hexagram12

above  CH’IEN  THE CREATIVE, HEAVEN below  K’UN  THE RECEPTIVE, EARTH

this hexagram is the opposite of the preceding one. Heaven is above, drawing farther and farther away, while the earth below sinks farther into the depths. The creative powers are not in relation. It is a time of standstill and decline. this hexagram is linked with the seventh month (August-September), when the year has passed its zenith and autumnal decay is setting in.

THE JUDGMENT

STANDSTILL. Evil people do not further The perseverance of the superior one. The great departs; the small approaches.

Heaven and earth are out of communion and all things are benumbed. What is above has no relation to what is below, and on earth confusion and disorder prevail. The dark power is within, the light power is without. Weakness is within, harshness without. Within are the inferior, and without are the superior. The way of inferior people is in ascent; the way of superior people is on the decline. But the superior people do not allow themselves to be turned from their principles. If the possibility of exerting influence is closed to them, they nevertheless remain faithful to their principles and withdraw into seclusion.

THE IMAGE

Heaven and earth do not unite: The image of STANDSTILL. Thus the superior one falls back upon one’s inner worth In order to escape the difficulties. one does not permit oneself to be honored with revenue.

When, owing to the influence of inferior people, mutual mistrust prevails in public life, fruitful activity is rendered impossible, because the fundaments are wrong. Therefore the superior one knows what to do under such circumstances; one does not allow oneself to be tempted by dazzling offers to take part in public activities. this would only expose one to danger, since one cannot assent to the meanness of the others. One therefore hides one’s worth and withdraws into seclusion.

THE LINES

Six at the beginning means: When ribbon grass is pulled up, the sod comes with it. Each according to their kind. Perseverance brings good fortune and success.

The text is almost the same as that of the first line of the preceding hexagram, but with a contrary meaning. In the latter one is drawing another along with one on the road to an official career; here one is drawing another with one into retirement from public life. this is why the text says here, “Perseverance brings good fortune and success,” and not “Undertakings bring good fortune.” If it becomes impossible to make our influence count, it is only by retirement that we spare ourselves humiliation. Success in a higher sense can be ours, because we know how to safeguard the value of our personalities.

°Six in the second place means: They bear and endure; this means good fortune for inferior people. The standstill serves to help the great one to attain success.

Inferior people are ready to flatter their superiors in a servile way. They would also endure the superior one if he/she would put an end to their confusion. this is fortunate for them. But the great one calmly bears the consequences of the standstill. One does not mingle with the crowd of the inferior; that is not one’s place. By one’s willingness to suffer personally one insures the success of one’s fundamental principles.

Six in the third place means: They bear shame.

Inferior people who have risen to power illegitimately do not feel equal to the responsibility they have taken upon themselves. In their hearts they begin to be ashamed, although at first they do not show it outwardly. this marks a turn for the better.

Nine in the fourth place means: One who acts at the command of the highest Remains without blame. Those of like mind partake of the blessing.

The time of standstill is nearing the point of change into its opposite. Whoever wishes to restore order must feel oneself called to the task and have the necessary authority. One who sets oneself up as capable of creating order according to one’s own judgment could make mistakes and end in failure. But one who is truly called to the task is favored by the conditions of the time, and all those of like mind will share in the blessing.

° Nine in the fifth place means: Standstill is giving way. Good fortune for the great one. “What if it should fail, what if it should fail?” In this way one ties it to a cluster of mulberry shoots.

The time undergoes a change. The right one, able to restore order, has arrived. Hence “good fortune.” But such periods of transition are the very times in which we must fear and tremble. Success is assured only through greatest caution, which asks always, “What if it should fail?” When a mulberry bush is cut down, a number of unusually strong shoots sprout from the roots. Hence the image of tying something to a cluster of mulberry shoots is used to symbolize the way of making success certain. Confucius says about this line:

Danger arises when one feels secure in one’s position. Destruction threatens when one seeks to preserve one’s worldly estate. Confusion develops when one has put everything in order. Therefore the superior one does not forget danger in one’s security, nor ruin when one is well established, nor confusion when one’s affairs are in order. In this way one gains personal safety and is able to protect the empire.

Nine at the top means: The standstill comes to an end. First standstill, then good fortune.

The standstill does not last forever. However, it does not cease of its own accord; the right one is needed to end it. this is the difference between a state of peace and a state of stagnation. Continuous effort is necessary to maintain peace: left to itself it would change into stagnation and disintegration. The time of disintegration, however, does not change back automatically to a condition of peace and prosperity; effort must be put forth in order to end it. this shows the creative attitude that one must take if the world is to be put in order.