3M Company (MMM) under CEO Inge G. Thulin

 

 

 

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 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,

 

 

MOVING HEXAGRAM

 

 

HEXAGRAM 22 – Pi – Grace

Above    KEN    KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN

Below    Li    THE CLINGING, FIRE

This hexagram shows a fire that

• breaks out of the secret depths of the earth and, blazing up,
  
• illuminates and beautifies the mountain, the heavenly heights.
  
• Grace – beauty of form – is necessary in any union
  

if

• it is to be
  
  • well ordered and pleasing
    
• rather than
  
  • disordered and chaotic.
    

THE JUDGMENT

GRACE has success.

In small matters

It is favorable to undertake something.

Grace brings success.

However,

• it is not the essential or fundamental thing;
  
• it is only the ornament and must therefore be used
  
  • sparingly and
    
  • only in little things.
    

1. In the lower trigram of fire
   

   a yielding line
   

• comes
  between two strong lines and
  
• makes them beautiful,
  

but

• the strong lines are the essential content and
  
• the weak line is the beautifying form.
  

1. In the upper trigram of the mountain,
   

   the strong line
   

• takes the lead, so that here again
  
• the strong element must be regarded as the decisive factor.
  

1. In nature we see in the sky the strong light of the sun;
   

   the life of the world depends on it.
   

   But this strong, essential thing is
   

• changed and
  
• given pleasing variety by the moon and the stars.
  

1. In human affairs,
   

   aesthetic form comes into being when
   

   traditions exist that, strong and abiding like mountains, are made pleasing
   

   by a lucid beauty.
   

1. By contemplating the forms existing in the heavens
   

   we come to understand time and its changing demands.
   

2. Through contemplation of the forms existing in human society
   

   it becomes possible to shape the world. 1
   

THE IMAGE

Fire at the foot of the mountain: The image of GRACE.

Thus does

• the superior man proceed When clearing up current affairs.
  

But

• he dare not decide controversial issues in this way.
  

• The fire, whose light illuminates the mountain and makes it pleasing,
  
  • does not shine far;
    

in the same way,

• beautiful form suffices to brighten and to throw light upon matters of lesser moment,
  
  • but important questions cannot be decided in this way.
    

They require greater earnestness.

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