even with this he is not secure. He must be always on guard, ready to defend himself with arms. Hence, he is not at ease. He is persistently conscious of being a stranger in a strange land.
The wanderer rests in a shelter. He obtains his property and an ax. My heart is not glad.
This describes a wanderer who knows how to limit his desires outwardly, though he is inwardly strong and aspiring. Therefore, he finds at least a place of shelter in which he can stay. He also succeeds in acquiring property, but even with this he is not secure. He must be always on guard, ready to defend himself with arms. Hence, he is not at ease. He is persistently conscious of being a stranger in a strange land.
Transformed
56 - Lü / The Wanderer
Above: LI THE CLINGING, FIRE
Below: KÊN KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN
The mountain, Kên, stands still. Above it fire, Li, flames up and does not tarry. Therefore, the two trigrams do not stay together. Strange lands and separation are the wanderers lot.
When a man is a wanderer and stranger, he should be not be gruff nor overbearing. He has no large circle of acquaintances, therefore he should not give himself airs. He must be cautious and reserved; in this way he protects himself from evil. If he is obliging toward others, he wins success. A wanderer has no fixed abode, and his home is the road. Therefore, he must take care to remain upright and steadfast, so that he sojourns only in the proper places, associating only with good people. Then he has good fortune and can go his way unmolested.
When grass on a mountain takes fire, there is bright light. However, the fire does not linger in one place, but travels on to new fuel. It is a phenomenon of short duration. This is what penalties and lawsuits should be like. They should be a quickly passing matter, and must not be dragged out indefinitely. Prisons ought to be places where people are lodged only temporarily, as guests are. They must not become dwelling places.
Above: LI THE CLINGING, FIRE
Below: KÊN KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN
The mountain, Kên, stands still. Above it fire, Li, flames up and does not tarry. Therefore, the two trigrams do not stay together. Strange lands and separation are the wanderers lot.
The Judgement
THE WANDERER. Success through smallness. Perseverence brings good fortune, to the wanderer.When a man is a wanderer and stranger, he should be not be gruff nor overbearing. He has no large circle of acquaintances, therefore he should not give himself airs. He must be cautious and reserved; in this way he protects himself from evil. If he is obliging toward others, he wins success. A wanderer has no fixed abode, and his home is the road. Therefore, he must take care to remain upright and steadfast, so that he sojourns only in the proper places, associating only with good people. Then he has good fortune and can go his way unmolested.
The Image
Fire on the mountain: The image of THE WANDERER. Thus, the superior man is clear-minded and cautious in imposing penalties, and protracts no lawsuits.When grass on a mountain takes fire, there is bright light. However, the fire does not linger in one place, but travels on to new fuel. It is a phenomenon of short duration. This is what penalties and lawsuits should be like. They should be a quickly passing matter, and must not be dragged out indefinitely. Prisons ought to be places where people are lodged only temporarily, as guests are. They must not become dwelling places.