䷓ shows how he whom it represents should be like the worshipper who has washed his hands, but not yet presented his offerings; with sincerity and an appearance of dignity commanding reverent regard.
The Chinese character ䷓, from which this hexagram is named, is used in it in two senses. It denotes showing, manifesting; in all other places it denotes contemplating, looking at. The subject of the hexagram is the sovereign and his subjects, how he manifests himself to them, and how they contemplate him. The two upper, undivided, lines belong to the sovereign; the four weak lines below them are his subjects, ministers and others who look up at him. ䷓ is the hexagram of the eighth month. ䷓ symbolises the sovereign by a worshipper when he is most solemn in his religious service, at the commencement of it, full of sincerity and with a dignified carriage.
- The great Manifester occupies an upper place in the figure, which consists of (the trigrams whose attributes are docility and flexibility. He is in the central position and his correct place, and thus exhibits his lessons to all under heaven.
- ䷓ shows its subject like a worshipper who has washed his hands, but not yet presented his offerings; with sincerity and an appearance of dignity commanding reverent regard; all beneath look to him and are transformed.
- When we contemplate the spirit-like way of Heaven, we see how the four seasons proceed without error. The sages, in accordance with this spirit-like way, laid down their instructions, and all under heaven yield submission to them.
The great Manifester is the ruler, the principal subject of the hexagram, and represented by line 5, near the top of the figure. In that figure the lower trigra. is ☷, representing the earth, with the attribute of docility, and the upper is ☴, representing wind, with the attributes of flexibility and penetration. As is the place of line 5, so are the virtues of the ruler.
The spirit-like way of Heaven is the invisible and unfathomable agency ever operating by general laws, and with invariable regularity, in what we call nature.
The trigram ☷ representing the earth, and that ☴ for wind moving above it, form ䷓. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, examined the different regions of the kingdom, to see the ways of the people, and set forth their instructions.
Wind moving above the earth has the widest sweep, and nothing escapes its influence; it penetrates everywhere. This symbolism is more appropriate to the subject in hand than that of many other hexagrams. Personal influence in a ruler effects much; but the ancient kings wished to add to that the power of published instructions, specially adapted to the character and circumstances of the people. ☴, representing the wind, is well adapted to denote this influence.
- The first line, divided, shows the looking of a lad; not blamable in men of inferior rank, but matter for regret in superior men.
The looking of a lad shown by the first line, (divided); indicates the way of the inferior people.
Line 1 is weak, and in the lowest place, improper also for it; the symbol of a thoughtless lad, who cannot see far, and takes only superficial views. The looking in line 1 is superficial, and does not reach far.
- The second line, divided, shows one peeping out from a door. It would be advantageous if it were merely) the firm correctness of a female.
The firm correctness of a woman, in peeping out from a door is also a thing to be ashamed of in a superior man.
Line 2 is also weak, but in its proper place, showing a woman, living retired, and only able to peep as from her door at the subject of the fifth line. But ignorance and retirement are proper in a woman.
- The third line, divided, shows one looking at the course of his own life, to advance or recede accordingly.
He looks at the course of his own life, to advance or recede accordingly; he will not err in the path to be pursued.
Line 3, at the top of the lower trigram ☷, and weak, must belong to a subject of the utmost docility, and will wish to act only according to the exigency of time and circumstances. He will not err in the path to be pursued; advancing or receding as is best.
- The fourth line, divided, shows one contemplating the glory of the kingdom. It will be advantageous for him, being such as he is, to seek to be a guest of the king.
He contemplates the glory of the kingdom, thence arises the wish to be a guest at court.
Line 4, in the place proper to its weakness, is yet in immediate proximity to 5, representing the sovereign. Its subject is moved accordingly, and stirred to ambition. The glory of the kingdom is the virtue of the sovereign and the character of his administration.
- The fifth line, undivided, shows its subject contemplating his own life-course. A superior man, he will thus fall into no error.
He contemplates his own life-course; he should for this purpose contemplate the condition of the people.
Line 5 is strong, and in the place of the ruler. He is a superior man, but this does not relieve him from the duty of self-contemplation or examination.
- The sixth line, undivided, shows its subject contemplating his character to see if it be indeed that of a superior man. He will not fall into error.
He contemplates his own character; he cannot even yet let his mind be at rest.
There is a slight difference in the 6th line from the 5th. By making a change in the punctuation, however, the different significance may be brought out. Line 6 is strong, and should be considered out of the work of the hexagram, but its subject is still possessed by the spirit of its idea, and is led to self-examination.