䷥ indicates that, notwithstanding the condition of things which it denotes, in small matters there will still be good success.
䷥ denotes a social state in which division and mutual alienation prevail, and the hexagram teaches how in small matters this condition may be healed, and the way prepared for the cure of the whole system. The indication in the figure of division and disunion according to their views. Those things appear as a necessary sequel to the regulation of the family; while it is impossible to discover any allusion to the family.
- In ䷥ we have the symbol ☲ Fire, which, when moved, tends upwards, and ☱ that of a Marsh, whose waters, when moved, tend downwards. We have also the symbols of two sisters living together, but whose wills do not move in the same direction.
- We see how the inner trigram expressive of harmonious satisfaction is attached to the outer expressive of bright intelligence; we see the weak line advanced and acting above, and how it occupies the central place, and is responded to by the strong line below. These indications show that in small matters there will still be good fortune.
- Heaven and earth are separate and apart, but the work which they do is the same. Male and female are separate and apart, but with a common will they seek the same object. There is diversity between the myriad classes of beings, but there is an analogy between their several operations. Great indeed are the phenomena and the results of this condition of disunion and separation.
Where ☱ represents the youngest daughter and ☲ the second. In many hexagrams we have two daughters dwelling together, but that only in this and ䷰ is attention called to it. The reason, they say, is that in those two diagrams the sisters are the second and third daughters, while in the others one of them is the eldest, whose place and superiority are fixed, so that between her and either of the others there can be no division or collision.
About what is said, in paragraph 2, on the weak line, as advanced and acting above, see the note on hexagram ䷢. The lesson of paragraph 3 is not unity in diversity, but union with diversity.
The trigram ☲ representing fire above, and ☱ that for the waters of a marsh below, form ䷥. The superior man, in accordance with this, where there is a general agreement, yet admits diversity.
The application here of the symbolism is correct, but neither of them comes up to the idea of disunion which is in ䷥.
- The first line, undivided, shows that to its subject occasion for repentance will disappear. He has lost his horses, but let him not seek for them; they will return of themselves. Should he meet with bad men, he will not err in communicating with them.
He meets with bad men and communicates with them; he does so, to avoid the evil of their condemnation.
Line 1 is strong, and in an odd place. A successful course might be auspiced for its subject; but the correlate in line 4 is also strong; and therefore disappointment and repentance are likely to ensue. In the condition, however, indicated by ䷥, where people have a common virtue, they will help one another. Through the good services of 4, the other will not have to repent. His condition may be emblemed by a traveller's loss of his horses, which return to him of themselves.
Should he meet with bad men, however, let him not shrink from them. Communication with them will be of benefit. His good may overcome their evil, and at least it will help to silence their slanderous tongues.
- The second line, undivided, shows its subject happening to meet with his lord in a bye-passage. There will be no error.
He happens to meet with his lord in a bye-passage; but he has not deviated for this meeting from the proper course.
Line 5 is weak, and its subject is the proper correlate of the strong 2. They might meet openly; but for the separation and disunion that mark the time. A casual, as it were a stolen, interview, as in a bye-lane or passage, however will be useful, and may lead on to a better understanding.
- In the third line, divided, we see one whose carriage is dragged back, while the oxen in it are pushed back, and he is himself subjected to the shaving of his head and the cutting off of his nose. There is no good beginning, but there will be a good end.
We see his carriage dragged back; this is indicated by the inappropriateness of the position of the line. There is no good beginning, but there will be a good end; this arises from his meeting with the strong subject of the topmost line.
Line 3 is weak, where it ought to be strong. Its correlate, however, in 6 is strong, and the relation between them might seem what it ought to be. But the weak 3 is between the strong lines in 2 and 4; and in a time of disunion there ensue the checking and repulsion emblemed in the text. At the same time the subject of line 6 inflicts on that of 3 the punishments which are mentioned. It is thus bad for 3 at first, but we are told that in the end it will be well with him; and this will be due to the strength of the sixth line. The conclusion grows out of a conviction in the mind of the author that what is right and good is destined to triumph over what is wrong and bad. Disorder shall in the long run give place to order, and disunion to union.
- The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject solitary amidst the prevailing disunion. But he meets with the good man represented by the first line, and they blend their sincere desires together. The position is one of peril, but there will be no mistake.
They blend their sincere desires together, and there will be no error; their common aim is carried into effect.
Line 4 has no proper correlate, and might seem to be solitary. But, as we saw on line 1, in this hexagram, correlates of the same class help each other. Hence the subjects of 4 and 1, meeting together, work with good will and success.
- The fifth line, divided, shows that to its subject occasion for repentance will disappear. With his relative and minister he unites closely and readily as if he were biting through a piece of skin. When he goes forward with this help, what error can there be?
With his hereditary minister he unites closely and easily as if he were biting through a piece of skin; his going forward will afford ground for congratulation.
The place of 5 is odd, but the line itself is weak, so that there might arise occasion for repentance. But the strong 2 is a proper correlate to the weak 5. Five being the sovereign's place, the subject of 2 is styled the sovereign's relative, of the same surname with him, and head of some branch of the descendants of the royal house. It is as easy for 5, so supported, to deal with the disunion of the time, as to bite through a piece of skin.
- The topmost line, undivided, shows its subject solitary amidst the prevailing disunion. In the subject of the third line, he seems to see a pig bearing on its back a load of mud, or fancies there is a carriage full of ghosts. He first bends his bow against him, and afterwards unbends it, for he discovers that he is not an assailant to injure, but a near relative. Going forward, he shall meet with genial rain, and there will be good fortune.
The good fortune symbolised by meeting with genial rain springs from the passing away of all doubts.
Line 6 is an even place, and yet the line is strong; what can its subject effect? He looks at 3, which, as weak, is a proper correlate; but he looks with the evil eye of disunion. The subject of 3 appears no better than a filthy pig, nor more real than an impossible carriage-load of ghosts. He bends his bow against him, but he unbends it, discovering a friend in 3, as 1 did in 4, and 5 in 2. He acts and with good luck, comparable to the falling rain, which results from the happy union of the strong and weak in nature.