The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. GS under CEO Lloyd C. Blankfein
THE HEXAGRAM
HEXAGRAM 16 – Yu – Enthusiasm
Above CHEN THE AROUSING, THUNDER
Below K’UN THE RECEPTIVE, EARTH
The strong line in the fourth place, that of the leading official, meets with response and obedience from all the other lines, which are all weak. The attribute of the upper trigram, Chen, is movement; the attributes of K’un, the lower, are obedience and devotion. This begins a movement that meets with devotion and therefore inspires enthusiasm, carrying all with it. Of great importance, furthermore, is the law of movement along the line of least resistance, which in this hexagram is enunciated as the law for natural events and for human life.
THE JUDGMENT
ENTHUSIASM.
It furthers one to install helpers
And to set armies marching.
The time of ENTHUSIASM derives from the fact that there is at hand an eminent man who is in sympathy with the spirit of the people and acts in accord with it. Hence he finds universal and willing obedience. To arouse enthusiasm it is necessary for a man to adjust himself and his ordinances to the character of those whom he has to lead. The inviolability of natural laws rests on this principle of movement along the line of least resistance. These laws are not forces external to things but represent the harmony of movement immanent in them. That is why the celestial bodies do not deviate from their orbits and why all events in nature occur with fixed regularity. It is the same with human society: only such laws as are rooted in popular sentiment can be enforced, while laws violating this sentiment merely arouse resentment.
Again, it is enthusiasm that enables us to install helpers for the completion of an undertaking without fear of secret opposition. It is enthusiasm too that can unify mass movements, as in war, so that they achieve victory.
THE IMAGE
Thunder comes resounding out of the earth: The image of ENTHUSIASM.
Thus the ancient kings made music In order to honor merit,
And offered it with splendor
To the Supreme Deity,
Inviting their ancestors to be present.
When, at the beginning of summer, thunder – electrical energy – comes rushing forth from the earth again, and the first thunderstorm refreshes nature, a prolonged state of tension is resolved. Joy and relief make themselves felt. So too, music has power to ease tension within the heart and to loosen the grip of obscure emotions. The enthusiasm of the heart expresses itself involuntarily in a burst of song, in dance and rhythmic movement of the body. From immemorial times the inspiring effect of the invisible sound that moves all hearts, and draws them together, has mystified mankind.
Rulers have made use of this natural taste for music; they elevated and regulated it. Music was looked upon as something serious and holy, designed to purify the feelings of men. It fell to music to glorify the virtues of heroes and thus to construct a bridge to the world of the unseen. In the temple men drew near to God with music and pantomimes (out of this later the theater developed). Religious feeling for the Creator of the world was united with the most sacred of human feelings, that of reverence for the ancestors. The ancestors were invited to these divine services as guests of the Ruler of Heaven and as representatives of humanity in the higher regions. This uniting of the human past with the Divinity in solemn moments of religious inspiration established the bond between God and man. The ruler who revered the Divinity in revering his ancestors became thereby the Son of Heaven, in whom the heavenly and the earthly world met in mystical contact. These ideas are the final summation of Chinese culture.
Confucius has said of the great sacrifice at which these rites were performed:
"He who could wholly comprehend this sacrifice could rule the world as though it were spinning on his hand."
THE LINES
Six at the beginning means:
Enthusiasm that expresses itself
Brings misfortune.
A man in an inferior position has aristocratic connections about which he boasts enthusiastically. This arrogance inevitably invites misfortune. Enthusiasm should never be an egotistic emotion; it is justified only when it is a general feeling that unites one with others.
Six in the fifth place means:
Persistently ill and still does not die.
Here enthusiasm is obstructed. A man is under constant pressure, which prevents him from breathing freely. However, this pressure has its advantage – it prevents him from consuming his powers in empty enthusiasm. Thus constant pressure can actually serve to keep one alive.
THE MOVING HEXAGRAM
HEXAGRAM 17 – Sui – Following
Above TUI THE JOYOUS, LAKE
Below CHEN THE AROUSING, THUNDER
The trigram Tui, the Joyous, whose attribute is gladness, is above; Chen, the Arousing, which has the attribute of movement, is below. Joy in movement induces following. The Joyous is the youngest daughter, while the Arousing is the eldest son. An older man defers to a young girl and shows her consideration. By this he moves her to follow him.
THE JUDGMENT
FOLLOWING has supreme success.
Perseverance furthers.
No blame.
In order to obtain a following one must first know how to adapt oneself. If a man would rule he must first learn to serve, for only in this way does he secure from those below him the joyous assent that is necessary if they are to follow him. If he has to obtain a following by force or cunning, by conspiracy or by creating factions, he invariably arouses resistance, which obstructs willing adherence. But even joyous movement can lead to evil consequences, hence the added stipulation, "Perseverance furthers"-that is, consistency in doing right – together with "No blame." Just as we should not ask others to follow us unless this condition is fulfilled, so it is only under this condition that we can in turn follow others without coming to harm.
The thought of obtaining a following through adaptation to the demands of the time is a great and significant idea; this is why the appended judgment is so favorable.
THE IMAGE
Thunder in the middle of the lake: The image of FOLLOWING.
Thus the superior man at nightfall
Goes indoors for rest and recuperation.
In the autumn electricity withdraws into the earth again and rests. Here it is the thunder in the middle of the lake that serves as the image – thunder in its winter rest, not thunder in motion. The idea of following in the sense of adaptation to the demands of the time grows out of this image.
Thunder in the middle of the lake indicates times of darkness and rest. Similarly, a superior man, after being tirelessly active all day, allows himself rest and recuperation at night. No situation can become favorable until one is able to adapt to it and does not wear himself out with mistaken resistance.
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
United States – Map
Phone: 212-902-1000
Fax: 212-902-3000
Website: http://www2.goldmansachs.com
Details
Index Membership: S&P 100
S&P 500
S&P 1500 Super Comp
Sector: Financial
Industry: Diversified Investments
Full Time Employees: 38,900
Mr. Lloyd C. Blankfein, 56 Chairman, Chief Exec. Officer and Member of Management Committee
Business Summary
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides investment banking, securities, and investment management services to corporations, financial institutions, governments, and high-net-worth individuals worldwide. Its Investment Banking segment offers financial advisory services, including advisory assignments with respect to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and underwriting services, such as equity underwriting and debt underwriting. The companys Trading and Principal Investments segment engages in market making in, trading of, and investing in commodities and commodity derivatives, including power generation and related activities; credit products, such as credit derivatives, investment-grade corporate securities, high-yield securities, bank and secured loans, municipal securities, emerging market and distressed debt, public and private equity securities, and real estate; currencies and currency derivatives; interest rate products consisting of interest rate derivatives and global government securities; money market instruments, including matched book positions; and mortgage-related securities and loan products, and other asset-backed instruments. This segment also provides equity securities and derivatives; equities and options exchange-based market-making services; securities, futures, and options clearing services; and insurance services, as well as involves in principal investments activities. The companyâs Asset Management and Securities Services segment offers asset management services comprising investment advisory services, financial planning, and investment products; management of merchant banking funds; and securities services, such as prime brokerage, financing services, and securities lending. The Goldman Sachs Group also provides global investment research services. The company was founded in 1869 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
