䷻ intimates that under its conditions there will be progress and attainment. But if the regulations which it prescribes be severe and difficult, they cannot be permanent.
The primary application of the character ䷻ was to denote the joints of the bamboo; it is used also for the joints of the human frame; and for the solar and other terms of the year. Whatever makes regular division may be denominated a ䷻; there enter into it the ideas of regulating and restraining; and the subject of this hexagram is the regulations of government enacted for the guidance and control of the people. How the constituent trigrams are supposed to suggest or indicate this meaning will be seen in the symbolism below.
The figure gives the promise of success and attainment; but the ground of this is generally made out by referring to the equal division of the undivided and divided lines and our having in 2 and 5, the central places, two undivided lines. An important point concerning regulations is brought out in the conclusion of the judgment, that they must be adapted to circumstances, and not made too strict and severe.
- ䷻ intimates progress and attainment; the strong and weak lines are equally divided, and the strong lines occupy the central places.
- If the regulations which ䷻ prescribes be severe and difficult, they cannot be permanent; its course of action will in that case come to an end.
- We have the feeling of pleasure and satisfaction directing the course amidst peril. We have all regulations controlled by authority in its proper place. We have free action proceeding from the central and correct position.
- Heaven and earth observe their regular terms, and we have the four seasons complete. If rulers frame their measures according to the due regulations, the resources of the state suffer no injury, and the people receive no hurt.
Its course will come to an end' is the opposite of the intimation in ䷻ of progress and attainment. Paragraph 3 returns to this intimation of the figure, by the attributes of the trigrams; by the appropriate positions of lines 4 and 5; and boy the central and correct place of 5. Paragraph 4 illustrates the importance of doing things according to rule by reference to the operations of nature and the enactments and institutions of sage rulers.
The trigram ☱ representing a lake, and above it ☵ that for water, form ䷻. The superior man, in accordance with this, constructs his methods of numbering and measurement, and discusses points of virtue and conduct.
Various explanations of the Great Symbolism have been attempted. The water which a lake or marsh will contain is limited to a certain quantity. If the water flowing in exceed that, it overflows. This gives us the idea of ䷻.
- The first line, undivided, shows its subject not quitting the courtyard outside his door. There will be no error.
He does not quit the courtyard outside his door; he knows when he has free course and when he is obstructed.
Line 1 is strong, and in its correct place. Its subject therefore would not be wanting in power to make his way. But he is supposed to be kept in check by the strong 2, and the correlate 4 is the first line in the trigram of peril. The course of wisdom therefore is to keep still. The character here rendered door is that belonging to the inner apartments, leading from the hall into which entrance is found by the outer gate, mentioned under line 2. The courtyard outside the door and that inside the gate is one and the same. The paragraph tells an officer not to take office rashly, but to exercise a cautious judgment in his measures. The subject of line 1 knows when he might have free course and when he is obstructed, and acts accordingly. He is regulated by a consideration of the time.
The superior man occupies his apartment and sends forth his words. If they be good, they will be responded to at a distance of more than a thousand miles; how much more will they be so in the nearer circle! He occupies his apartment and sends forth his words. If they be evil, they will awaken opposition at a distance of more than a thousand miles; how much more will they do so in the nearer circle! Words issue from one's person, and proceed to affect the people. Actions proceed from what is near, and their effects are seen at a distance. Words and actions are the hinge and spring of the superior man. The movement of that hinge and spring determines glory or disgrace. His words and actions move heaven and earth; may he be careless in regard to them?
He does not quit the courtyard before his door; there will be no occasion for blame. When disorder arises, it will be found that ill-advised speech was the steppingstone to it. If a ruler do not keep secret his deliberations with his minister, he will lose that minister. If a minister do not keep secret his deliberations with his ruler, he will lose his life. If important matters in the germ be not kept secret, that will be injurious to their accomplishment. Therefore the superior man is careful to maintain secrecy, and does not allow himself to speak.
- The second line, undivided, shows its subject not quitting the courtyard inside his gate. There will be evil.
He does not quit the courtyard inside his gate. There will be evil; he loses the time for action to an extreme degree.
Line 2 is strong, in the wrong place; nor has it a proper correlate. Its subject keeps still, when he ought to be up and doing. There will be evil. The subject of line 1 ought not to act, and he is still. The subject of line 2 ought to act, and he also is still. The error and the effect of it are great.
- The third line, divided, shows its subject with no appearance of observing the proper regulations, in which case we shall see him lamenting. But there will be no one to blame but himself.
In the lamentation for not observing the proper regulations, who should there be to blame?
Line 3 should be strong, but it is weak. It is neither central nor correct. It has no proper correlate, and it is the topmost line in the trigram of complacent satisfaction. Its subject will not receive the yoke of regulations; and he will find out his mistake, when it is too late. The subject of line 3 shows by his lamentation how he blames himself.
- The fourth line, divided, shows its subject quietly and naturally attentive to all regulations. There will be progress and success.
The progress and success of the quiet and natural attention to all regulations is due to the deference which accepts the ways of the ruler above.
Line 4 is weak, as it ought to be, and its subject has respect to the authority of the strong ruler in 5. Hence its good symbolism and auspice.
- The fifth line, undivided, shows its subject sweetly and acceptably enacting his regulations. There will be good fortune. The onward progress with them will afford ground for admiration.
The good fortune arising from the regulations enacted sweetly and acceptably is due to the line occupying the place of authority and being in the centre.
Line 5 is strong, and in its correct place. Its subject regulates himself, having no correlate; but he is lord of the hexagram, and his influence is everywhere beneficially felt.
- The topmost line, divided, shows its subject enacting regulations severe and difficult. Even with firmness and correctness there will be evil. But though there will be cause for repentance, it will by and by disappear.
The regulations are severe and difficult. Even with firm correctness there will be evi; the course indicated by the hexagram is come to an end.
Line 6 is weak, in its proper place. The subject of the topmost line must be supposed to possess an exaggerated desire for enacting regulations. They will be too severe, and the effect will be evil. That is not so great a fault as to be easy and remiss. It may be remedied, and cause for repentance will disappear.