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Above; A pool of
water, joy
Below; Mountains, stillness
The lower trigram,
represents the youngest son. The upper trigram represents
the youngest daughter. Thus this hexagram signifies
the persuasive influence that exists between the sexes.
It represents wooing and marriage.
Influence, attraction,
success. Righteous perseverance furthers ones desires.
Taking a maiden for wife brings good fortune.
The yielding trigram
is above, the firm trigram is below. Although they
are opposite in nature, their mutual attraction draws
them together. In many of the most auspicious of Taoist
positions for sexual intercourse, the man is below
the woman. All nature owes its existence to the influence
of earth upon heaven and heaven upon earth. In the
same way, the wise man exerts his influence upon men’s
hearts, observing what causes them pleasure and what
causes pain and bringing the whole world to peace.
The lake is high
upon the mountain. So the Superior Man welcomes those
who approach him humbly and selflessly.
Line 1;
He feels the influence of his big toe.
Even before a man
begins to move, he reveals his activity in a flexing
of the toes of his foot, but his intention is not
apparent to others. As long as it has no visible outcome,
it has no importance to the rest of the world and
is neither good nor evil.
Line 2;
The influence shows itself in the legs. Misfortune.
It is better not to venture forth.
An ill thought-out
movement, a sudden movement of the legs may easily
result in a fall. It is better to remain where one
is until the persuasive influence is analyzed and
understood.
Line 3;
He feels the influence in his loins. Clinging to his
wife in this way is shameful.
Here is a man who follows the dictates of his heart
or of his animal instincts rather than his head.
Line 4;
Righteous perseverance brings good fortune. There
are no regrets. But when a man is agitated in mind,
his thoughts flying to and fro, only his closest friends
will be influenced by him.
The influence to
move comes from within. There are no regrets at having
delayed until the moment is right. But the man who
acts without due consideration will find it difficult
to persuade more than his nearest companions to follow
him.
Line 5;
The influence is felt in the nape of the neck. No
regrets.
Resolution shows
itself in a stiffening of the back and neck. But even
though the man will experience no remorse at this
strengthening of his resolve, he may still find it
difficult to persuade others.
Line 6;
The influence shows itself in the jaws and tongue.
Trying to persuade
others by talk alone is a superficial way of doing
things, particularly if there is no profound thought
behind what is said. Its influence is of little importance
bringing neither good nor bad fortune.
© 1979 Neil
Powell
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