I Ching 17 Hexagram suí (Following)
I Ching 17 Hexagram suí (Following)
Keywords
Adapt to the situation. Agree. To listen.
Short Interpretation of Hexagram 17 – Following
In love there will be changes that must be accepted. In the stable moment work. Good health but rest a little more.
I Ching – General Description
Above is the serene, whose character is joy, below the exciting, whose character is motion. Joy in motion leads to following. The serene is the youngest daughter, the exciting the eldest son. An old man places himself under a young girl and uses her respect. Thus he induces her to follow him.
I Ching – Comment on sentence
The following has sublime success. Auspicious is perseverance. No stains.
To get followed, you must first of all know how to adapt. Only by serving does one come to dominate; for this is the only way to obtain the joyful adhesion of the inferiors, which is necessary for them to follow. But where one wants to force to follow with cunning or violence, out of conspiracy or factional interest, a resistance always arises that prevents a willing following. Joyful movement, however, can also lead to evil. Therefore the condition is added: ″ propitious is perseverance ″, that is consequentiality in the honest, and ″ without blemish ″. As we ourselves must ask for follow-up only on this condition, so we must follow others only on the same condition if we don’t want to harm ourselves. The idea of following, adapting to what the moment requires, is great and important, and therefore the added sentence is also so propitious.
I Ching – Image
In the middle of the lake is the thunder: The image of following. Thus the nobleman comes home in the time of twilight to refresh and rest.
In the autumn, the electricity withdraws back into the earth, and rests. Thunder in the middle of the lake is taken as an image; not thunder in motion, but thunder in the winter stillness. The following results from this image used in the sense of adaptation to the demands of time. The thunder in the middle of the lake hints at the times of darkness and quiet. Thus the noble, after having been tirelessly active all day, allows himself rest and rest during the night. Every situation becomes good only if you know how to adapt and if you don’t wear yourself out by resisting by mistake. (Cf. Goethe’s saying: ″ It is still day, the brisk man is moving, then the night comes, and every work is in vain ″)
I Ching – Series
When one has greatness and is modest, the following certainly comes.
I Ching – Single Lines
Analytical description of each individual line
I Ching – First line:
Nine at the beginning means:
The decisive circumstances change. Perseverance brings health. Leaving the house to hang out with people creates works.
There are some exceptional situations. in which the relationship between driver and driven changes. It is inherent in the idea of adaptation and follow-up that when you want to lead others you remain accessible and allow yourself to be determined by the opinions of your employees. Only by doing so. one must possess firm principles, so that one does not become hesitant when it is only the opinions of the moment. When we are ready to listen to the opinions of others, we must not only be together with people of the same mentality and with party mates, but we must leave the house and attend without prejudice to people of all kinds, be they friends or enemies. Only in this way can some result be achieved.
I Ching – Second line:
Six in the second place means:
Whoever sticks to the little boy, Loses the strong man.
In friendship and intimate relationships one must be careful in choosing. The company you get is either good or bad. You can’t have both at the same time. Those who throw themselves away to accompany unworthy people lose the opportunity to associate with people of high spirit, who could push forward on the path of good.
I Ching – Third line:
Six in the third place means:
Whoever sticks to the strong man, Loses the little boy. By following you find what you are looking for. It is auspicious to remain persevering.
When the right way has been found to be accompanied with an important man, this is naturally linked with a certain loss. We must detach ourselves from what is low, superficial. Yet you will remain deeply satisfied, having found what you are looking for and what you need for the development of your personality. One just has to remain steadfast. You have to know what you want and not be sidetracked by momentary advantages.
I Ching – Fourth line:
Nine in the fourth place means:
Following creates success. Perseverance brings misfortune. Walking the way truthfully brings clarity. How come this could be a stain?
It is often possible, when one has some influence, to find followers by being affable towards the inferior. The men thus conquered, however, have no sincere intentions. They seek personal gain and try to make themselves indispensable with flattery and creeping submission. Getting used to such factional companions so that you can no longer exist without them is misfortune. Only if one is completely free from one’s self and only cares with conviction for what is right and objective, can one acquire the clarity necessary to unmask such people, becoming free from stain.
I Ching – Fifth line:
Nine in the fifth place means:
True in good. Health!
Every man must have an object to follow, which will serve as a guiding star. Those who follow the good and the beautiful will feel invigorated by this saying.
I Ching – Sixth line:
Six above means:
He finds solid attachment and on top of that he is also tied up. The king presents him to the western mountain.
It is a man who has already left behind the hustle and bustle of the world regarding his person, a lofty sage. But he meets a follower who understands him, and who won’t let him go. So he returns once again to this world and helps the other to do his work. Thus an eternal gender union is born. The comparison is taken from the history of the Ciou dynasty. This dynasty honored deserving helpers by granting them a place in the temple of the ancestors of the sovereign family, located on the Western Mountain. With this the chosen one was welcomed into the realm of the fate of the royal house.