HEXAGRAM 37 – Chia Jen – The Family (The Clan)

HEXAGRAM 37 – Chia Jen – The Family (The Clan)

Above    SUN    THE GENTLE, WIND

Below    LI    THE CLINGING, FIRE

This hexagram represents the laws obtaining within the family.

• The strong line at the top represents the father,
  
• the lowest the son.
  
• The strong, line in the fifth place represents the husband,
  
• the yielding second line the wife.
  

On the other hand,

• the two strong lines in the fifth and the third place represent two brothers,
  

and

• the two weak lines correlated with them in the fourth and the second place stand for their respective wives.
  

Thus all the

• connections and
  
• relationships
  

within the family find their appropriate expression.

Each individual line has the character according with its place.

The fact that a strong line occupies the sixth place

-where a weak line might be expected –

indicates very clearly

the strong leadership that must come from the head of the family.

The line is to be considered here

• not in its quality as the sixth
  
• but in its quality as the top line.
  

THE FAMILY shows the laws operative within the household that,

transferred to outside life,

keep the state and the world in order.

The influence that goes out from within the family is represented

by the symbol of the wind created by fire.

THE JUDGMENT

THE FAMILY

The perseverance of the woman furthers.

The foundation of the family is the relationship between husband and wife.

The tie that holds the family together lies in the

loyalty and

perseverance of the wife.

• Her place is within (second line), while
  
• that of the husband is without (fifth line).
  

It is in accord with the great laws of nature that husband and wife

take their proper places.

Within the family a strong authority is needed;

this is represented by the parents.

If

• the father is really a father and
  
• the son a son,
  

if

• the elder brother fulfills his position, and
  
• the younger fulfills his,
  

if

• the husband is really a husband and
  
• the wife a wife,
  

then the family is in order.

When the family is in order,

all the social relationships of mankind will be in order.

Three of the five social relationships are to be found within the family –

• that between father and son,
  

  which is the relation of love,
  

• that between husband and wife,
  

  which is the relation of chaste conduct, and
  

• that between elder and younger brother,
  

  which is the relation of correctness.
  

• The loving reverence of the son is then carried over
  

  to the prince in the form of faithfulness to duty;
  

• the affection and correctness of behavior existing between the two brothers are extended
  
• to a friend in the form of loyalty, and
  
• to a person of superior rank in the form of deference.
  

The family is society in embryo;

it is the native soil on which performance of moral duty is made easy through natural affection,

• so that within a small circle a basis of moral practice is created, and
  
• this is later widened to include human relationships in general.
  

THE IMAGE

Wind comes forth from fire: The image Of THE FAMILY.

Thus the superior man has

• substance in his words And
  
• duration in his way of life.
  

Heat creates energy:

this is signified by the wind

• stirred up by the fire and
  
• issuing forth from it.
  

This represents influence working from within outward.

The same thing is needed in the regulation of the family.

Here too

the influence on others must proceed from one’s own person.

In order to be capable of producing such an influence,

• one’s words must have power, and
  
• this they can have only if they are based on something real,
  

just as

• flame depends on its fuel.
  

Words have influence only when they are

• pertinent and
  
• clearly related to definite circumstances.
  

General discourses and admonitions have no effect whatsoever.

Furthermore,

• the words must be supported by one’s entire conduct,
  

just as

• the wind is made effective by its duration.
  

Only

• firm and
  
• consistent conduct
  

will make such an impression on others that

they can

• adapt and
  
• conform to it.
  

If words and conduct are not in accord and not consistent,

they will have no effect.

THE LINES

Nine at the beginning means:

Firm seclusion within the family.

Remorse disappears.

The family must form a well-defined unit within which

each member knows his place.

From the beginning each child must be accustomed to

firmly established rules of order,

before ever its will is directed to other things.

• If we begin too late to enforce order,
  

  when the will of the child has already been overindulged,
  

  • the whims and passions,
    
    • grown stronger with the years,
      
    • offer resistance and
      
    • give cause for remorse.
      
• If we insist on order from the outset,
  
  • occasions for remorse may arise
    
    • in general social life these are unavoidable –
      

    but
    

    • the remorse always disappears again, and
      
    • everything rights itself.
      

For there is nothing

• more easily avoided and
  
• more difficult to carry through than
  

“breaking a child’s will.”

0 Six in the second place means:

• She should not follow her whims.
  
• She must attend within to the food.
  

Perseverance brings good fortune.

The wife must always be guided by the will of the master of the house,

be he

• father,
  
• husband, or
  
• grown son.
  

Her place is within the house.

There, without having to look for them,

she has great and important duties.

She must attend

• to the nourishment of her family and
  
• to the food for the sacrifice.
  

In this way

• she becomes the center of the social and religious life of the family, and
  
• her perseverance in this position brings good fortune to the whole house.
  

In relation to general conditions,

the counsel given here is

• to seek nothing by means of force,
  
• but quietly to confine oneself to the duties at hand.
  

Nine in the third place means:

• When tempers flare up in the family,
  
  • Too great severity brings remorse.
    

Good fortune nonetheless.

• When woman and child dally and laugh,
  
  • It leads in the end to humiliation.
    

In the family

the proper mean between severity and indulgence ought to prevail.

Too great severity toward one’s own flesh and blood leads to remorse.

The wise thing is to build strong dikes within which

complete freedom of movement is allowed each individual.

But in doubtful instances

• too great severity,
  

  despite occasional mistakes, is preferable, because
  

  • it preserves discipline in the family,
    

whereas

• too great weakness
  
  • leads to disgrace.
    

Six in the fourth place means:

She is the treasure of the house.

Great good fortune.

• It is upon the woman of the house that
  

  the well-being of the family depends.
  

  Well-being prevails when
  

  • expenditures and
    
  • income
    

  are soundly balanced.
  

This leads to great good fortune.

• In the sphere of public life,
  

  this line refers to the faithful steward whose measures
  

  further the general welfare.
  

Nine in the fifth place means:

As a king he approaches his family.

Fear not.

Good fortune.

A king is the symbol of a fatherly man who is richly endowed in mind.

He does nothing to make himself feared;

on the contrary,

the whole family can trust him,

because love governs their intercourse.

His character of itself exercises the right influence,

Nine at the top means:

His work commands respect.

In the end good fortune comes.

In the last analysis,

order within the family depends on

the character of the master of the house.

If he cultivates his personality so that

it works impressively through the force of inner truth,

all goes well with the family.

In a ruling position

one must of his own accord assume responsibility.

Comments

comments