above Dui, the Joyous, lake · below Kan, the Abysmal, water
This sign speaks of exhaustion, and of words that are not getting through just now. The Judgement has something bitter to say about it: ‘When one has something to say, it is not believed.’ So in hard times, be strong within and say little. Even so, he sees a way through: the cheerfulness you hold on to, and staying true to yourself. Stop explaining yourself, and put your strength into what matters to you most deeply. Don’t let yourself be broken inside: for anyone whom hardship merely bends, it turns out well in the end.
What do you want to save your strength for while words achieve nothing?
Above is the lake, with the water beneath it. The lake is empty and exhausted. The idea of exhaustion comes out in yet another way: above, a dark line holds down two light ones; below, a light line is wedged between two dark ones. The upper sign belongs to the dark principle, while the lower belongs to the light principle. So everywhere the noble ones are oppressed and held in check by base people.
Some old words keep coming back in Wilhelm’s sayings:
Oppression. Success. Perseverance.The great man brings about good fortune. No blame.When one has something to say, it is not believed.
Times of hardship are the opposite of success. But they can lead to success if they meet the right person. When a strong person falls into hardship, he stays cheerful in spite of all danger, and this cheerfulness is the foundation of later successes. It is the steadfastness that is stronger than fate. Whoever lets exhaustion break him inwardly will of course have no success. But in one whom hardship merely bends, it produces a power of resistance that is sure to come to light in time. Yet no base man is capable of this. Only the great man brings about good fortune and remains without blame. Admittedly, he is at first denied influence outwardly, since his words have no effect. Therefore in times of hardship it is important to be strong within and to say little.
There is no water in the lake: the image of exhaustion.Thus the noble one risks his lifeto follow his will.
When the water has flowed down out of the lake, the lake must dry up and be exhausted. That is fate. It is the image of adverse turns of fate in human life. In such times nothing can be done but to accept one’s fate and remain true to oneself. But what is at stake here is the deepest layer of one’s real being; for only that is superior to every outward fate.
Wilhelm placed the signs ○ and □ after certain lines (p. 334 f.). They mark the rulers of the hexagram. □ stands by the constituting ruler: the line that gives the hexagram its meaning, however high it stands and whatever its character. ○ stands by the governing ruler. It is always of good character and becomes ruler through the meaning of the time and its position, usually in the fifth place. Where a line is both, it carries ○.
One sits hard pressed beneath a bare treeand comes into a dark valley.For three years one sees nothing.
This line shows hardship when you give in to it: you stay sitting where you are, and it grows darker and darker. This is an inner delusion that has to be overcome. Get up and take a step, however small; sitting still only makes the situation more hopeless.
When one falls into hardship, it is above all important to be strong and to overcome it inwardly. But if one is weak, hardship overwhelms one. Instead of going on, one stays sitting beneath a bare tree and sinks ever deeper into darkness and melancholy. This only makes the situation more and more hopeless. This attitude comes from an inner delusion, which one must overcome at all costs.
One is hard pressed amid wine and food.The man with the scarlet knee bands is just coming.It is favourable to make offerings.To set out brings misfortune.No blame.
This distress comes from within: outwardly everything is provided for, yet you are worn out by the ordinary round of daily life and see no way out. Help from above is on its way, though obstacles still stand in the path. Don’t set off unprepared; that would turn out badly. Meet the obstacles with patience and inner collectedness, with prayer or an offering, and that is not a mistake.
Here the distress one is in is an inner one. Outwardly all is well; one has food and drink. But one is exhausted by the ordinary round of life, from which no way out appears. Yet help comes from above. A prince (in ancient China the princes wore scarlet knee bands) is looking for capable helpers. But there are still obstacles to overcome. Therefore it is important to meet these obstacles in the unseen through offering and prayer. To set out unprepared would lead to misfortune, although it is not morally wrong. Here one must overcome an adverse situation through inner patience.
One lets oneself be hard pressed by stoneand leans on thorns and thistles.One goes into one’s house and does not see one’s wife. Misfortune!
This is a person who wavers in hardship: first trying to force their way through the wall, then leaning on things that give no support, and at home not finding what they are looking for. That turns out badly. Don’t charge thoughtlessly at every wall, and lean only on what will bear your weight.
Here we see a man who is restless and undecided in times of hardship. First he wants to press forward; then he runs into obstacles, which, however, mean oppression only if one goes at them without thinking. One tries to go through the wall head first and, as a result, feels hard pressed by the wall. Then one leans on things that have no firmness in themselves and are a danger only to whoever leans on them. Now one turns back irresolutely and withdraws into one’s house, only to discover, to one’s fresh disappointment, that one’s wife is not there.
Kungtse says of this: ‘If someone lets himself be hard pressed by something that ought not to press him, his name will surely fall into disgrace. If he leans on things that cannot be leaned on, his life will surely be endangered. For one who is in disgrace and danger, the hour of death draws near; how then can he still see his wife!’
He comes very slowly, hard pressed in a golden carriage.Humiliation, but one reaches the end.
Here someone with means sees the distress of others and wants to help, yet goes about it hesitantly; meanwhile influential acquaintances draw them into their circles, and they end up embarrassed. That is humiliating, though only for a while. Take hold more boldly where help is needed; the original strength makes up for the mistake, and the goal is reached.
A well-to-do man sees the distress of those below and would quite like to help. But instead of taking hold quickly and energetically where it is needed, he begins the matter hesitantly and with measured steps. Then he meets obstacles. Powerful and rich acquaintances draw him into their circles. He has to go along with them and cannot get away from them. So he finds himself in great embarrassment. But the distress is only temporary. The original strength of his nature makes up for the mistake he has made, and the goal is reached.
His nose and feet are cut off.One is hard pressed by the man with the purple knee bands.Joy comes slowly.It is favourable to bring offerings and gifts.
This is someone who has the welfare of others at heart and is hard pressed from above and below; the very people whose duty it would be to help do not join in. The situation improves slowly. Until then, gather yourself inwardly and stand up for the good of the whole with prayer and gifts.
Someone who has the welfare of people at heart is hard pressed from above and from below (that is the meaning of the cut-off nose and feet). One finds no help among those whose duty it would be to share in the work of rescue (the ministers wore purple knee bands). Yet things gradually take a turn for the better. Until then it is important to come before God in strong inner collectedness and to pray and make offerings for the welfare of the whole.
He is hard pressed by tendrils.He moves uncertainly and says: ‘Movement brings remorse.’If one feels remorse about this and sets out, one has good fortune.
The oppression is almost over, and what still holds you fast are tendrils that tear easily. Even so you hesitate, afraid that any movement might be something to regret. Drop that attitude, make a firm resolve and set out; then it turns out well, and you master the situation.
One is hard pressed by bonds that are easily torn. The oppression is drawing to its end. But one is still irresolute. One is still influenced by the earlier state of things and thinks one will have cause for remorse if one moves. But as soon as one comes to see clearly, lays aside this attitude of mind and makes a firm resolve, one succeeds in mastering the oppression.
Would you like to put your own question to the I Ching? Six throws of three coins, and the answer appears straight away.
Consult the I ChingTexts by Richard Wilhelm: I Ging. Das Buch der Wandlungen (first edition Jena 1924), translated into English by NUMEN COMPASS from the Diederichs edition, Munich 1996. Wilhelm’s German text is in the public domain. The section ‘What the hexagram says today’, the question for you and the short notes under the lines are our own reading. The I Ching is no substitute for medical, legal or psychological advice.