家人

Hexagram 47: Oppression → Hexagram 37: The Family

Oppression
Lake / Water
家人
The Family
Wind / Fire
Changing LinesStable Lines

Changing Lines

This transformation involves 5 changing lines (lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 6).

Line 1

初六 臀困于株木。入于幽谷。三歲不覿。

túnwith rump
kùnbeset
by
zhūcane
of wood
entering
into
yōuthe gloomy
valley
sānfor three
suìyears
not
覿seen face to face

Six at the beginning means: One sits oppressed under a bare tree And strays into a gloomy valley. For three years one sees nothing.

Line 2

九二 困于酒食。朱紱方來。利用享祀。征凶无咎。

kùnbeset
amidst
jiǔwine
shíand food
zhūthe scarlet
sashed nobles
fāngsuddenly
láiarrive
worthwhile
yòngand useful
xiǎngto offer up
the sacrifice + to give up this spirit
zhēnginitiative
xiōngbut

Nine in the second place means: One is oppressed while at meat and drink. The man with the scarlet knee bands is just coming. It furthers one to offer sacrifice. To set forth brings misfortune. No blame.

Line 3

六三 困于石。據于蒺蔾。入于其宮。不見其妻。凶。

kùnbeset
by
shístone
seize
upon
thorns
brambles
entering
into
his
gōnghouse
but not
jiànseeing
his
wife
xiōngunfortunate

Six in the third place means: A man permits himself to be oppressed by stone, And leans on thorns and thistles. He enters the house and does not see his wife. Misfortune.

Line 4

九四 來徐徐。困于金車。吝。有終。

láiapproaching
slowly
so slowly
kùnbeset
in
jīnmetal
chēchariot
lìnbut the
yǒuhas
zhōngan end

Nine in the fourth place means: He comes very quietly, oppressed in a golden carriage. Humiliation, but the end is reached.

Line 6

上六 困于葛藟。于臲卼。曰動悔有悔。征吉。

kùnbeset
by
creeping
lěiand vines
proceeding
nièunsteadiliness
and awkwardly(ness)
yuēand
dòngthat action
huǐis
yǒuto have
huǐthe regret(s)
zhēngand expedite
is promising

Six at the top means: He is oppressed by creeping vines. He moves uncertainly and says, "Movement brings remorse. " If one feels remorse over this and makes a start, Good fortune comes.

Trigram Changes

Upper TrigramLake WindThe Joyous → The Gentle
Lower TrigramWater FireThe Deep → The Clinging

Yilin Verse

舉翅攄翼,跂望南國。延頸卻縮,未有所得。

Lifting wings and spreading pinions, gazing expectantly toward the southern land. Stretching the neck then drawing back; nothing yet obtained.

— Jiao Yanshou, Yilin (Forest of Changes), 1st century BCE

Commentary

A lake without water: a bird lifts its wings and spreads them wide, straining on tiptoe to gaze toward the southern lands. It stretches its neck forward, then draws back, having gained nothing. The image is of longing without consummation: desire fixed on a distant goal, the body straining toward it, but no progress made. The neck extends and retreats in a painful rhythm of hope and disappointment. From Oppression to the Family, wind issues from fire, and the gentleman ensures his words have substance and his conduct has constancy. The bird that gazes south but never arrives must learn the Family's lesson: lasting influence begins at home, in the immediate and the intimate, not in grand aspirations toward far horizons.

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