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Above; Mountain
stillness
Below; Dangerous deep water.
As Zhun represents
the infant plant struggling to break the surface,
so Meng represents its undeveloped appearance. The
water bubbling up at the foot of the mountain is the
image of inexperienced youth. There will be progress
and success. Firm and correct action brings favourable
results.
There are perils
and obstacles in the way of progress, but the young
and inexperienced should be nurtured like a new plant.
As the spring gushes out at the foot of the mountain,
so the Superior Man improves his character by diligent
thoroughness in all his actions.
Line 1
The ignorant youth
should be disciplined, but remove his fetters lest
he be humiliated.
Harshness may sometimes
be needed to dispel ignorance. Firmness and severe
treatment, even punishment are of great help in dispelling
ignorance and folly, but stop short of tyranny.
Line 2
To suffer fools
kindly brings good fortune. Understanding of women
brings good fortune. The son can take charge of the
household.
The young man who
begins to understand tolerance as it is shown by his
elders will soon be able to take on their responsibilities.
Line 3
No good will come
of a maiden who loses control when she sees a man
of bronze. Do not cherish her.
The ‘man
of bronze’ may represent a wealthy suitor. The
weak and inexperienced man is compared to a woman
who throws herself at such a person. As he struggles
to improve himself, he may lose all individuality
by trying to imitate a stronger personality.
Line 4
Bound in the chains
of his ignorance he suffers humiliation and regret.
The inexperienced
youth can so easily entangle himself in fantasies
and only confusion will result followed by shame.
If he persists, no teacher can help him. He must be
left to return to reality by his own efforts no matter
how much humiliation he suffers.
Line 5
The simplicity
of the child brings good fortune.
Inexperience is
best overcome by seeking the teacher in a spirit of
humility and learning without arrogance.
Line 6
Punishing the
inexperienced youth one should not injure him. The
purpose of punishment is to prevent injury.
The ignorant youth
should be disciplined. But the punishment should not
be in anger. It should be measured, objective, never
an end in itself. It is for the good of the ignorant
not to relieve the conscience of the teacher.
© 1979 Neil
Powell
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