I Ching 61 Hexagram zhōng fú (Center Returning)

Keywords
Sincere. Positive.
Short Interpretation of Hexagram 61 – The Inner Truth
Be impartial and frank, you will create a dimension based on trust.

I Ching 61 Hexagram- General Description

Above the lake the wind blows and moves the surface of the water. Thus the visible effects of the invisible are manifested. The sign is composed above and below of solid lines while in the middle it is free of them. This hints at a heart free of prejudice, so that it is capable of accepting the truth. The two partial signs instead have a solid line in the middle. This hints at the strength of intrinsic truthfulness in its effects. The qualities of the partial signs are: above meekness, yielding to the inferior; below: joy in obedience to superiors. Such moods create the foundation of mutual trust that makes success possible. The sign Fu (truth) is truly the image of a bird’s leg above one of its babies.Contains the idea of the brood. The egg is hollow. The power of the light must act by vivifying from without. But there must also already be a germ of life within for life to be awakened. These ideas can be linked to speculations that go very far.

I Ching 61 Hexagram- Comment on sentence

Intrinsic truthfulness: pigs and fish. Health! It is propitious to cross the great water. Auspicious is perseverance.

Pigs and fish are the least spiritual animals and therefore the ones that are most difficult to influence. The strength of inherent truthfulness must have reached a high degree before its influence extends to even such creatures. Faced with such stubborn people, difficult to influence, the whole secret of success depends on finding the right way to gain access to their soul. You must first make yourself completely free from your prejudices. We must let the other’s psyche act on us, so to speak, while remaining completely naive; then we approach him inwardly, understand him and gain power over him, so that the strength of our own person gains influence on the other through the open door. When by doing so no obstacle is insuperable,even the most dangerous things can be undertaken – such as crossing the great water – and they will succeed. It is only important to understand what the strength of intrinsic truthfulness rests upon. It is not identical with mere intimacy or with a secret solidarity. Such intimate solidarity can also exist between brigands. Again, it is true, it means a force. But this does not redound to health, because it is not invincible. Proceeding on the basis of common interests can only continue up to a certain point. Where common interests cease, solidarity also ceases; and the most intimate friendship often turns into hatred.Only where the basis is righteousness and constancy, the union remains strong enough to overcome anything. It is only important to understand what the strength of intrinsic truthfulness rests upon. It is not identical with mere intimacy or with a secret solidarity. Such intimate solidarity can also exist between brigands. Again, it is true, it means a force. But this does not redound to health, because it is not invincible. Proceeding on the basis of common interests can only continue up to a certain point. Where common interests cease, solidarity also ceases; and the most intimate friendship often turns into hatred.Only where the basis is righteousness and constancy, the union remains strong enough to overcome anything. It is only important to understand what the strength of intrinsic truthfulness rests upon. It is not identical with mere intimacy or with a secret solidarity. Such intimate solidarity can also exist between brigands. Again, it is true, it means a force. But this does not redound to health, because it is not invincible. Proceeding on the basis of common interests can only continue up to a certain point. Where common interests cease, solidarity also ceases; and the most intimate friendship often turns into hatred.Only where the basis is righteousness and constancy, the union remains strong enough to overcome anything. Such intimate solidarity can also exist between brigands. Again, it is true, it means a force. But this does not redound to health, because it is not invincible. Proceeding on the basis of common interests can only continue up to a certain point. Where common interests cease, solidarity also ceases; and the most intimate friendship often turns into hatred. Only where the basis is righteousness and constancy, the union remains strong enough to overcome anything. Such intimate solidarity can also exist between brigands. Again, it is true, it means a force.But this does not redound to health, because it is not invincible. Proceeding on the basis of common interests can only continue up to a certain point. Where common interests cease, solidarity also ceases; and the most intimate friendship often turns into hatred. Only where the basis is righteousness and constancy, the union remains strong enough to overcome anything.

I Ching 61 Hexagram- Image

Above the lake is the wind: The image of intrinsic truthfulness. Thus the noble discusses the criminal matters. To suspend executions.

The wind moves the water because it is able to penetrate its interstices. Thus the noble tries to penetrate with great understanding into the interior of men whenever he has some error to judge, thus obtaining a benevolent judgment on the circumstances. The entire ancient jurisdiction of the Chinese was guided by this principle. Supreme understanding that can forgive was considered supreme justice. Such a jurisdiction did not go without result; since the intention was that the moral impression was so strong that there was no need to fear an abuse of such clemency. Since it drew its origin not from weakness but from superior clarity.

I Ching – Series

Through delimitation, things are made trustworthy. For this he follows the sign: the inner Truth.

I Ching 61 Hexagram- Single Lines

Analytical description of each individual line

I Ching – First line:

Nine in the first place means:
Being ready brings health. If there are any hidden thoughts, this is disturbing.

The most important thing to the strength of inherent truthfulness is that you are steadfast in yourself, and ready. From this inner attitude arises the right behavior towards the outer world. If, on the other hand, we wanted to cultivate secret relationships of a special kind, this would deprive us of inner independence, and the more we felt secure being aware of being able to rely on others, the more we would end up in restlessness and worries caused by the doubt if these secret ties are also truly unbreakable. With this, inner peace and the strength of intrinsic truthfulness are lost.

I Ching – Second line:

Nine in the second place means:
A crane that draws in the shadows. Her chick replies. I have a good cup. I want to share it with you.

Here we are talking about the involuntary influence of intrinsic nature on like-minded people. The crane does not need to show itself on the top of a hill. Even if she makes her call sound completely hidden, her little one hears her voice and knows it, and answers it. Where a cheerful mood reigns, a companion also appears ready to share a glass of wine with us. Thus also appears the echo that sympathy arouses in man. Where a state of mind is expressed true and pure, where an action is the clear expression of feelings, there they act mysteriously at a distance, first of all on those who are interiorly ready to welcome them. But these circles of action are widening. The root of every effect lies in one’s interiority.When the inside is expressed completely true and strong, in words and deeds, the effect is great. The effect is only the mirror image of what springs from one’s heart. Any deliberate intention to act would only destroy this action. Kung Tse says: ″ The noble dwells in his chamber. Expressing his words well, he finds approval from a distance of more than a thousand miles. How much more from the neighborhood! If the noble dwelling in his chamber does not well externalize his words, he finds contradiction from a distance of more than a thousand miles. How much more from the neighborhood! Words emanate from one’s person and act on men. The works are born close and become visible from afar.Words and works are the hinges of the door and the spring of the arquebus of the noble. By moving, these hinges and this spring bring honor and shame. With words and deeds the noble moves heaven and earth. How much biogna therefore to be careful!

I Ching – Third line:

Six in the third place means:
He finds a mate; now it beats the drum, now it stops; Now she sobs, now she sings.

Here the source of strength lies not in the self but in the relationship with other people. As intimate as we are with it, when our center of gravity rests on them, we cannot help being tossed between joy and pain. Exultation that rises to heaven, mortal sadness, this is the lot of those who depend on concordance with other people they love. Here the law is only stated that this is the case. That this state is felt as a nuisance or as a supreme happiness of love remains reserved for the subjective judgment of those affected by it.

I Ching – Fourth line:

Six in the fourth place means:
The moon, when it is almost full. The entangled horse is lost. No stains.

To increase the strength of intrinsic truthfulness, one must turn higher for illumination, as the moon receives it from the sun. Doing so, however, requires a certain humility, such as the moon possesses when it is not yet completely full. When the moon, being completely full, directly opposes the sun, it also immediately begins to wane. Just as we must be humble and respectful in the face of the source of enlightenment, so on the other hand we must renounce human factions. Only by following its own path like a horse running straight without looking sideways at its companion horse, do we retain that inner freedom that makes us progress.

I Ching – Fifth line:

Nine in the fifth place means:
He possesses veracity that he links. No stains.

Here is drawn the gentleman who holds everything together by the strength of his nature. Only if the strength of his character is so vast that it can influence all who belong to his lordship, is he as he should be. The suggestive force must emanate from the sovereign. It will connect and unite all of yours. Without this central force, any outward union is nothing but a lie that shatters at the decisive moment.

I Ching – Sixth line:

Nine above means:
Cock crow that rings up to the sky. Perseverance brings misfortune!

The rooster is trustworthy. He calls back when dawn comes. However, he cannot fly to the sky himself. He just sings. Thus one wants to arouse belief with mere words. This certainly succeeds sometimes. But in the long run it becomes bad.

I Ching 61 Hexagram zhōng fú (Center Returning)