明

Warranting difficult persistence

Brightness obscured during flight* Dragging one’s wing The noble young one in traveling Goes three days without a meal When there is somewhere to go Those in power would gossip

Brightness obscured And wounded in the left leg But relying on assistance The horse is strong enough Promising

Brightness obscured on the southern winter hunt Capturing the others’ great leader This is not a call for a hasty resolution

Entering through the left side of the gut Capturing intelligence of the dark one’s heart Before exiting through the courtyard gate

Prince Ji held his brightness obscured* Persistence was rewarded

Instead of light, darkness At first rising into the sky But at last going into the earth

The well has been cleaned, but nothing is consumed Causing our hearts’ sorrow It is suitable and available to draw from Were the sovereign made aware, all might receive of this abundance

How great (is) creation’s source! The myriad beings (are) provided beginnings Along with all of the sky Clouds pass, rain falls The varieties of beings flow into form Great light completes (then) begins The six positions (are) by season fulfilled Seasons to mount the six dragons (And) with these to master the skies Creation’s way (is) emergence (and) transformation Each being true to inner nature (and) higher law Security (is) joining in the highest attunement It is this that rewards persistence (As) leaders emerge from the numberless beings The myriad realms come together in peace

03.4x To ask and then to proceed (Shows) clarity

06.1x Not prolonging certain endeavors: Contention is not suited to being prolonged * Even though the small will talk One’s arguments are clear

10.3x The one-eyed (are still) able to see: Not well enough to claim vision * The lame (are still) able to take steps: Not well enough to travel along with * The bitten one’s misfortune: The position was less than appropriate * The military man works for a greater noble: The purpose (is) firm

Respectful conduct: The flexible treads upon the firm Pleasure, but also attunement with the creative And so it is that treading upon the tiger’s tail, Without (it) biting one, (is) success The firm (is) central (and) correct Taking steps in a divine place, and yet escaping suffering, shows wisdom

Fellowship with others The flexible finds a position, gains the center and resonates with the creative So this is called fellowship with others Fellowship with others says that Fellowship with others on the frontier (is) fulfillment Worthwhile to cross the great stream (Meaning) higher order endeavor Refinement (and) clarity make use of strength The central (lines) (are) correct (and) correspond The noble young one (is) principled Only the noble young one develops the capacity To comprehend the direction of all under heaven

14.4x Not being (in) one’s own domain, no blame: Wisdom distinguishes plainly

Big domain The flexible finds a distinguished position, in the great center, While high (and) low respond to this So this is called big domain Its qualities (are) firmness (and) vigor and also refinement (and) clarity Resonating with heaven and moving with the seasons This is, accordingly, supremely fulfilling

15.2x Expressing modesty, persistence (is) promising: The inner affections (are) found

15.6x Expressive modesty: The goals (are) not yet achieved * An appropriate practice to mobilize the reserves To discipline home town (and) province

Authenticity (means) fulfillment The heavenly principle completes the lowly With honor and clarity The earthly principle (is) humble, (Even) while moving upwards The heavenly principle diminishes the superfluous And adds to the modest The earthly principle transforms the superfluous And replenishes the modest Ghosts (and) spirits (both) haunt the superfluous And enrich the modest The human principle resents the superfluous And applauds the modest Authenticity ennobles and exemplifies (Being) lowly and yet not easy to exceed The noble young one has results

17.4x Following to achieve success: This means pitfalls * Being truly on the path, Clarity (is) the success

21.6x Wearing the cangue, hiding the ears: Quick to hear, (but) without clarity

Between the jaws is an object So this is called biting through Biting through and then satisfaction: The firm (and) the flexible (are) evenly apportioned Action with clarity Thunder (and) lightning converge and make manifest The flexible gains the center and then acts above Although not properly situated (It is) worthwhile to execute justice

Thunder and lightning bite through The early sovereigns, accordingly, clarified penalties when declaring the laws

Adornment satisfies The flexible comes forward and refines the firm Consequently, satisfaction Alternately, the firm rises upwards and refines the flexible Consequently, a little worthwhile to have somewhere to go (Even) heaven (has) a style Refinement (and) clarity mean stability (Such is) human culture Look to heaven’s refinements Thereby to study the seasonal changes Look to humanity’s refinements Thereby to transform (and) complete all under heaven

At the foot of the mountain is flame Adornment The noble young one, accordingly, clarifies numerous policies* But does not presume to execute justice

Arising (Means) to be conditioned The sun (and) moon (are) conditioned upon heaven The hundreds of grasses, the plants (and) the trees are conditioned upon the earth Doubled clarity, accordingly, (is) conditioned upon the true Then transformation completes (all things) under heaven The flexible (is) conditioned upon the central (and) correct Given this, fulfillment And so it is that to care for the cow (is) promising

The light appears twice Arising The mature human being, accordingly, Is continuous in clarifying and illuminating into the four directions

Expansion (Means) progress The light rises over the earth Compliance along with reliance upon great clarity The flexible advances, but with superior conduct And so it is that the prosperous lord uses grants (of) horses To breed a multitude (And) by the light of a day three times grants audience

The light rises over the earth Expansion The noble young one, therefore, naturally radiates clarity of character

36.5x Prince Ji’s persistence: A light not accepting extinction

The light goes within (to) the heart of the earth Brightness (is) obscured Inwardly coherent (and) bright while outwardly flexible (and) compliant Using the obscurity (of) great trials The Sovereign Wen applied this Warranting difficult persistence: Darkening his own light Inwardly struggling, yet able to stay true to his purpose Prince Ji applied this

The light goes within to the heart of the earth Brightness Obscured The noble young one, accordingly, manages the multitude using darkness, but with intelligence

Estrangement The fire moves, but (only) upwards The lake moves, but (only) downwards Two women dwell together (But) their intentions do not function as one Enjoyment, along with dependence on clarity The flexible advances, and so improves (its) conduct Gaining the center and resonating with the firm And so it is that ordinary matters (are) promising Heaven (and) earth diverge, but still their endeavors converge Masculine (and) feminine diverge, but their objectives interact The myriad beings diverge, but their affairs (are) interrelated Estrangement’s timely application (is) very important here!

43.4x One’s progress (is) second-rate now: The position (was) not appropriate * To hear the words is not comprehension: Quick to hear (but) not much clarity

47.1x Going into the valley of gloom: The gloom has no vision

48.3x The well (is merely) turbid, (but) nothing (is) consumed: Passing in sorrow * Seek the sovereign’s enlightenment: To receive the abundance

Seasonal change Water (and) fire subdue each other Two women dwell together (But) their aims are not mutual gain So this is called seasonal change Complete the day and then be sure: Change and then believe in it Refinement (and) clarity behind satisfaction Great fulfillment (is) according to correctness Change is then appropriate One’s regrets then pass Heaven (and) earth change and so the four seasons are fulfilled Tang and Wu changed the mandates Complying with heaven while resonating with humanity Seasonal change’s opportune timing (is) very important now!

There is fire in the lake Seasonal change The noble young one, accordingly, organizes the calendar and clarifies the time

The cauldron (is) a model With wood submitted to flame The offerings (are) transformed The wise ones (are) fulfilled with offerings to the highest divinity And (there is) great fulfillment (in) nourishing wisdom (and) excellence Reaching in with ears (and) eyes, quickening (and) clarifying The flexible advances with elevated conduct Gaining the center and resonating with the firm And so this is, accordingly, supreme fulfillment

Stillness (Means) to keep still (If) time to stop, then stop (If) time to move, then move (When) activity (and) rest do not lose their timing One’s path (is) revealed (and) clarified Stillness (means) self-restraint Restraint (is) to one’s own purpose Above (and) below resist corresponding Having nothing to do with each other And so it is that having no grasp of one’s own being (And) moving (through) one’s courtyard Without seeing other people (Is) without blame

55.4x (So) abundant (are) their screens: The position is not appropriate * (At) midday (one may) see the bushel constellation: The gloom has no vision * Finding their hidden leader: (An) opportunity (for) action

Abundance (Means) greatness Intelligence (is) behind movement Given this, abundance The sovereign approaches this: Appreciate the greatness Do not be anxious, (it) suits the sun (to be at) midday: Appropriate for illuminating all under heaven The sun (at) midday, in due order, goes down The moon (at) full, in due order, (is) consumed (If) heaven (and) earth fill up (and) empty out In accord with the time (in both) waning (and) waxing Then how much more true for humanity! (And) how much more true for the ghosts and the spirits!

The wanderer (Means) modest fulfillment The flexible finds the balance on the outside And so complies with firmness Restraint along with dependence on clarity This is how, (with) modest fulfillment, The wanderer’s persistence (is) promising The wanderer’s appropriate timing (is) very important here!

Atop the mountain is a flame The wanderer The noble young one, accordingly, is lucid and prudent about the function of sanctions And thus avoids prolonged legal process