HEXAGRAM 47: ORIGINAL, INTERPRETATION AND CASES

HEXAGRAM 47 - K'un - Oppression (Exhaustion)

Above TUI THE JOYOUS, LAKE

Below K'AN THE ABYSMAL, WATER

1. The lake is above, water below; the lake is empty, dried up. (1)

Exhaustion is expressed in yet another way:

2. at the top, a dark line is holding down two light lines;

below, a light line is hemmed in between two dark ones.

3. The upper trigram belongs to the principle of darkness,

the lower to the principle of light.

Thus everywhere superior men are oppressed and held in restraint by inferior men.

THE JUDGMENT

OPPRESSION.

Success.

Perseverance.

The great man brings about good fortune.

No blame.

When one has something to say,

It is not believed.

· Times of adversity are the reverse of times of success,

but

· they can lead to success if they befall the right man.

When

a strong man meets with adversity,

· he remains cheerful despite all danger,

and

· this cheerfulness is the source of later successes;

it is that stability which is stronger than fate.

He who

· lets his spirit be broken by exhaustion certainly

· has no success.

But

if adversity only bends a man,

· it creates in him a power to react that is bound in time to manifest itself.

No inferior man is capable of this.

Only the great man

· brings about good fortune

and

· remains blameless.

It is true that for the time being outward influence is denied him,

because his words have no effect.

Therefore in times of adversity

it is important to be

· strong within

and

· sparing of words.

THE IMAGE

There is no water in the lake:

Thus

the superior man

stakes his life

On following his will.

When the water has flowed out below,

the lake must

· dry up

and

· become exhausted.

That is fate.

This symbolizes an adverse fate in human life.

In such times there is nothing a man can do

but

· acquiesce in his fate

and

· remain true to himself.

This concerns the deepest stratum of his being,

for this alone is superior to all external fate.

THE LINES

Six at the beginning means:

One

· sits oppressed under a bare tree

And

· strays into a gloomy valley.

For three years one sees nothing.

When adversity befalls a man,

it is important above all things for him

· to be strong

and

· to overcome the trouble inwardly.

he is weak,

· the trouble overwhelms him.

Instead of proceeding on his way,

· remains sitting under a bare tree

and

· falls ever more deeply into gloom and melancholy.

This makes the situation only more and more hopeless.

Such an attitude comes from an inner delusion

that

he must by all means overcome.

Nine in the second place means:

One is oppressed while at meat and drink.

The man with the scarlet knee bands is just coming.

It furthers one to offer sacrifice.

To set forth brings misfortune.

No blame.

This pictures a state of inner oppression.

Externally, all is well,

one has meat and drink.

But

one

· is exhausted by the commonplaces of life,

and

· there seems to be no way of escape.

Then help comes from a high place.

A prince - in ancient China princes wore scarlet knee bands –

is in search of able helpers.

But there are still obstructions to be overcome.

Therefore it is important to meet these obstructions in the invisible realm by

· offerings

and

· prayer.

To set forth without being prepared would be disastrous,

though not morally wrong.

Here a disagreeable situation must be overcome by patience of spirit.

Six in the third place means:

A man

· permits himself to be oppressed by stone,

And

· leans on thorns and thistles.

· enters his house

and

· does not see his wife.

Misfortune.

This shows a man who is restless and indecisive in times of adversity.

At first

· he wants to push ahead,

then

· he encounters obstructions that, it is true,

mean oppression only when recklessly dealt with.

· butts his head against a wall and in consequence

· feels himself oppressed by the wall.

Then he leans on things

· that have in themselves no stability

and

· that are merely a hazard for him who leans on them.

Thereupon

· turns back irresolutely

and

· retires into his house,

only to find, as a fresh disappointment,

that his wife is not there.

Confucius says about this line:

· If a man permits himself to be oppressed by something that ought not to oppress him,

o his name will certainly be disgraced.

· If he leans on things upon which one cannot lean,

o his life will certainly be endangered.

· For him who is in disgrace and danger, the hour of death draws near;

o how can he then still see his wife?

Nine in the fourth place means:

He comes very quietly, oppressed in a golden carriage.

Humiliation, but the end is reached.

A well-to-do man

· sees the need of the lower classes

and

· would like very much to be of help.

But

instead of proceeding with speed and energy where there is need,

· he begins in a hesitant and measured way.

Then

· he encounters obstructions.

Powerful and wealthy acquaintances draw him into their circle;

· has to do as they do

and

· cannot withdraw from them.

Hence

· finds himself in great embarrassment.

But the trouble is transitory.

· The original strength of his nature offsets the mistake he has made,

and

· the goal is reached.

Nine in the fifth place means:

His nose and feet are cut off.

Oppression at the hands of the man with the purple knee bands.

Joy comes softly.

It furthers one to make offerings and libations.

An individual who has the good of mankind at heart is oppressed from

· above

and

· below

(this is the meaning of the cutting off of nose and feet).

He finds no help among the people whose duty it would be to aid in the work of rescue

(ministers wore purple knee bands) .

But little by little, things take a turn for the better.

Until that time,

he should

· turn to God, firm in his inner composure,

and

· pray and offer sacrifice for the general well-being.

Six at the top means:

· He is oppressed by creeping vines.

· He moves uncertainly and says, "Movement brings remorse."

If one feels remorse over this and makes a start,

Good fortune Comes.

A man is oppressed by bonds that can easily be broken.

The distress is drawing to an end.

But

· is still irresolute;

· is still influenced by the previous condition

and

· fears that he may have cause for regret if he makes a move.

But as soon as

· grasps the situation,

· changes this mental attitude,

and

· makes a firm decision,

· masters the oppression.

1. Literary, "exhausted."]

47 OPPRESSION

(EXHAUSTION)

MANAGERIAL ISSUE:

The CEO – managing Oppression / exhaustion / adversities - with the right attitude.

Hexagram 47 refers to a trying time for the corporation, a time for oppression or exhaustion. The image is that of a dried lake. This condition is Heaven sent – part of the cycles. Fate has ordained it and there is little the CEO or his assistants can do to avoid the Oppression – Time Space from coming. Yet, like a captain in a storm, the CEO can actually sail the corporation out of danger. The times might be negative but not so negative that there is no way out provided a Superior CEO is in charge.

This is a time to both:

1) Recognize the danger the corporation is in. And

2) Apply the proper attitude to overcome it.

The I Ching says:

· DANGER: “everywhere superior men are oppressed and held in restraint by inferior men.”

· ATTITUDE; “he remains cheerful despite all danger. He who lets his spirit be broken by exhaustion certainly has no success”.

MANAGERIAL LESSON:

The Superior CEO knows:

1) He is the only one who can take the corporation out of the storm, and

2) The key to do it is through his personal attitude.

The Superior CEO must:

1) View these times as an opportunity. He recognizes he can take advantage of even the worst of times to move his corporation to an even higher ground. This is a time that will test the CEO’s character. The world will know the kind of man he is.

2) Be of good cheer throughout this storm. He knows a positive attitude is the only way to overcome whatever fate dishes out at him. This is excellent advice for the CEOs as well as for everyone else. It is a fact that people, who always look at the bright side of things or see the glass half full, like Ronald Reagan, will always do better than those who see the glass half empty. Think of Gates facing the Justice Department in the antitrust case. Think of Andy Grove when the Pentium first came out and users found problems with it. It looked like the end for Intel, yet the CEO weathered the storm and made the corporation even stronger. As an ex Citi-banker, I remember when John Reed was CEO and he faced two consecutive write-offs of over two billion each for bad loans, one related to the third world countries and the other related to the real estate projects. The price of the stock went from $ 65 to $ 9. It looked like the end of Citicorp. Yet he weathered the storm with the right positive attitude and turned Citibank into an even stronger bank. Until Sandy Weill’s wild ambition almost destroyed it.

3) Combine it all. The Superior CEO combines his strength of character with a cheerful attitude, and with properly chosen words to save his corporation from any adverse events. Only a Superior CEO can do this.

4) Be tenacious. Above all, this is the lesson of Job, who not matter what GOD dished out at him never lost his faith and was always thankful for all he had.

5) Say few words.

INVESTMENT ADVICE:

For the investor, the Oppression Time-Space represents in general terms is a negative environment for investing.

By itself (no lines), the Oppression points to the possibility of success provided the BOD chooses the right CEO.

OPPRESSION.

Success.

Perseverance.

The great man brings about good fortune.

No blame.

When one has something to say,

It is not believed.

Times of adversity are the reverse of times of success, but they can lead to success if they befall the right man. When a strong man meets with adversity, he remains cheerful despite all danger, and this cheerfulness is the source of later successes; it is that stability which is stronger than fate. He who lets his spirit be broken by exhaustion certainly has no success. But if adversity only bends a man, it creates in him a power to react that is bound in time to manifest itself. No inferior man is capable of this. Only the great man brings about good fortune and remains blameless. It is true that for the time being outward influence is denied him, because his words have no effect. Therefore in times of adversity it is important to be strong within and sparing of words.

Out of the six lines, only one has possibilities of Good Fortune because it is at the end of the period of oppression.

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

· Monsanto (MON) under CEO Hugh Grant

· CH Robinson Worldwide Inc. CHRW under CEO John P. Wiehoff

(Read at the end of the Hexagram)

THE LINES

SIX IN THE FIRST PLACE

Managerial Issue: The CEO – managing Oppression – failing because of delusion.

Managerial Lesson: Be true.

Managerial Warning: At the first stage of the Oppression Time-Space, the CEO is bound to fail because he has the wrong attitude. He is fooling himself. He wants to believe that his corporation’s name alone will make things right. When things go wrong, he will become depressed and contaminate the employees with this attitude. Such were the cases of IBM and ATT when their CEOs thought there was no need to improve their products because the corporate brand was all that was needed. Only a change of CEO can save this corporation.

Managerial Advice: the Superior CEO conquers himself first. He knows it is a matter of attitude – he must fight his inner battle and win it even before he goes out to fight the corporate battle.

Investment Advice: Do not invest.

NINE IN THE SECOND PLACE

Managerial Issue: The CEO – managing Oppression – when all “appears” to be going well externally.

Managerial Lesson: Be open.

Managerial Warning: At the second stage of the Oppression Time-Space, the CEO sees very serious troubles ahead for his profitable corporation. Exhaustion is causing the wrong corporate attitude.

Managerial Advice: The Superior CEO is patient and looks for able assistants. He knows he cannot face all the troubles ahead by himself, and the assistants he has at the moment cannot provide him the kind of help he needs. He looks for helpers who will infuse the proper winning spirit into the corporation because the corporation is sick of the spirit; it needs a renewal, a fresh look at its mission more than an internal restructuring.

This was Andy Grove’s drastic change of Intel from a memory to a processor corporation. The Superior CEO will find help if he looks for it because the times are proper for it. But he must keep the cheerful attitude that is a must for success. If the CEO is spiritual, he will understand when the I Ching advises him:

“Therefore it is important to meet these obstructions in the invisible realm by offerings and prayer”

Investment Advice: Do not invest.

SIX IN THE THIRD PLACE

Managerial Issue: The CEO – managing Oppression – failing by restlessness and lack of focus.

Managerial Lesson: Be focused.

Managerial Warning: At the third stage of the Oppression Time-Space, the CEO finds his corporation faces a terrible position because of compounding errors:

First, because of his wrong attitude (restlessness and indecisiveness) in dealing with the corporation’s problems, he lets go of an opportunity to fix what was wrong.

Second, he tries to deal with the problem directly rather than going around it, knowing full well that the obstacle is too strong.

Third, and to make matters worse, he takes the corporation down the wrong path, launching the wrong services and the wrong products and wasting precious resources and time, and

Fourth, when he sees that nothing works, he tries to find refuge by turning back the corporation to its original condition. By then his corporation is about to go belly up and he is surely to be fired.

Managerial Advice: The Superior CEO knows well ahead of time that if he does not have the right mental attitude to deal with the troubles ahead, the best he can do is quit with dignity and let someone else do the job. Otherwise, he will surely face a disgraceful end.

Investment Advice: Do not invest.

NINE IN THE FOURTH PLACE

Managerial Issue: The CEO – managing Oppression – cultivating the right attitude to help the needy.

Managerial Lesson: Be responsible.

Managerial Warning: At the fourth stage of the Oppression Time-Space, the CEO finds he would like to get involved in the social responsibilities of the corporation but his own lack of resolution or wrong social attitude keeps him away from such responsibilities. The problem is he has surrounded himself with wealthy friends who prevent him from implementing his social responsibilities and thereby get him into trouble. Luckily, in this particular case, the CEO has enough strength of character to overcome his hesitation and do what is right.

Managerial Advice: The Superior CEO knows his social responsibilities both internal and external and does not allow anyone to keep him away from them.

Investment Advice: Do not invest.

NINE IN THE FIFTH PLACE

Managerial Issue: The CEO – managing Oppression – practicing charity to renew his spirit.

Managerial Lesson: Be spiritual.

Managerial Warning: At the fifth stage of the Oppression Time-Space, the CEO finds a most difficult time. He lacks the support of the Board of Directors and has no able assistants to count on. This is caused by Heaven and he must look up to Heaven to correct it.

Managerial Advice: The Superior CEO recognizes this is a time to look for his own spirituality or religion. Whatever his personal beliefs, he knows this is a time for looking inward, to reconcile with GOD, and to do charity works.

In this particular case, such acts will bring about the right attitude and salvation for the corporation.

Some could argue that this is a time for reviewing the corporation’s mission, but this would appear to be a more spiritual theme - one that requires a spiritual approach.

The I Ching says: “he should turn to God, firm in his inner composure, and pray and offer sacrifice for the general well-being.”

Investment Advice: Do not invest.

SIX IN THE SIXTH PLACE

Managerial Issue: The CEO – managing Oppression - the CEO’s doubts and fears of failure.

Managerial Lesson: Be decisive.

Managerial Warning: At the sixth stage of the Oppression Time-Space, the CEO finds that the Oppression has weakened and that he can overcome it provided he does not let his fears make him waver in his decisions.

Managerial Advice: The Superior CEO knows that fears of failure are not only his own worst enemies but that they are also man’s worst enemy. He knows that to master the Oppression, he must:

· Grasp the situation,

· Change this mental attitude,

· Make a firm decision,

Only then can he stop wavering from his decision making function, boldly strike at the heart of the problem and overcome the adversities.

Investment Advice: Invest (if you must). Look for a better investment.

MANAGERIAL CASES

Monsanto (MON) under CEO Hugh Grant

Hugh Grant’s Performance: ROI= 652.28% Annualized Return= 27.22%

SPY’s Performance: ROI= 27.17% Annualized Return= 2.91%

Hugh Grant became CEO of Monsanto in May of 2003. Since then, his performance has been that of a Superior CEO compared to the SPY’s.

However, because he has been CEO for almost a decade, we have to ask the Oracle once more about his future Time-Space.

Going forward as of 2011, his performance has not been better than the SPY’s as he is encountering the Oppression Time-Space.

Points the investor should consider:

1) THE HEXAGRAM

HEXAGRAM 47 - K'un - Oppression (Exhaustion)

The lake is above, water below; the lake is empty, dried up. (1) Exhaustion is expressed in yet another way: at the top, a dark line is holding down two light lines; below, a light line is hemmed in between two dark ones. The upper trigram belongs to the principle of darkness, the lower to the principle of light. Thus everywhere superior men are oppressed and held in restraint by inferior men.

THE JUDGMENT

OPPRESSION.

Success.

Perseverance.

The great man brings about good fortune.

No blame.

When one has something to say,

It is not believed.

2) THE ADVICE

There is no water in the lake:

Thus the superior man stakes his life

On following his will.

When the water has flowed out below, the lake must dry up and become exhausted. That is fate. This symbolizes an adverse fate in human life. In such times there is nothing a man can do but acquiesce in his fate and remain true to himself. This concerns the deepest stratum of his being, for this alone is superior to all external fate.

3) THE LINES:

Six at the top means:

He is oppressed by creeping vines.

He moves uncertainly and says, "Movement brings remorse."

If one feels remorse over this and makes a start,

Good fortune Comes.

A man is oppressed by bonds that can easily be broken. The distress is drawing to an end. But he is still irresolute; he is still influenced by the previous condition and fears that he may have cause for regret if he makes a move. But as soon as he grasps the situation, changes this mental attitude, and makes a firm decision, he masters the oppression.

4) THE MOVING HEXAGRAM

HEXAGRAM 06 – Sung - Conflict

The upper trigram, whose image is heaven, has an upward movement; the lower trigram, water, in accordance with its nature, tends downward. Thus the two halves move away from each other, giving rise to the idea of conflict.

The attribute of the Creative is strength that of the abysmal is danger, guile. Where cunning has force before it, there is conflict.

A third indication of conflict, in terms of character, is presented by the combination of deep cunning within and fixed determination outwardly. A person of this character will certainly be quarrelsome.

THE JUDGMENT

CONFLICT. You are sincere

And are being obstructed.

A cautious halt halfway brings good fortune.

Going through to the end brings misfortune.

It furthers one to see the great man.

It does not further one to cross the great water.

Conflict develops when one feels himself to be in the right and runs into opposition. If one is not convinced of being in the right, opposition leads to craftiness or high-handed encroachment but not to open conflict.

If a man is entangled in a conflict, his only salvation lies in being so clear-headed and inwardly strong that he is always ready to come to terms by meeting the opponent halfway. To carry on the conflict to the bitter end has evil effects even when one is in the right, because the enmity is then perpetuated. It is important to see the great man, that is, an impartial man whose authority is great enough to terminate the conflict amicably or assure a just decision.

In times of strife, crossing the great water is to be avoided, that is, dangerous enterprises are not to be begun, because in order to be successful they require concerted unity of forces. Conflict within weakens the power to conquer danger without.

THE IMAGE

Heaven and water go their opposite ways: The image of Conflict.

Thus in all his transactions the superior man

Carefully considers the beginning.

The image indicates that the causes of conflict are latent in the opposing tendencies of the two trigram. Once these opposing tendencies appear, conflict is inevitable. To avoid it, therefore, everything must be taken carefully into consideration in the very beginning. If rights and duties are exactly defined, or if, in a group, the spiritual trends of the individuals harmonize, the cause of conflict is removed in advance.

CH Robinson Worldwide Inc. CHRW under CEO John P. Wiehoff

John Wiehoff’s Performance: ROI= 325.99% Annualized Return= 16.71%

SPY’s Performance: ROI= 12.75% Annualized Return= 1.29%

John P. Wiehoff became CEO of CH Robinson Worldwide in May of 2002. Since then, his performance has been much better than the SPY’s.

However, because he has been CEO for almost a decade, we have to ask the Oracle once more about his future Time-Space.

Going forward as of 2011, his performance has been worse than the SPY’s as he is encountering the Oppression Time-Space.

Points the investor should consider:

1) THE HEXAGRAM

(Same as Above).

2) THE ADVICE

(Same as Above).

3) THE LINES:

Nine in the fourth place means:

He comes very quietly, oppressed in a golden carriage.

Humiliation, but the end is reached.

A well-to-do man sees the need of the lower classes and would like very much to be of help. But instead of proceeding with speed and energy where there is need, he begins in a hesitant and measured way. Then he encounters obstructions. Powerful and wealthy acquaintances draw him into their circle; he has to do as they do and cannot withdraw from them. Hence he finds himself in great embarrassment. But the trouble is transitory. The original strength of his nature offsets the mistake he has made, and the goal is reached.

Six at the top means:

He is oppressed by creeping vines.

He moves uncertainly and says, "Movement brings remorse."

If one feels remorse over this and makes a start,

Good fortune Comes.

4) THE MOVING HEXAGRAM

HEXAGRAM 59 – Huan - Dispersion (Dissolution)

Wind blowing over water disperses it, dissolving it into foam and mist. This suggests that when a man's vital energy is dammed up within him (indicated as a danger by the attribute of the lower trigram), gentleness serves to break up and dissolve the blockage.

THE JUDGMENT

Dispersion,

Success.

The king approaches his temple.

It furthers one to cross the great water.

Perseverance furthers.

The text of this hexagram resembles that of Ts'ui, GATHERING TOGETHER (45). In the latter, the subject is the bringing together of elements that have been separated, as water collects in lakes upon the earth. Here the subject is the dispersing and dissolving of divisive egotism. DISPERSION shows the way, so to speak, that leads to gathering together. This explains the similarity of the two texts.

Religious forces are needed to overcome the egotism that divides men. The common celebration of the great sacrificial feasts and sacred rites, which gave expression simultaneously to the interrelation and social articulation of family and state, was the means employed by the great rulers to unite men. The sacred music and the splendor of the ceremonies aroused a strong tide of emotion that was shared by all hearts in unison, and that awakened a consciousness of the common origin of all creatures. In this way disunity was overcome and rigidity dissolved. A further means to the same end is cooperation in great general undertakings that set a high goal for the will of the people; in the common concentration on this goal, all barriers dissolve, just as, when a boat is crossing a great stream, all hands must unite in a joint task.

But only a man who is himself free of all selfish ulterior considerations, and who perseveres in justice and steadfastness, is capable of so dissolving the hardness of egotism.

THE IMAGE

The wind drives over the water: The image of DISPERSION.

Thus the kings of old sacrificed to the Lord

And built temples.

In the autumn and winter, water begins to freeze into ice. When the warm breezes of spring come, the rigidity is dissolved, and the elements that have been dispersed in ice floes are reunited. It is the same with the minds of the people. Through hardness and selfishness the heart grows rigid, and this rigidity leads to separation from all others. Egotism and cupidity isolate men. Therefore the hearts of men must be seized by a devout emotion. They must be shaken by a religious awe in face of eternity - stirred with an intuition of the One Creator of all living beings, and united through the strong feeling of fellowship experienced in the ritual of divine worship.