虛
xu1Mathews: 2821GSR: 78a
Dictionary Definition
(to be) empty, open, wanting, unoccupied, vacant, hollow, emptied (out), false, futile, (in) vain, unreal, insubstantial, void, deceptive, untrue, vacuous, abstract, imaginary, fallacious, specious, worthless, useless, null, ruined, 449 idle; nominal, figurative, theoretical; unprejudiced, humble, modest, clear, pure, (not full of self); (to) vacate, empty (out), open (up), drain, want (s, ed, ing); (a, the) ruin, mound; void, emptiness, futility, vanity, lack, want, vacancy, stillness, hollowness; openness
Radical: 141+6 | First occurrence: Hexagram 46.3
Concordance & Context (8 occurrences)
Entries shown in Hatcher's reference chain order. First Witness at 46.3
3rd Line★
(a, an) empty, unoccupied, vacant, [ghost-]
升虛邑。
Advancing upon an empty town
Stats: 141+6→ 23.T
Tuan Zhuan
(and) emptiness, vacancy, lack, want
剝,剝也,柔變剛也。不利有攸往,小人長也。順而止之,觀象也。君子尚消息盈虛,天行也。
Decomposing
(Means) stripping away
The flexible alters the firm
Not worthwhile to have somewhere to go:
The common people prevail
Accept and stop here
Look at the image
The noble young one respects waning (and) waxing as surplus (and) want
(And as) heaven’s behavior
→ 31.X
Xiang Zhuan
(is) empty, open, un(pre)occupied; wants
山上有澤,咸。君子以虛受人。
Up on the mountain there is a lake
Reciprocity
The noble young one, accordingly, is open to welcome the other
→ 41.T
Tuan Zhuan
(and) want, lack, emptiness
損,損下益上,其道上行。損而有孚,元吉,無咎,可贞,利有攸往。曷之用?二簋可用享。二簋應有時,損剛益柔有時,損益盈虛,與時偕行。
Decreasing
Decreasing the subordinate to increase the superior
This process elevates conduct
Decreasing and still holding true
(Is) outstanding opportunity
Nothing (is) wrong
(But it) calls for persistence
Worthwhile to have somewhere to go
How is this applied?
A pair of (simple) rice baskets may be used for the offering:
Two (small) rice baskets will correspond with the time
Decreasing the firm to increase the flexible presumes timeliness
Decrease (and) increase (are) excess (and) want
Interacting in time (and) functioning together
→ 54.6x
Xiao Xiang 6
(a, an) empty, false, worthless; ^ without substance
上六無實,承虛筐也。
54.6x Top six has no content
Offering a basket without substance
→ 55.T
Tuan Zhuan
(a nd) empty (out), drain, want; (and) ebb
豐,大也。明以動,故豐。王假之,尚大也。勿憂宜日中,宜照天下也。日中則昃,月盈則食,天地盈虛,與時消息,而況於人乎,況於鬼神乎。
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!
→ 61.T
Tuan Zhuan
hollowness, emptiness, openness, void
中孚,柔在內而剛得中。説而巽,孚乃化邦也。豚魚吉,信及豚魚也。利涉大川,乘木舟虛也。中孚以利贞,乃應乎天也。
The truth within
Flexibility dwells within while firmness secures the center
Satisfaction with adaptation
The true will then transform the realm
Piglets (and) fishes - promising:
Trust (is) extended to piglets (and) fishes
Worthwhile to cross the great stream:
Relying on a wooden boat’s hollowness
The truth within (is) accordingly worth (the) persistence:
Then (one) resonates with heaven
→ 46.3
Xiao Xiang 3
(an) empty
升虛邑,無所疑也。
46.3x Advancing upon an empty town:
(This is) no place for doubts
Homophones (xu)
盱xu1wide-eyed, amazed, astonished, [bug-eyed]需xu1(to be) essential, needful, necessary, insufficient, tantalized, suspended; (a, the) anticipation, suspense, expectation, desire, demand, need, duty, obligation, necessity, requirement, prerequisite; (to) wait, await, abide, bide time, postpone, tarry, stop, defer, do without, watch for, look out for, need, require (s, ed, ing); Shuowen has stopped by rain, waiting it out instead of not waiting for rain; [deferred gratification]繻xu1(the) silk jacket; fine clothing, glossed as ru2須xu1necessity, patience, waiting; essential徐xu2slowly; haltingly, hesitantly, carefully序xu4(to be) sequential, successive, ordered, ranked, orderly, arranged; (a, the) order, rank, sequence, succession, arrangement, precedence; preface, forward, introduction; (to) order, arrange in order; each in its place恤xu4(to) worry, take to heart, fret, fear, grieve, pity, suffer, care, sympathize, take care, care about (s, ed, ing); (to give) relief, alms, care, sympathy, compassion, consolation, succor; (to be) worried, concerned (with), anxious; zealous; taken to heart; (a, the) worry, anxiety, concern, care, pity, sorrow, suffering, anguish, sympathy, solicitude (s)續xu4(to) continue, connect; go (ing) on, through
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