I Ching 57 Hexagram xùn (Ground)

I Ching 57 Hexagram xùn (Ground)

I Ching 57 Hexagram xùn (Ground)

Keywords
Slow penetration. Flexibility.
Short Interpretation of Hexagram 57 – The Meek
Do not neglect your commitments. It is a moment of relaxation and idleness but don’t overdo it. Resolve adversity with flexibility, drop by drop.

I Ching – General Description

Sunn is one of the eight double signs. She is the eldest daughter, she has wind or wood as an image, mildness as a quality, which however penetrates like the wind, or like wood with its roots. The dark, which in itself is rigid and immobile, is dissolved by the clear principle which penetrates, to which it submits in mildness. In nature it is the wind, which disperses the accumulated clouds and creates serene clarity in the sky. In human life it is the penetrating clarity of judgment that annihilates all hidden dark thoughts. In the life of the community it is the powerful influence of a remarkable personality, which reveals and disperses every dark web.

I Ching – Comment on sentence

The mild. Through little things she succeeded. It is propitious to have where to go. It is auspicious to see the great man.

Penetration generates gradual and inconspicuous effects. One must not operate by rape, but instead by means of continuous influence. These effects are less eye-catching than those obtained by striking by surprise, but they are more persistent and complete. In order to work in this way, one must have a clear goal; for only by making the penetrative influence always operate in the same direction can something be achieved. The little one can achieve something only by submitting to a remarkable man who possesses the ability to create order.

I Ching – Image

Winds that follow each other: The image of the meek who penetrates. Thus the noble spread his commands. And he works his business.

The penetration of the wind rests on perpetuity. By this it becomes so powerful. He takes time as a tool of action. Thus also the thought of the sovereign must penetrate the people. For this purpose too there is a need for constant influence through illumination and precepts. Only after the command has passed into the soul of the people the relative action becomes possible. An unprepared action only causes fright and repulses.

I Ching – Series

The traveler has nothing to welcome him. For this he follows the sign: the Meek (the Penetrating). The Meek means to go inside.

I Ching – Single Lines

Analytical description of each individual line

I Ching – First line:

Six at the beginning means:
In advancing and yielding the perseverance of a warrior is propitious.

The mildness of character often goes as far as indecision. You do not feel the strength to proceed with determination. A thousand doubts arise, but one does not even want to retire and hesitates undecided. In such a case a military resolve is the right thing; that is, that what the order requires is resolutely accomplished. Resolute discipline is much better than indecisive indiscipline.

I Ching – Second line:

Nine in the second place means:
To penetrate under the bed. A large number of priests and wizards are employed. Health! No stains.

Sometimes you have to deal with hidden enemies, with elusive influences that hide in the darkest corners, influencing people from there suggestively. In this case it is necessary to pursue these things to the most hidden corners, to determine what influences they are – this is the task of the priests – and to eliminate them – this is the task of the magicians. Precisely the exercise of these aims requires a particularly tireless energy, which however finds its reward. For as soon as such uncontrollable influences are brought to light and branded, they have already lost their power over men.

I Ching – Third line:

Nine in the third place means:
Penetrating repeated. Shameful.

Insightful reflection must not be pushed too far, otherwise it impedes the ability to decide. When something has been thoroughly considered, it is advisable to decide to act. Examining it repeatedly does nothing but raise new doubts all the time, and so one ends up in shame, proving unable to act.

I Ching – Fourth line:

Six in the fourth place means:
Repentance vanishes. Three species of game are caught during the hunt.

By combining the innate modesty, resulting from the position of responsibility he occupies, and the accumulated experiences with energetic activity, great success is certainly achieved. The three species of animals served as sacrifices for the gods, food for guests and food for all. When a few animals were shot for all three purposes, the result of the hunt was particularly good.

I Ching – Fifth line:

Nine in the fifth place means:
Perseverance brings health. Repentance fades. Nothing that is not propitious. No beginning, but an end. Three days before the change, three days after the change. Health!

While in the Amendment of Bad Things, No. 18, a completely new starting point must be created, here it is all about reforms. The beginning was not good, but we have reached a point after which we can take a new direction. We need to change and improve. This must be done consistently, that is, in an upright and steadfast attitude, so it will succeed, and repentance will vanish. It should only be borne in mind that these improvements need careful consideration. Before making the change it is necessary to ponder repeatedly; and when the change has occurred one must also carefully investigate for some time to establish how the improvements actually occur. Such careful work is accompanied by health.

I Ching – Sixth line:

Nine above means:
To penetrate under the bed. He loses his possession and his ax. Perseverance brings misfortune.

This intelligence is penetrating enough. It penetrates behind harmful influences into the most ins and outs. But you no longer have the strength to fight them decisively. In this case, any attempt to penetrate the personal domains of darkness is only a bad thing.