否 → 兌

Commentary

Heaven and earth refuse to communicate as an official removes his cap and recommends a worthy successor, then walks out of court on foot. Yet the gate's structure is unsound, and treacherous elements breed trouble within. Removing one's cap to recommend talent was a gesture of utmost sincerity in the Han court — staking one's own position to elevate another. From Standstill to The Joyous, Pi's sealed world should open into the doubled lake of mutual delight and learning. Yet the verse subverts Dui's promise: the noble gesture of recommendation is undermined by corruption at the gate. The Joyous demands openness — 'friends discussing and practicing together' — but when the institution's foundation is crooked, even sincere generosity cannot prevent the thieves from entering.