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Above; Earth the
creative
Below; Mountain, stillness.
In this hexagram,
Ken, the mountain is the youngest son of the creative
principal. It dispenses the gifts of heaven, the rain
that falls from the clouds around its peak, and shines
in the clear air with the light of heaven itself.
Ken represents the modesty of great and strong men.
Kun, the earth, is exalted, symbolizing the way in
which simple men are in their turn raised up by true
modesty.
Humility engenders
success. The Superior Man, understanding this, enjoys
a satisfactory outcome to his undertakings.
Qian symbolizes
progress and success, for it is heaven’s way
to send down its good influences and shed radiance.
It is Earth’s way to send its influences upward
from below. So it is also Heaven’s way to reduce
the over-full and augment the modest. It is Earth’s
way to throw down the full and raise up the humble.
The demons and gods abominate the over-full and bless
the modest, as it is the way of men to hate the full
and love the humble.
Modesty in a high position shines still more brilliantly;
there is nothing higher. As the mountain is hidden
by the earth, so the wise man hides his abilities
and wealth with proper humility.
Within the Earth,
there is a mountain, the image of humility. The Superior
Man reduces that which is too much and increases that
which is too little, setting one in the scale to balance
the other.
The middle course is best.
Line 1
The Superior Man
is even modest about his modesty. He may cross the
great water and find good fortune.
Any major undertaking
is increased in difficulty when the participants insist
upon their individual contributions being suitably
recognized. But those who approach a problem without
pride or concern for their personal standing will
solve it quickly and simply.
Line 2
Modesty itself
achieves recognition. Persistence brings good fortune.
He who is seen
to be truly modest will be honoured for it and success
will be his if he adheres to his path.
Line 3
The Superior Man
is recognized but maintains his humility. He brings
all matters to conclusion. Good fortune.
Success now begins
to be apparent, but the wise man is not dazzled by
fame. He remains humble, endearing himself to the
people about him and working steadily to win their
loyalty and support for his future enterprises.
Line 4
Proper humility
and nothing that is not proper humility in all his
actions.
This is the line
representing the minister, the intermediary who transmits
the orders of the ruler above, and represents the
desires of the people below. True modesty is the sign
of confidence in one’s position. It should not
be permitted to degenerate into servility.
Line 5
Employ your neighbours
without boasting of your riches. Attack with vigour.
All is propitious.
He who occupies
a position of responsibility, modest though he be,
must engage the help of others at times to carry out
his plans.
Line 6
Modesty achieves
recognition. He sets his army on the march, but only
to punish his own city and land.
It is often the hardest
thing of all for a truly modest man to recognize the
moment at which he should impose his will upon those
around him. But, provided the discipline is just and
necessary, he will be honoured for his actions.
© 1979 Neil Powell
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