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HEXAGRAM 61 – Chung Fu – Inner Truth
Above SUN THE GENTLE, WIND
Below TUI THE JOYOUS, LAKE
The wind
- blows over the lake and
- stirs the surface of the water.
Thus visible effects of the invisible manifest themselves.
The hexagram consists of
- firm lines above and below,
while
- it is open in the center.
This indicates
- a heart free of prejudices,
and therefore
- open to truth.
On the other hand,
each of the two trigrams has a firm line in the middle;
this indicates
- the force of inner truth in the influences they represent.
The attributes of the two trigrams are:
- above, gentleness, forbearance toward inferiors;
- below, Joyousness in obeying superiors.
Such conditions
- create the basis of a mutual confidence
that
- makes achievements possible.
The character fu (“truth”) is actually the picture of
a bird’s foot over a fledgling.
It suggests the idea of brooding.
An egg is hollow.
The light-giving power must work to quicken it from outside,
but
there must be a germ of life within,
if life is to be awakened.
Far-reaching speculations can be linked with these ideas.
THE JUDGMENT
INNER TRUTH. Pigs and fishes.
Good fortune.
It furthers one to cross the great Water.
Perseverance furthers.
Pigs and fishes are
- the least intelligent of all animals
- and therefore
- the most difficult to influence.
The force of inner truth must grow great indeed
before its influence can extend to such creatures.
In dealing with persons
- as intractable and
- as difficult to influence
- as a pig or a fish,
the whole secret of success depends
- on finding the right way of approach.
One must first
- rid oneself of all prejudice and, so to speak,
- let the psyche of the other person act on one without restraint.
Then
one will
- establish contact with him,
- understand and gain power over him.
When
a door has thus been opened,
the force of one’s personality will influence him.
If in this way
- one finds no obstacles insurmountable,
-
one
-
can undertake even the most dangerous things,
such as crossing the great water, and
- succeed.
-
But
it is important to understand
upon what the force of inner truth depends.
This force is not identical with
- simple intimacy or
- a secret bond.
Close ties may exist also among thieves;
it is true that such a bond acts as a force
- but, since it is not invincible,
- it does not bring good fortune.
All association on the basis of common interests
holds only up to a certain point.
Where the community of interest ceases,
- the holding together ceases also, and
- the closest friendship often changes into hate.
Only when
- the bond is based on what is right, on steadfastness,
- will it remain so firm that it triumphs over everything.
THE IMAGE
Wind over lake: the image of INNER TRUTH.
Thus
the superior man
discusses criminal cases
In order to delay executions.
Wind stirs water by penetrating it.
Thus
the superior man,
when
obliged to judge the mistakes of men,
- tries to penetrate their minds with understanding,
- in order to gain a sympathetic appreciation of the circumstances.
In ancient China,
the entire administration of justice was guided by this principle.
A deep understanding that knows how to pardon
was considered the highest form of justice.
This system was not without success,
for its aim was to make so strong a moral impression
that there was no reason to fear abuse of such mildness.
For it sprang not
- from weakness
but
- from a superior clarity.
THE LINES
Six in the third place means:
He finds a comrade.
- Now he beats the drum,
- now he stops.
- Now he sobs,
- now he sings.
Here
the source of a man’s strength lies
- not in himself
- but in his relation to other people.
No matter how close to them he may be,
- if his center of gravity depends on them,
- he is inevitably tossed to and fro between joy and sorrow.
Rejoicing to high heaven, then sad unto death –
this is the fate of those who depend upon
an inner accord with other persons whom they love.
Here
we have only the statement of the law that this is so.
Whether this condition is felt to be an affliction or the supreme happiness of love,
is left to the subjective verdict of the person concerned.
MOVING HEXAGRAM
HEXAGRAM 09 – Hsiao Ch’u – The Taming Power of the Small
Above SUN THE GENTLE, WIND
Below CH’IEN THE CREATIVE. HEAVEN
This hexagram means the force of the small –
the power of the shadowy – that
- restrains,
- tames,
- impedes.
A weak line in the fourth place, that of the minister, 1 holds the five strong lines in check.
In the Image it is the wind blowing across the sky.
The wind
- restrains the clouds, the rising breath of the Creative, and
- makes them grow dense,
- but as yet is not strong enough to turn them to rain.
The hexagram presents a configuration of circumstances in which
a strong element is temporarily held in leash by a weak element.
It is only through gentleness that this can have a successful outcome.
THE JUDGMENT
THE TAMING POWER, OF THE SMALL
Has success.
Dense clouds, no rain from our western region.
This image refers to the state of affairs in China at the time when King Wen,
who came originally from the west,
was in the east at the court of the reigning tyrant Chou Hsin.
The moment for action on a large scale has not yet arrived.
King Wen could only keep the tyrant somewhat in check by friendly persuasion.
Hence the image of many clouds, promising moisture and blessing to the land,
although as yet no rain falls.
The situation is not unfavorable;
there is a prospect of ultimate success,
- but there are still obstacles in the way, and
- we can merely take preparatory measures.
Only through the small means of friendly persuasion can we exert any influence.
The time has not yet come for sweeping measures.
However, we may be able, to a limited extent, to act as a restraining and subduing influence.
To carry out our purpose we need
- firm determination within and
- gentleness and adaptability in external relations.
THE IMAGE
The wind drives across heaven: The image of THE TAMING POWER OF THE SMALL.
Thus the superior man
Refines the outward aspect of his nature.
The wind can indeed drive the clouds together in the sky;
yet, being nothing but air, without solid body,
it does not produce great or lasting effects.
So also an individual,
in times when he can produce no great effect in the outer world,
can do nothing except refine the expression of his nature in small ways.
