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HEXAGRAM 62 – Hsiao Kuo – Preponderance of the Small

Above    CHEN     THE AROUSING, THUNDER

Below    KEN    KEEPING STILL, MOUNTAIN

While in the hexagram Ta Kuo, PREPONDERANCE OF THE GREAT (28),

the strong lines

• preponderate and
  
• are within inclosed between weak lines at the
  
  • top and
    
  • bottom,
    

the present hexagram

• has weak lines preponderating,
  

though here again

• they are on the outside,
  
• the strong lines being within.
  

This indeed is the basis of

the exceptional situation indicated by the hexagram.

When

strong lines are outside,

we have the hexagram

• I, PROVIDING NOURISHMENT (27), or
  
• Chung Fu, INNER TRUTH (61);
  

neither represents an exceptional state.

When

• strong elements within preponderate,
  
• they necessarily enforce their will.
  

This creates struggle and exceptional conditions in general.

But

in the present hexagram

it is the weak element that perforce must mediate with the outside world.

If

• a man occupies a position of authority for which
  
• he is by nature really inadequate,
  

extraordinary prudence is necessary.

THE JUDGMENT

PREPONDERANCE OF THE SMALL.

Success.

Perseverance furthers.

• Small things may be done;
  
• great things should not be done.
  

The flying bird brings the message:

• It is not well to strive upward,
  
• It is well to remain below.
  

Great good fortune.

• Exceptional modesty and
  
• conscientiousness
  

are sure to be rewarded with success;

however,

if a man is not to throw himself away,

it is important that they should

• not become empty form and subservience
  
• but be combined always with a correct dignity in personal behavior.
  

We must understand the demands of the time

in order to find the necessary offset for its

• deficiencies and
  
• damages.
  

In any event

• we must not count on great success,
  
• since the requisite strength is lacking.
  

In this lies the importance of the message that

one should

• not strive after lofty things
  

but

• hold to lowly things.
  

The structure of the hexagram gives rise to the idea that

this message is brought by a bird.

In Ta Kuo, PREPONDERANCE OF THE GREAT (28),

• the four strong, heavy lines within,
  
• supported only by two weak lines without,
  

give the image of a sagging ridgepole.

Here

• the supporting weak lines are both
  
  • outside and
    
  • preponderant;
    

this gives the image of a soaring bird.

But

• a bird should not try to surpass itself and fly into the sun;
  
• it should descend to the earth, where its nest is.
  

In this way

• it gives the message conveyed by the hexagram.
  

THE IMAGE

Thunder on the mountain: The image of PREPONDERANCE OF THE SMALL.

Thus

• in his conduct the superior man gives preponderance to reverence.
  
• In bereavement be gives preponderance to grief.
  
• In his expenditures he gives preponderance to thrift.
  

• Thunder on the mountain is different from
  
• thunder on the plain.
  

In the mountains,

• thunder seems much nearer;
  

outside the mountains,

• it is less audible than the thunder of an ordinary storm.
  

Thus

the superior man derives an imperative from this image:

he must always fix his eyes

• more closely and
  
• more directly
  

on duty

than does the ordinary man,

even though this might make his behavior seem petty to the outside world.

He is exceptionally conscientious in his actions.

In bereavement

• emotion means more to him than ceremoniousness.
  

In all his personal expenditures

• he is extremely simple and unpretentious.
  

In comparison with the man of the masses,

• all this makes him stand out as exceptional.
  

But

the essential significance of his attitude lies in the fact that

in external matters

• he is on the side of the lowly.
  

THE LINES

Six at the beginning means:

The bird meets with misfortune through flying.

• A bird ought to remain in the nest until
  
• it is fledged.
  

If

• it tries to fly before this,
  
• it invites misfortune.
  

Extraordinary measures should be resorted to only

when all else fails.

At first

• we ought to put up with traditional ways as long as possible;
  

otherwise

• we
  
  • exhaust ourselves and our energy and
    
  • still achieve nothing.
    

Nine in the fourth place means:

No blame.

He meets him without passing by.

Going brings danger.

One must be on guard.

Do not act.

Be constantly persevering.

Hardness of character is tempered by yielding position (1),

so that no mistakes are made.

The situation here calls for extreme caution;

• one must make no attempt of one’s own initiative to reach the desired end.
  

And if

• one were to go on, endeavoring to force his way to the goal,
  
• he would be endangered.
  

Therefore

• one must
  
  • be on guard and
    
  • not act but continue inwardly to persevere.
    

 

 

MOVING HEXAGRAM

 

 

HEXAGRAM 36 – Ming I – Darkening of the Light

Above    K’UN    THE RECEPTIVE, EARTH

Below    LI    THE CLINGING, FIRE

Here the sun

• has sunk under the earth and
  
• is therefore darkened.
  

The name of the hexagram means literally “wounding of the bright”; hence

the individual lines contain frequent references to wounding.

The situation is the exact opposite of that in the foregoing hexagram.

In the latter

• a wise man at the head of affairs
  
  • has able helpers, and in company with them
    
  • makes progress;
    

here

• a man of dark nature
  
  • is in a position of authority and
    
  • brings harm to the wise and able man.
    

THE JUDGMENT

DARKENING OF THE LIGHT.

In adversity

It furthers one to be persevering.

One

• must not unresistingly let himself be swept along
  

  by unfavorable circumstances,
  

• nor permit his steadfastness to be shaken.
  

He can avoid this by

• maintaining his inner light, while
  
• remaining outwardly yielding and tractable.
  

With this attitude

he can overcome even the greatest adversities.

In some situations indeed a man

• must hide his light, in order to
  
• make his will prevail in spite of difficulties in his immediate environment.
  

Perseverance

• must dwell in inmost consciousness and
  
• should not be discernible from without.
  

Only thus is

a man able to maintain his will in the face of difficulties.

THE IMAGE

The light has sunk into the earth: The image of DARKENING OF THE LIGHT.

Thus does

• the superior man live with the great mass:
  
• He
  
  • veils his light,
    
  • yet still shines.
    

In a time of darkness it is essential to be

• cautious and
  
• reserved.
  

One should not needlessly awaken overwhelming enmity

by inconsiderate behavior.

In such times

• one ought not to fall in with the practices of others;
  
• neither should one drag them censoriously into the light.
  

In social intercourse

• one should not try to be all-knowing.
  
• One should let many things pass, without being duped.
  

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