above KêN KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN below CHêN THE AROUSING, THUNDER
this hexagram is a picture of an open mouth; above and below are firm lines of the lips, and between them the opening. Starting with the mouth, through which we take food for nourishment, the thought leads to nourishment itself. Nourishment of oneself, specifically of the body, is represented in the three lower lines, while the three upper lines represent nourishment and care of others, in a higher, spiritual sense.
THE JUDGMENT
THE CORNERS OF THE MOUTH. Perseverance brings good fortune. Pay heed to the providing of nourishment And to what one seeks To fill one’s own mouth with.
In bestowing care and nourishment, it is important that the right people should be taken care of and that we should attend to our own nourishment in the right way. If we wish to know what anyone is like, we have only to observe on whom they bestow their care and what sides of their own nature they cultivate and nourish. Nature nourishes all creatures. The great one fosters and takes care of superior ones, in order to take care of all people through them.
Mencius says about this: If we wish to know whether anyone is superior or not, we need only observe what part of their being a person regards as especially important. The body has superior and inferior, important and unimportant parts. We must not injure important parts for the sake of the unimportant, nor must we injure the superior parts for the sake of the inferior. One who cultivates the inferior parts of their nature is an inferior person. One who cultivates the superior parts of their nature is a superior person.
THE IMAGE At the foot of the mountain, thunder: The image of PROVIDING NOURISHMENT. Thus the superior one is careful with words And temperate in eating and drinking.
“God comes forth in the sign of the Arousing”: when in the spring the life forces stir again, all things comes into being anew. “One brings to perfection in the sign of Keeping Still”: thus in the early spring, when the seeds fall to earth, all things are made ready. this is an image of providing nourishment through movement and tranquillity. The superior one takes it as a pattern for the nourishment and cultivation of one or her character. Words are a movement going from within outward. Eating and drinking are movements from without inward. Both kinds of movement can be modified by tranquillity. For tranquillity keeps the words that come out of the mouth from exceeding proper measure, and keeps the food that goes into the mouth from exceeding its proper measure. Thus character is cultivated.
THE LINES
Nine at the beginning means: You let your magic tortoise go, And look at me with the corners of your mouth drooping. Misfortune.
The magic tortoise is a creature possessed of such supernatural powers that it lives on air and needs no earthly nourishment. The image means that one fitted by nature and position to live freely and independently renounces this self-reliance and instead looks with envy and discontent at others who are outwardly in better circumstances. But such base envy only arouses derision and contempt in those others. this has bad results.
Six in the second place means: Turning to the summit for nourishment, Deviating from the path To seek nourishment from the hill. Continuing to do this brings misfortune.
Normally a person either provides their own means of nourishment or is supported in a proper way by those whose duty of privilege it is to provide for them. If, owing to weakness of spirit, one cannot support oneself, a feeling of uneasiness comes over one; this is because in shirking the proper way of obtaining a living, one accepts support as a favor from those in higher place. this is unworthy, for one is deviating from one’s true nature. Kept up indefinitely, this course leads to misfortune.
Six in the third place means: Turning away from nourishment. Perseverance brings misfortune. Do not act thus for ten years. Nothing serves to further. One who seeks nourishment that does not nourish reels from desire to gratification and in gratification craves desire. Mad pursuit of pleasure for the satisfaction of the senses never brings one to the goal. One should never (ten years is a complete cycle of time) follow this path, for nothing good can come of it.
Six in the fourth place means: Turning to the summit For provision of nourishment Brings good fortune. Spying about with sharp eyes Like a tiger with insatiable craving. No blame.
In contrast to the six in the second place, which refers to one bent exclusively on one’s own advantage, this line refers to someone occupying a high position and striving to let their light shine forth. To do this one needs helpers, because one cannot attain one’s lofty aim alone. With the greed of a hungry tiger one is on the lookout for the right people. Since one is not working for oneself but for the good of all, there is no wrong in such zeal.
° Six in the fifth place means: Turning away from the path. To remain persevering brings good fortune. One should not cross the great water.
One may be conscious of a deficiency in oneself. One should be undertaking the nourishment of the people, but one has not the strength to do it. Thus one must turn from one’s accustomed path and beg counsel and help from another who is spiritually one’s superior but undistinguished outwardly. If one maintains this attitude of mind perseveringly, success and good fortune follow. But one must remain aware of one’s dependence. One must not put one’s own person forward nor attempt great labors, such as crossing the great water.
° Nine at the top means: The source of nourishment. Awareness of danger brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water.
this describes a sage of the highest order, from whom emanate all influences that provide nourishment for others. Such a position brings with it heavy responsibility. If one remains conscious of this fact, one has good fortune and may confidently undertake even great and difficult labors, such as crossing the great water. These undertakings bring general happiness for oneself and for all others.
