The I Ching or Book of Changes (73 page)
Of course when a line is a ruler of a hexagram, there occur relationships of correspondence that are independent of these considerations, and the good fortune or misfortune implied by them is determined by the time significance of the hexagram as a whole.
Holding Together
Between two adjacent lines of different character there may occur a relationship of holding together, which is also described with respect to the lower line as “receiving” and with respect to the upper as “resting upon.” As regards the relationship of holding together, the fourth and the fifth line (minister and ruler) are of first importance. Here, in contradistinction to the situation respecting the second and the fifth line, it is more favorable for a yielding minister to hold together with a strong ruler, because in this closer proximity reverence is of value. Thus in sixteen hexagrams in which this type of holding
together occurs, it is always more or less auspicious: it is very favorable in hexagrams
8
,
9
,
20
,
29
,
37
,
42
,
48
,
53
,
57
,
59
,
60
,
61
and somewhat less favorable but not altogether unfavorable in hexagrams
3
,
5
,
39
,
63
. But the holding together of a strong, i.e., an incorrect line in the fourth place with a yielding ruler is generally unfavorable, as in hexagrams
30
,
32
,
35
,
50
,
51
; it is somewhat less unfavorable in hexagrams
14
,
38
,
40
,
54
,
56
,
62
. Conversely, it is favorable in certain hexagrams in which the strong fourth line is the ruler: these are hexagrams
16
,
21
,
34
,
55
(here the line is the ruler of the upper trigram),
64
.
In addition, the relationship of holding together occurs also between the fifth and the top line. Here it pictures a ruler placing himself under a sage; in such a case it is usually a humble ruler (a weak line in the fifth place) who reveres a strong sage (a strong line above), as in hexagrams
14
,
26
,
27
,
50
. This is naturally very favorable. But when, conversely, a strong line stands in the fifth place with a weak one above it, this points rather to association with inferior elements and is undesirable, as in hexagrams
28
,
31
,
43
,
58
. The only exception to this appears in
hexagram 17
, Sui, FOLLOWING, because the total meaning of the hexagram presupposes that the strong element descends to a place under the weak element.
The remaining lines, the first and second, the second and third, the third and fourth, do not stand in the correct relationship of holding together. Where this occurs it always implies a danger of factionalism and is to be avoided. For a weak line, resting upon a firm line is even at times a source of trouble.
In dealing with lines that are rulers of their hexagrams, correspondence and holding together are taken into account regardless of the places of the lines. Besides the above-mentioned instances, other examples may be cited. In Yü, ENTHUSIASM (
16
), the fourth line is the ruler of the hexagram, the first line corresponds with it, and the third holds together with it. In Po, SPLITTING APART (
23
), the top line is the ruler; the third corresponds with it, the fifth holds together with it, and both these factors are favorable. In Fu, RETURN (
24
), the first line is the ruler; the second holds together with it, the fourth corresponds with it, and both these relationships are
favorable. In Kuai, BREAK-THROUGH (RESOLUTENESS) (
43
), the top line is the ruler, the third corresponds with it, and the fifth holds together with it. And in Kou, COMING TO MEET (
44
), the first line is the ruler, the second holds together with it, the fourth corresponds with it. Here good fortune and misfortune are determined according to the trend indicated by the meaning of the hexagram.
7.
T
HE
R
ULERS OF THE
H
EXAGRAMS
Distinction is made between two kinds of rulers, constituting and governing. The constituting ruler of the hexagram is that line which gives the hexagram its characteristic meaning, regardless of whether or not the line indicates nobility and goodness of character. The weak top line in
hexagram 43
, Kuai, BREAK-THROUGH (RESOLUTENESS) is an example, for the idea that this line is resolutely to be cast out is the constituting factor in the hexagram.
Governing rulers are always of good character and become rulers by virtue of their position and the meaning of the time. Usually they are in the fifth place, but occasionally lines in other places may be governing rulers.
When the constituting ruler is at the same time the governing ruler, the line is certain to be good and to be in the place appropriate to the time. When it is not the governing ruler as well, it is a sure sign that its character and place do not accord with the demands of the time.
The ruler of the hexagram can always be determined from the Commentary on the Decision.
4
When the constituting ruler and the governing ruler are identical, the hexagram has one ruler; otherwise it has two. Often there are two lines constituting the meaning of the hexagram, as for instance the two advancing weak lines in
hexagram 33
, Tun, RETREAT; these are both rulers because they are pushing back the four strong lines. If the hexagram is produced by the interaction of the images of the primary trigrams, the two lines respectively characterizing the trigrams are the rulers.
The constituting ruler in the hexagram is designated by a
square (
), the governing ruler by a circle (
). When the two are identical, only the circle is used. In book III, moreover, a detailed interpretation of the ruler appears in connection with each hexagram.
THE
COMMENTARIES
PART I
The ruler of the hexagram is the nine in the fifth place. THE CREATIVE indicates the way of heaven, and the fifth place is the symbol of heaven. THE CREATIVE also indicates the way of the superior man, and the fifth place, as that of the ruler, is his appropriate place. Moreover, the nine in the fifth place possesses the four attributes of firmness, strength, moderation (central position in the upper trigram), and justice (correctness, the yang element being in the yang place). Hence this line possesses the character of heaven in all its perfection.
This hexagram is correlated with the fourth month (May–June), because the light-giving power is then at its zenith.
Miscellaneous Notes on the Hexagrams
2
THE CREATIVE is strong.
Strength and firmness constitute the character of this hexagram. Its image is the trigram of heaven doubled, that is, two successive rotations or days. It is made up of positive lines only.
THE JUDGMENT
THE CREATIVE works sublime success,
Furthering through perseverance.
Commentary on the Decision
3
NOTE. This commentary, no doubt correctly ascribed to Confucius, explains the names of the hexagrams as well as the words appended by King Wên to the hexagram as a whole [the Judgment]. In general, the commentary first explains the name of the hexagram, taking into consideration as occasion demands its character, its image, and its structure. Next it elucidates the words of King Wên, either using the sources just named or else starting from the situation of the ruler of the hexagram or from the change of form that has given rise to the hexagram.
No explanation of the names of the eight primary trigrams is given; because it is assumed that this is known.
In the Chinese, the sentences in this commentary are for the most part rhymed, probably in order to make it easier to remember them. The rhymes have not been reproduced in this translation, because they are of no material significance. However, it is well to remember the circumstance, because it explains much of the abruptness in the style, which is often somewhat forced.
Great indeed is the sublimity of the Creative, to which all beings owe their beginning and which permeates all heaven.
4
The commentary separates the two pairs of attributes given in the Judgment into the four individual attributes of the creative power, whose visible form is heaven. The first attribute is sublimity, which, as the primal cause of all that exists, forms the most important and most inclusive attribute of the Creative. The root meaning of the Chinese word for it—
yüan
—is literally “head.”