above TUI THE JOYOUS, LAKE below SUN THE GENTLE, WIND, WOOD
this hexagram consists of four strong lines inside and two weak lines outside. When the strong are outside and the weak inside, all is well and there is nothing out of balance, nothing extraordinary in the situation. Here, however, the opposite is the case. The hexagram represents a beam that is thick and heavy in the middle but too weak at the ends. this is a condition that cannot last; it must be changed, must pass, or misfortune will result.
THE JUDGMENT
PREPONDERANCE OF THE GREAT. The ridgepole sags to the breaking point. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. Success.
The weight of the great is excessive. The load is too heavy for the strength of the supports. The ridgepole on which the whole roof rests, sags to the breaking point, because its supporting ends are too weak for the load they bear. It is an exceptional time and situation; therefore extraordinary measures are demanded. It is necessary to find a way of transition as quickly as possible, and to take action. this promises success. For although the strong element is in excess, it is in the middle, that is, at the center of gravity, so that a revolution is not to be feared. Nothing is to be achieved by forcible measures. The problem must be solved by gently penetration to the meaning of the situation (as is suggested by the attribute of the inner trigram, Sun); then the change-over to other conditions will be successful. It demands real superiority; therefore the time when the great preponderates is a momentous time.
THE IMAGE
The lake rises above the trees: The image of PREPONDERANCE OF THE GREAT. Thus one is unconcerned when standing alone,And undaunted even if one must renounce the world.
Extraordinary times when the great preponderates are like flood times when the lake rises over the treetops. But such conditions are temporary. The two trigrams indicate the attitude proper to such exceptional times: the symbol of the trigram Sun is the tree, which stands firm even though it stands alone, and the attribute of Tui is joyousness, which remains undaunted even if it must renounce the world.
THE LINES
Six at the beginning means: To spread white rushes underneath. No blame.
When one wishes to undertake an enterprise in extraordinary times, one must be extraordinarily cautious, just as when setting a heavy thing down on the floor, one takes care to put rushes under it, so that nothing will break. this caution, though it may seem exaggerated, is not a mistake. Exceptional enterprises cannot succeed unless utmost caution is observed in their beginnings and in the laying of their foundations.
° Nine in the second place means: A dry poplar sprouts at the root. An older person takes a young spouse. Everything furthers.
Wood is near water; hence the image of an old poplar sprouting at the root. this means an extraordinary situation arises when an older person marries a younger one who suits him or her. Despite the unusualness of the situation, all goes well. From the point of view of politics, the meaning is that in exceptional times one does well to join with the receptive, for this affords a possibility of renewal. Nine in the third place means: The ridgepole sags to the breaking point. Misfortune. this indicates a type of person who in times of preponderance of the great insists on pushing ahead. One accepts no advice from others, and therefore they in turn are not willing to lend one support. Because of this the burden grows, until the structure of things bends or breaks. Plunging willfully ahead in times of danger only hastens the catastrophe.
° Nine in the fourth place means: The ridgepole is braced. Good fortune. If there are ulterior motives, it is humiliating.
Through friendly relations with people of lower rank, a responsible person succeeds in becoming master of the situation. But if, instead of working for the rescue of the whole, one were to misuse one’s connections to obtain personal power and success, it would lead to humiliation.
Nine in the fifth place means: A withered poplar puts forth flowers. An older person takes a spouse. No blame. No praise.
A withered poplar that flowers exhausts its energies thereby and only hastens its end. An older woman may marry once more, but no renewal takes place. Everything remains barren, because the older woman cannot conceive. Thus, though all the amenities are observed, the net result is only the anomaly of the situation. Applied to politics, the metaphor means that if in times of insecurity we give up alliance with those below us and keep up only the relationships we have with people of higher rank, an unstable situation is created.
Six at the top means: One must go through the water. It goes over one’s head. Misfortune. No blame.
Here is a situation in which the unusual has reached a climax. One is courageous and wishes to accomplish one’s task, no matter what happens. this leads into danger. The water rises over one’s head. this is the misfortune. But one incurs no blame in giving up one’s life that the good and the right may prevail. There are things that are more important than life.
