END OF PART I Moving Forward
3 TEXTS OF LINES
Yin 1
While treading on ground covered with frost, One knows that the solid ice may come soon.
Yin 1 ( ) indicates that the subject does not want to push the rela-tionship forward. he object does not either. here is no interaction be-tween the subject and the object; the relationship is cool and the subject feels chilly, as if treading on ground covered with frost. If the subject maintains this yin action, the relationship will become even cooler. he subject should anticipate that a diicult time is coming, as “the solid ice may come soon.” he subject should change his or her action from yin to yang.
his line is in an incorrect position and in conlict with yin 4 ( ). he
yin action of the subject is unfavorable.
Yin 2
he world is straight, square and large.
Gain beneit without practice.
Ancient people believed that the earth was big, lat, and square. In a relationship this relaxed, the subject and the object feel as though they are freely living on the vast earth.
Yin 2 ( ) indicates that the subject is in a weak position, having little strength. However, the yin essence does not hinder the subject from success, since there is plenty of room for him or her to move around.
he environment is so relaxed and the way of gaining beneit is so easy, the subject could even gain beneit without the experience that comes from practice.
his line is in a central and correct position, but in conlict with yin 5 ( ). he yin essence of the subject is neutral, or a little favorable.
Yin 3
Covering his or her brilliance, One may stay on the current course.
If one serves the country, One might be not successful, But will have a good ending.
Yin 3 ( ) indicates that the subject is very humble, covering up bril-liance, and not showing of talent. “he country” refers to the object.
Since the object does not know the capability of the subject, “if one serves the country,” one might not be successful. But inally, through this service, the object will come to know the subject and the subject
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will “have a good ending.”
his line is in an incorrect position and in conlict with yin 6 ( ). he yin attitude of the subject is unfavorable.
Yin 4 A sack is tied.
here is no blame, Nor honor.
Yin 4 ( ) indicates that the object is unwilling to open up to the sub-ject: “A sack is tied.” he subject should respect the object’s privacy, and does not have to try to untie the sack. he tied sack is not the business of the subject. he subject should not be blamed or praised.
his line is in a correct position, but in conlict with yin 1 ( ). he yin action of the object is neutral.
Yin 5
he situation is like wearing a yellow garment, Which shows nobility.
It is very favorable.
In ancient China, the emperor rewards the servant with “yellow gar-ments” as an honor and a symbol of high rank in the government. Yin 5 ( ) indicates that the object needs help from the subject. If the subject extends this help, the subject could be repaid for the ofer. So the situa-tion becomes favorable to the subject, like a reward of “yellow garments.”
his line is central but in an incorrect position and in conlict with yin 2 ( ). he yin essence of the object is neutral or a little favorable.
Yin 6
he dragons were ighting on a ield.
he blood of the dragons turned to black, Mixed with yellow dirt.
“Dragons” are legendary animals, very active and with great strength.
In hexagram Ø:Ø, both the subject and object are adaptive, represented by trigram Ø. So these dragons cannot be interpreted as representing the subject or the object. Instead, this is the time of a new beginning, ater the battle of dragons is over and their blood has soaked into the earth.
Yin 6 ( ) indicates that the object is humble, adaptable, agreeable and lexible. he subject has the same attitude as well. Both subject and object do not care to be arrogant or rough, like a dragon interested in ighting. So the relationship is at peace, like a quiet ield where the ight-ing between the dragons is over: “he blood of the dragons turned to black mixed with yellow dirt.” he ighting is history. he subject and the object are ready to start a new stage of the relationship.
his line is in a correct position, but in conlict with yin 3 ( ). he yin attitude of the object is neutral.
Use Yin
It is beneicial to stay on the current course forever.
he text of “Use Yin” ofers general instruction on how to use the yin lines in all the hexagrams. his text applies to the general interpretation of yang lines in all of the sixty-four hexagrams, except hexagram 7:7, which contains no yang lines.
“he current course” refers to the situation where the subject is now.
he text suggests that the subject remain wherever he or she is. his does not mean that things remain static, without change, but means that
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129 The Power of I Ching
the subject should be patient in waiting for a favorable chance to come.
hings in the world are always changing. Even if the subject stands still at a point in the road, the subject’s situation will keep changing: he aspects of the object could change and the situation of the subject also undergoes a natural change. (See Chapter 8.)
he text of “Use Yin” tells the subject that the yin line is like a red light at the intersection. Be patient, it says; wait at the stop line. he green light or green arrow will come soon, to guide or move the subject for-ward tofor-ward his or her destiny.
2
Hexagram Ø:1 Deprivation (In Zhou Yi, hexagram 23)he title, Deprivation, means that the subject is deprived of proper rights in the relationship. In Chinese, the word for “deprivation” is “bo,”
meaning “peel of,” “exploit” or “deprive.”
Trigram Ø ( ), Earth (adaptability), is the subject; trigram 1 ( ), Mountain (stopping), is the object. he subject is kind and gentle, like the earth, but the object behaves in a way that is tough and arrogant, like a mountain standing in the way, depriving the subject of the freedom to move ahead. he subject should be clever and lexible, to take advantage of whatever small opportunities arise: If “there are a lot of ripe fruit and nobody eats them,” the subject should take “them away with a wagon.”