HEXAGRAM 40: ORIGINAL, INTERPRETATION AND CASES

HEXAGRAM 40 – Hsieh - Deliverance

Above CHEN THE AROUSING, THUNDER

Below K'AN THE ABYSMAL, WATER

Here the movement goes out of the sphere of danger.

· The obstacle has been removed,

· the difficulties are being resolved.

· Deliverance is not yet achieved;

· it is just in its beginning, and

· the hexagram represents its various stages.

THE JUDGMENT

DELIVERANCE.

The southwest furthers.

· If there is no longer anything where one has to go,

o Return brings good fortune.

· If there is still something where one has to go,

o Hastening brings good fortune.

This refers to a time in which tensions and complications begin to be eased.

At such times

we ought to make our way back to ordinary conditions as soon as possible;

this is the meaning of "the southwest."

These periods of sudden change have great importance.

Just as

rain relieves atmospheric tension, making all the buds burst open,

a time of deliverance from burdensome pressure has a

· liberating and

· stimulating

effect on life.

One thing is important, however: in such times

we must not overdo our triumph.

The point is not to push on farther than is necessary.

Returning to the regular order of life

as soon as deliverance is achieved

brings good fortune.

If there are any residual matters that ought to be attended to,

it should be done as quickly as possible,

so that

· a clean sweep is made and

· no retardation occur.

THE IMAGE

Thunder and rain set in: The image of DELIVERANCE.

Thus the superior man

· pardons mistakes And

· forgives misdeeds.

· A thunderstorm has the effect of clearing the air;

· the superior man produces a similar effect

when dealing with mistakes and sins of men

that induce a condition of tension.

Through clarity he brings deliverance.

However,

when failings come to light,

he does not dwell on them;

· he simply passes over mistakes, the unintentional transgressions,

o just as thunder dies away.

· He forgives misdeeds, the intentional transgressions,

o just as water washes everything clean.

THE LINES

Six at the beginning means:

Without blame.

In keeping with the situation, few words are needed.

· The hindrance is past,

· deliverance has come.

One

· recuperates in peace and

· keeps still.

This is the right thing to do in times

when difficulties have been overcome.

0 Nine in the second place means:

One

kills three foxes in the field And

receives a yellow arrow.

Perseverance brings good fortune.

The image is taken from the hunt.

The hunter

· catches three cunning foxes and

· receives a yellow arrow as a reward.

The obstacles in public life are

· the designing foxes who try to influence the ruler through flattery.

They

· must be removed before there can be any deliverance.

But the struggle must not be carried on with the wrong weapons.

· The yellow color

o points to measure and mean in proceeding against the enemy;

· the arrow

o signifies the straight course.

· one devotes himself wholeheartedly to the task of deliverance,

· he develops so much inner strength from his rectitude

that it acts as a weapon against all that is false and low.

Six in the third place means:

If a man

· carries a burden on his back And

· nonetheless rides in a carriage,

He thereby encourages robbers to draw near.

Perseverance leads to humiliation.

This refers to a man who has

· come out of needy circumstances into comfort and

· freedom from want.

If now, in the manner of an upstart,

· he tries to take his ease in comfortable surroundings

that do not suit his nature,

o he thereby attracts robbers.

· he goes on thus

o he is sure to bring disgrace upon himself.

Confucius says about this line:

Carrying a burden on the back is the business of a common man;

a carriage is the appurtenance of a man of rank.

Now,

when a common man uses the appurtenance of a man of rank,

robbers plot to take it away from him.

If a man is

· insolent toward those above him and

· hard toward those below him,

robbers plot to attack him.

· Carelessness in guarding things

o tempts thieves to steal.

· Sumptuous ornaments worn by a maiden

o are an enticement to rob her of her virtue.

Nine in the fourth place means:

Deliver yourself from your great toe.

Then

· the companion comes, And

· him you can trust.

In times of standstill it will happen that

· inferior people attach themselves to a superior man, and

through force of daily habit

· they

o may grow very close to him and

o become indispensable,

just as

the big toe is indispensable to the foot because

it makes walking easier.

But when the time of deliverance draws near, with its call to deeds,

a man must free himself from such chance acquaintances with whom

he has no inner connection.

For otherwise

the friends who share his views,

· on whom he could really rely and

· together with whom he could accomplish something,

mistrust him and stay away.

0 Six in the fifth place means:

If only the superior man can deliver himself,

It brings good fortune.

Thus

he proves to inferior men that he is in earnest.

Times of deliverance demand inner resolve.

Inferior people cannot be driven off by

· prohibitions or

· any external means.

If one desires to be rid of them,

he must first break completely with them in his own mind;

they

· will see for themselves that he is in earnest and

· will withdraw.

Six at the top means:

The prince shoots at a hawk on a high wall.

He kills it.

Everything serves to further.

The hawk on a high wall is the symbol of

a powerful inferior in a high position who is hindering the deliverance.

He withstands the force of inner influences,

because he is hardened in his wickedness.

He must be forcibly removed, and

this requires appropriate means.

Confucius says about this line:

The hawk is the object of the hunt;

bow and arrow are the tools and means.

The marksman is man (who must make proper use of the means to his end). The superior man contains the means of his own person.

He bides his time and then acts.

Why then should not everything go well?

He acts and is free.

Therefore

· all he has to do is to go forth, and

· he takes his quarry.

This is how a man fares who acts after he has made ready the means.

40 DELIVERANCE

MANAGERIAL ISSUE:

The CEO – managing to deliver the corporation from those elements (persons or circumstances) that have been opposing its progress.

The Deliverance Time-Space:

1) Is the continuation of the previous Hexagram (39 Obstruction).

2) Represents the various stages of the liberation of the corporation’s natural drive.

3) Points to times of:

a. Stimulation and growth,

b. Healing,

c. Encouragement rather than punishment,

d. Returning the status of the corporation to normal conditions,

e. Going back to business as usual.

The CEO’s role is to prepare for the liberation of the corporation from all obstacles.

The two questions the CEO should ask are:

1) How to manage the Deliverance? And

2) How to deal with those managers who created the Obstructions once the CEO has delivered the corporation from their negative policies?

The CEO must:

1) Remove the corporation from danger,

2) Remove obstacles,

3) Solve difficulties as quickly as possible,

4) Not push on farther than necessary.

In general, Hexagram 40 indicates that all the elements point to the liberation of the corporation from all the obstacles and dangers impeding its progress. But it is only Deliverance from Obstruction, it is not Progress.

MANAGERIAL LESSON:

The Superior CEO:

1) Emphasizes the right attitude - humility, humility, and humility.

2) Avoids overshooting, over reaching.

3) Makes no plans he cannot execute or commitments he cannot deliver.

4) Goes back to normal conditions.

5) Forgets unintended mistakes.

6) Forgives all those who created the obstacles.

7) Breathes normally, like at the end of a storm where the air has finally cleared.

INVESTMENT ADVICE:

For the investor, the DELIVERANCE Time-Space, is not necessarily a favorable time to invest. Deliverance from Obstruction is not Progress. To cease from doing evil is not necessarily the same as doing good.

By itself (no lies) the Deliverance Time-Space points to the possibility of success provided the CEO takes the corporation back to ordinary conditions as soon as possible.

DELIVERANCE.

The southwest furthers.

If there is no longer anything where one has to go,

Return brings good fortune.

If there is still something where one has to go,

Hastening brings good fortune.

This refers to a time in which tensions and complications begin to be eased. At such times we ought to make our way back to ordinary conditions as soon as possible; this is the meaning of "the southwest." These periods of sudden change have great importance. Just as rain relieves atmospheric tension, making all the buds burst open, so a time of deliverance from burdensome pressure has a liberating and stimulating effect on life. One thing is important, however: in such times we must not overdo our triumph. The point is not to push on farther than is necessary. Returning to the regular order of life as soon as deliverance is achieved brings good fortune. If there are any residual matters that ought to be attended to, it should be done as quickly as possible, so that a clean sweep is made and no retardation occur.

However, there are possibilities in the second, fifth and perhaps in the sixth lines. All in all, it is best to look for better alternatives and let the corporation first Deliver itself from Obstructions and wait a few more years.

The following cases are those of corporations under the Deliverance Time-Space:

· Research In Motion Ltd. RIMM under CEOs James Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis

· DIRECTV DTV under CEO Michael White

· Illumina Inc. ILMN under CEO Jay Flatley

· Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. CTSH under CEO Francisco D'Souza

(Read at the end of the Hexagram)

THE LINES

SIX IN THE FIRST PLACE

Managerial Issue: The CEO - managing the corporation’s deliverance - charting a course of action after delivering the corporation from those who opposed its progress.

Managerial Lesson: Be steady.

Managerial Warning: At the first stage of the Deliverance Time-Space, the CEO finds that the Deliverance of the corporation from the Obstruction has already arrived.

Managerial Advice: The Superior CEO goes back to business as usual and holds a steady course. He knows this is the time to shut up, avoid finger pointing or looking for someone to blame. He dedicates himself to creating peaceful corporate conditions.

Investment advice: Do not invest

NINE IN THE SECOND PLACE

Managerial Issue: The CEO – managing to deliver the corporation - from those who oppose its natural drive.

Managerial Lesson: Be ruthless.

Managerial Warning: At the second stage of the Deliverance Time-Space, the CEO risks letting his personal feelings interfere with his sense of justice and performs an act of vengeance on the wrong people.

Managerial Advice: The Superior CEO is ruthless when eliminating all those managers who falsely praise him or who flatter him appealing to his vanity. He does it quickly and with a strong sense of justice. However, the Superior CEO is also balanced and knows punitive actions must be focused only on those who have created the obstruction. His main concern is on Delivering the corporation from whatever is Obstructing its natural drive and sending a positive message to the employees in general, rather than punishing the guilty.

Investment advice: Invest. Invest in better alternatives if possible.

SIX IN THE THIRD PLACE

Managerial Issue: The CEO – delivering the corporation - from unnecessary assets.

Managerial Lesson: Be thrifty.

Managerial Warning: At the third stage of the Deliverance Time-Space, the CEO faces the possibility of an unsolicited takeover. This is because the CEO has successfully brought his corporation to a high position in the industry but now is bulging with unnecessary assets. Worst still, its efforts to acquire these unnecessary assets might have weakened it financially. Under these conditions the corporation would find it more difficult to stay on the top. Thus the risk that if he tries to put himself or the corporation at ease now that he is on top, he will only encourage competitors to try an unsolicited takeover.

Managerial Advice: The Superior CEO is always extremely careful when making sure the corporation keeps what it has already earned. He keeps his corporation lean so as not to attract unsolicited suitors. He establishes a strong team to strengthen the corporation and to avoid any takeover attempts from outsiders. By delivering or freeing the corporation from needless assets, the Superior CEO frees the corporation’s creative forces.

Investment advice: Do not invest

NINE IN THE FOURTH PLACE

Managerial Issue: The CEO – delivering himself - from flattery and pride.

Managerial Lesson: Be free.

Managerial Warning: At the fourth stage of the Deliverance Time-Space, the CEO risks bonding with the wrong assistants. During the Obstruction, when he and his corporation face obstacles; it is easy for the less capable managers to praise him falsely and through flattery gain access to his close circle of advisors. Some might even become indispensable. Under such circumstances, how can the CEO liberate the corporation’s natural drive for success?

Managerial Advice: The Superior CEO fires all those who:

Have no affinity with him.
Praise him falsely to gain his trust.
Do not share the same values or high standards as he does.

In this way, he is able to convince those managers who share his values to return and join him in the corporation’s management.

Investment advice: Do not invest

SIX IN THE FIFTH PLACE

Managerial Issue: The CEO – delivering the corporation - from those who oppose it – resolutely.

Managerial Lesson: Be resolute.

Managerial Warning: At the fifth stage of the Deliverance Time-Space, the CEO faces the fact that those who are Obstructing the corporation will not go away easily. These are the kind of employees who will oppose any policy whether they are generated by the CEO or suggested by external advisory firms hired by the CEO.

Managerial Advice: The Superior CEO conquers himself. He changes his attitude and turns resolute in eliminating whoever Obstructs the corporation’s progress. He knows such resolute attitude will send them a clear message that he no longer shares their points of view and that he wants them out. The Superior CEO recognizes when the issue is one of attitude.

Investment advice: Invest. Invest in better alternatives if possible.

SIX IN THE SIXTH PLACE

Managerial Issue: The CEO – delivering the corporation - from the last bastion of Obstruction.

Managerial Lesson: Be confident.

Managerial Warning: At the sixth stage of the Deliverance Time-Space, the CEO must face a group of well-entrenched evil forces, specifically executives in undeservedly high positions.

Managerial Advice: The Superior CEO has the inner strength and confidence to justly carry out any punitive action. He first sets up the means and then forcefully uses those means to remove all evil forces from positions within the corporation.

Investment advice: Invest. Invest in better alternatives if possible.

MANAGERIAL CASES

Research In Motion Ltd. RIMM under CEOs James Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis

RIMM CEOs’ Performance: ROI= (47.72%) Annualized Return= (58.53%)

SPY’s Performance: ROI= ( 1.61%) Annualized Return= ( 2.17%)

James Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis (founders) became co-CEOs of Research in Motion in December of 2010. Since then, their performance has been absolutely dismal. The fact that they have no moving lines makes its future Time-Space even worst. They have not been able to find Deliverance from Obstructions.

The Oracle would probably disapprove of two CEOs running a corporation and perhaps the first thing to do is to name only one CEO. And then, have that CEO follow the Oracle’s advice:

· To return to the previous conditions before the Obstructions took place.

· To Deliver the corporation from those Obstructions.

· To keep in mind that during the Deliverance Time-Space, the Superior CEO pardons mistakes and forgives misdeeds.

Points the investor should consider:

1) THE HEXAGRAM

HEXAGRAM 40 – Hsieh - Deliverance

Here the movement goes out of the sphere of danger. The obstacle has been removed, the difficulties are being resolved. Deliverance is not yet achieved; it is just in its beginning, and the hexagram represents its various stages.

THE JUDGMENT

DELIVERANCE.

The southwest furthers.

If there is no longer anything where one has to go,

Return brings good fortune.

If there is still something where one has to go,

Hastening brings good fortune.

2) THE ADVICE

Thunder and rain set in: The image of DELIVERANCE.

Thus the superior man pardons mistakes

And forgives misdeeds.

A thunderstorm has the effect of clearing the air; the superior man produces a similar effect when dealing with mistakes and sins of men that induce a condition of tension. Through clarity he brings deliverance. However, when failings come to light, he does not dwell on them; he simply passes over mistakes, the unintentional transgressions, just as thunder dies away. He forgives misdeeds, the intentional transgressions, just as water washes everything clean.

3) THE LINES:

There are no moving lines.

4) THE MOVING HEXAGRAM

There is no moving Hexagram because there are no moving lines. The Judgment becomes the central point.

THE JUDGMENT

DELIVERANCE.

The southwest furthers.

If there is no longer anything where one has to go,

Return brings good fortune.

If there is still something where one has to go,

Hastening brings good fortune.

DIRECTV DTV under CEO Michael White

Michael White’s Performance: ROI= 30.32% Annualized Return= 17.32%

SPY’s Performance: ROI= 8.07% Annualized Return= 4.77%

Michael White became CEO of DIRECT TV in January 2010. Since then, his performance has been much better than the SPY’s

However, the performance should worsen as the corporation enters into de Deliverance Time-Space.

Moving forward, the question is if he will “encourage robbers to draw near”?

Points the investor should consider:

1) THE HEXAGRAM

(Same as Above).

2) THE ADVICE

(Same as Above).

3) THE LINES:

Six in the third place means:

If a man carries a burden on his back

And nonetheless rides in a carriage,

He thereby encourages robbers to draw near.

Perseverance leads to humiliation.

This refers to a man who has come out of needy circumstances into comfort and freedom from want. If now, in the manner of an upstart, he tries to take his ease in comfortable surroundings that do not suit his nature, he thereby attracts robbers. If he goes on thus he is sure to bring disgrace upon himself.

Confucius says about this line:

Carrying a burden on the back is the business of a common man; a carriage is the appurtenance of a man of rank. Now, when a common man uses the appurtenance of a man of rank, robbers plot to take it away from him. If a man is insolent toward those above him and hard toward those below him, robbers plot to attack him. Carelessness in guarding things tempts thieves to steal. Sumptuous ornaments worn by a maiden are an enticement to rob her of her virtue.

4) THE MOVING HEXAGRAM

HEXAGRAM 32 – Heng - Duration

The strong trigram Chen is above, the weak trigram Sun below. This hexagram is the inverse of the preceding one. In the latter we have influence, here we have union as an enduring condition. The two images are thunder and wind, which are likewise constantly paired phenomena. The lower trigram indicates gentleness within; the upper, movement without.

In the sphere of social relationships, the hexagram represents the institution of marriage as the enduring union of the sexes. During courtship the young man subordinates himself to the girl, but in marriage, which is represented by the coming together of the eldest son and the eldest daughter, the husband is the directing and moving force outside, while the wife, inside, is gentle and submissive.

THE JUDGMENT

DURATION. Success. No blame.

Perseverance furthers.

It furthers one to have somewhere to go.

Duration is a state whose movement is not worn down by hindrances. It is not a state of rest, for mere standstill is regression. Duration is rather the self-contained and therefore self-renewing movement of an organized, firmly integrated whole, taking place in accordance with immutable laws and beginning anew at every ending. The end is reached by an inward movement, by inhalation, systole, contraction, and this movement turns into a new beginning, in which the movement is directed outward, in exhalation, diastole, expansion.

Heavenly bodies exemplify duration. They move in their fixed orbits, and because of this their light-giving power endures. The seasons of the year follow a fixed law of change and transformation, hence can produce effects that endure.

So likewise the dedicated man embodies an enduring meaning in his way of life, and thereby the world is formed. In that which gives things their duration, we can come to understand the nature of all beings in heaven and on earth.

THE IMAGE

Thunder and wind: the image of DURATION.

Thus the superior man stands firm

And does not change his direction.

Thunder rolls, and the wind blows; both are examples of extreme mobility and so are seemingly the very opposite of duration, but the laws governing their appearance and subsidence, their coming and going, endure. In the same way the independence of the superior man is not based on rigidity and immobility of character. He always keeps abreast of the time and changes with it. What endures is the unswerving directive, the inner law of his being, which determines all his actions.

Illumina Inc. ILMN under CEO Jay Flatley

Jay Flatley’s Performance: ROI= 136.62% Annualized Return= 8.08%

SPY’s Performance: ROI= ( 14.48%) Annualized Return= (1.40%)

Jay Flatley became CEO of Illumina in October of 1999. Since then, and taking his performance from the beginning, he has outperformed the SPY’s proving that in the past he has enjoyed the positive side of the cycles.

However, because he has been CEO for so long, we asked the Oracle once more about his future Time-Space. It is Deliverance.

The Oracle predicts that the in his new Time-Space of Deliverance, the CEO will encounter difficult conditions as evidenced by his performance from the beginning of 2011. If we compare it to the SPY’s, it becomes evident that he is entering into a different Time-Space than the one he has experienced in the past.

Jay Flatley’s Performance: ROI= (20.05%) Annualized Return= (28.53%)

SPY’s Performance: ROI= (3.75%) Annualized Return= (5.62%)

He still can Deliver the corporation from the Obstructions and return to his previous performance provided he follows the advice in the line that applies to his Time-Space.

Points the investor should consider:

1) THE HEXAGRAM

(Same as Above).

2) THE ADVICE

(Same as Above).

3) THE LINES:

0 Nine in the second place means:

One kills three foxes in the field

And receives a yellow arrow.

Perseverance brings good fortune.

The image is taken from the hunt. The hunter catches three cunning foxes and receives a yellow arrow as a reward. The obstacles in public life are the designing foxes who try to influence the ruler through flattery. They must be removed before there can be any deliverance. But the struggle must not be carried on with the wrong weapons. The yellow color points to measure and mean in proceeding against the enemy; the arrow signifies the straight course. If one devotes himself wholeheartedly to the task of deliverance, he develops so much inner strength from his rectitude that it acts as a weapon against all that is false and low.

4) THE MOVING HEXAGRAM

HEXAGRAM 16 – Yu - Enthusiasm

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."

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. CTSH under CEO Francisco D'Souza

Francisco D'Souza’s Performance: ROI= 64.59% Annualized Return= 11.27%

SPY’s Performance: ROI= (12.99%) Annualized Return= (2.94%)

Francisco D'Souza became CEO of Cognizant Technology Solutions in January of 2007. Since then, his performance has been much better than the SPY’s.

However, again, the Oracle predicts that the in his new Time-Space of Deliverance, the CEO will encounter difficult conditions as evidenced by his performance from the beginning of 2011. If we compare it to the SPY’s, it becomes evident that he is entering into a different Time-Space than the one he has experienced in the past.

Francisco D'Souza’s Performance: ROI= (15.02%) Annualized Return= (21.94%)

SPY’s Performance: ROI= (3.75%) Annualized Return= (5.62%)

He still can Deliver the corporation from Obstructions and return to his previous performance provided he follows the advice in the line that applies to his Time-Space.

Points the investor should consider:

1) THE HEXAGRAM

(Same as Above).

2) THE ADVICE

(Same as Above).

3) THE LINES:

Six at the top means:

The prince shoots at a hawk on a high wall.

He kills it.

Everything serves to further.

The hawk on a high wall is the symbol of a powerful inferior in a high position who is hindering the deliverance. He withstands the force of inner influences, because he is hardened in his wickedness. He must be forcibly removed, and this requires appropriate means.

Confucius says about this line:

The hawk is the object of the hunt; bow and arrow are the tools and means. The marksman is man (who must make proper use of the means to his end). The superior man contains the means of his own person. He bides his time and then acts. Why then should not everything go well? He acts and is free. Therefore all he has to do is to go forth, and he takes his quarry. This is how a man fares who acts after he has made ready the means.

4) THE MOVING HEXAGRAM

HEXAGRAM 64 - Wei Chi - Before Completion

This hexagram indicates a time when the transition from disorder to order is not yet completed. The change is indeed prepared for, since all the lines in the upper trigram are in relation to those in the lower (1). However, they are not yet in their places. While the preceding hexagram offers an analogy to autumn, which forms the transition from summer to winter, this hexagram presents a parallel to spring, which leads out of winter's stagnation into the fruitful time of summer. With this hopeful outlook the Book of Changes comes to its close.

THE JUDGMENT

BEFORE COMPLETION.

Success.

But if the little fox, after nearly completing the crossing,

Gets his tail in the water,

There is nothing that would further.

The conditions are difficult. The task is great and full of responsibility. It is nothing less than that of leading the world out of confusion back to order. But it is a task that promises success, because there is a goal that can unite the forces now tending in different directions. At first, however, one must move warily, like an old fox walking over ice. The caution of a fox walking over ice is proverbial in China. His ears are constantly alert to the cracking of the ice, as he carefully and circumspectly searches out the safest spots. A young fox who as yet has not acquired this caution goes ahead boldly, and it may happen that he falls in and gets his tail wet when he is almost across the water. Then of course his effort has been all in vain. Accordingly, in times "before completion," deliberation and caution are the prerequisites of success.

THE IMAGE

Fire over water: The image of the condition before transition.

Thus the superior man is careful

In the differentiation of things,

So that each finds its place.

When fire, which by nature flames upward, is above, and water, which flows downward, is below, their effects take opposite directions and remain unrelated. If we wish to achieve an effect, we must first investigate the nature of the forces in question and ascertain their proper place. If we can bring these forces to bear in the right place, they will have the desired effect, and completion will be achieved. But in order to handle external forces properly, we must above all arrive at the correct standpoint ourselves, for only from this vantage can we work correctly.