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Yi Jing Introduction Table of content – I Ching, the Book of Changes

This famous system of 64 hexagrams plus their commentaries and trans­for­mations is at the root of Chinese thought. Tr. Wilhelm (en, fr).

































































5. Hsü / Waiting (Nourishment)
K´an, the Abysmal
  dangerous
  water
  second son Sky's two strokes trait 0 6      
trait 1 5 Li, the Clinging
  light-giving
  fire
  second daughter

Tui, the Joyous
  joyful
  lake
  third daughter
 
Man's two strokes trait 0 4  
Ch´ien, the Creative
  strong
  heaven
  father trait 1 3  
Earth's two strokes trait 1 2  
trait 1 1      
 
 
 
 
 

    current       binomial       swap trig.       opposite       flip   X leading master   X constituent master

The Hexagram


Hsü / Waiting (Nourishment)
Above K'AN THE ABYSMAL, WATER
Below CH'IEN THE CREATIVE, HEAVEN

All beings have need of nourishment from above. But the gift of food comes in its own time, and for this one must wait. This hexagram shows the clouds in the heavens, giving rain to refresh all that grows and to provide mankind with food and drink. The rain will come in its own time. We cannot make it come; we have to wait for it. The idea of waiting is further suggested by the attributes of the two trigrams–strength within, danger in front. Strength in the face of danger does not plunge ahead but bides its time, whereas weakness in the face of danger grows agitated and has not the patience to wait.

The Judgment


WAITING. If you are sincere,
You have light and success.
Perseverance brings good fortune.
It furthers one to cross the great water.

Waiting is not mere empty hoping. It has the inner certainty of reaching the goal. Such certainty alone gives that light which leads to success. This leads to the perseverance that brings good fortune and bestows power to cross the great water.

One is faced with a danger that has to be overcome. Weakness and impatience can do nothing. Only a strong man can stand up to his fate, for his inner security enables him to endure to the end. This strength shows itself in uncompromising truthfulness [with himself]. It is only when we have the courage to face things exactly as they are, without any sort of self-deception or illusion, that a light will develop out of events, by which the path to success may be recognized. This recognition must be followed by resolute and persevering action. For only the man who goes to meet his fate resolutely is equipped to deal with it adequately. Then he will be able to cross the great water–that is to say, he will be capable of making the necessary decision and of surmounting the danger.

The Image


Clouds rise up to heaven:
The image of WAITING.
Thus the superior man eats and drinks,
Is joyous and of good cheer.

When clouds rise in the sky, it is a sign that it will rain. There is nothing to do but to wait until after the rain falls. It is the same in life when destiny is at work. We should not worry and seek to shape the future by interfering in things before the time is ripe. We should quietly fortify the body with food and drink and the mind with gladness and good cheer. Fate comes when it will, and thus we are ready.

Lower line


Nine at the beginning means:
Waiting in the meadow.
It furthers one to abide in what endures.
No blame.

The danger is not yet close. One is still waiting on the open plain. Conditions are still simple, yet there is a feeling of something impending. One must continue to lead a regular life as long as possible. Only in this way does one guard against a premature waste of strength, keep free of blame and error that would become a source of weakness later on.

Second line


Nine in the second place means:
Waiting on the sand.
There is some gossip.
The end brings good fortune.

The danger gradually comes closer. Sand is near the bank of the river, and the water means danger. Disagreements crop up. General unrest can easily develop in such times, and we lay the blame on one another. He who stays calm will succeed in making things go well in the end. Slander will be silenced if we do not gratify it with injured retorts.

Third line


Nine in the third place means:
Waiting in the mud
Brings about the arrival of the enemy.

Mud is no place for waiting, since it is already being washed by the water of the stream. Instead of having gathered strength to cross the stream at one try, one has made a premature start that has got him no farther than the muddy bank. Such an unfavorable position invites enemies from without, who naturally take advantage of it. Caution and a sense of the seriousness of the situation are all that can keep one from injury.

Fourth line


Six in the fourth place means:
Waiting in blood.
Get out of the pit.

The situation is extremely dangerous. It is of utmost gravity now–a matter of life and death. Bloodshed seems imminent. There is no going forward or backward; we are cut off as if in a pit. Now we must simply stand fast and let fate take its course. This composure, which keeps us from aggravating the trouble by anything we might do, is the only way of getting out of the dangerous pit.

Fifth line


Nine in the fifth place means:
Waiting at meat and drink.
Perseverance brings good fortune.

Even in the midst of danger there come intervals of peace when things go relatively well. If we possess enough inner strength, we shall take advantage of these intervals to fortify ourselves for renewed struggle. We must know how to enjoy the moment without being deflected from the goal, for perseverance is needed to remain victorious.

This is true in public life as well; it is not possible to achieve everything all at once. The height of wisdom is to allow people enough recreation to quicken pleasure in their work until the task is completed. Herein lies the secret of the whole hexagram. It differs from Chin OBSTRUCTION (39), in the fact that in this instance, while waiting, we are sure of our cause and therefore do not lose the serenity born of inner cheerfulness.

Upper line


Six at the top means:
One falls into the pit.
Three uninvited guests arrive.
Honor them, and in the end there will be good fortune.

The waiting is over; the danger can no longer be averted. One falls into the pit and must yield to the inevitable. Everything seems to have been in vain. But precisely in this extremity things take an unforeseen turn. Without a move on one's own part, there is outside intervention. At first one cannot be sure of its meaning: is it rescue or is it destruction? A person in this situation must keep his mind alert and not withdraw into himself with a sulky gesture of refusal, but must greet the new turn with respect. Thus he ultimately escapes the danger, and all goes well. Even happy turns of fortune often come in a form that at first seems strange to us.

renoncement sublime
algiz – 1 – 2008/11/03
oioioioi
Anon. – 7 – 2008/11/02
...
Anon. – 8 – 2008/11/02
pourquoi ne pas utiliser la version original du livre de tranformation ?cela limitera tres certainement quelque commentaire inutiles juste une fois
Anon. – 2008/11/02
au revoir c'etait fort instructif
Anon. – 1 – 2008/11/02
Se dissoudre pour s'augmenter... Comme les bergers du ciel en dispersent les moutons de pluie pour mieux rendre lumière aux moutons de la Terre...
Avrel – 9 – 2008/11/02
Je n'ai fat que pleurer les dernieres mois a cause de la prise de conscience sur la dimention des douleurs que l'on cause a la terre. Je me demande si je vais trouver le courage d'acheter un billet d'avion por partir en Copenhage a la recherche de Hopenhagen ...et puis car je ne connais pas, il m'ont sugeré du faire du sac a dos vers cristiana, pour trouver si mon ami Amador qui avait eu un rêvé hier soir dont je trouvais l'amour de ma vie ...a Copenhage....Puis je dorme car il est tard maintenat et j'ai des rêves a dilucider.
Camaleon sans Chaussettes – 9 – 2008/11/02
Dagnelle j ai arreté de fumer, un an plus tard avec le fric économisé je suis partit en Chine. J y vis et travaille encore.
Fennec – 9 – 2008/11/02
sans cesse ...le 易经 m'aide, ses vérités sont de la pure joie
scalione – 8 – 2008/11/02
i'm fullfill with the prediction of my inner self to become real.
yoko – 5 – 2008/12/09
Thank you from the depths of my heart for creating this pure and wise vehicle to accessing the wisdom of the I Ching. It is a profound public service and is something I rely on with complete confidence and faith.
student of the late Kwong Tit Fu – 7 – 2008/12/08
me voila prete à en finir.. et que dois je penser ? qui est ce tigre sur la queue duquel je dois marcher ? faut il perseverer ?
Anon. – 9 – 2008/12/07
6 mois de pratique de Natha-Yoga...
nataraja – 2 – 2008/12/07
Thanks a lot!
Anon. – 8 – 2008/12/07
une réponse qui n'en est pas une ! synchronicités cosmique, j'enchaine avec Tsien / Le Développement (le Progrès Graduel)...
alex soyouth – 9 – 2008/12/06
in love with hilda ?
algiz – 3 – 2008/12/06
I'll keep trying!
Anon. – 6 – 2008/12/06
Merci Yi king, tu es un ami.
Anon. – 8 – 2008/12/06
era one
algiz – 8 – 2008/12/06
this is the very moment, I am getting this information from the universe, I am feeling the power and gain the power. I Ching is the guard.all will be good. yalin
Anon. – 5 – 2008/12/04
Yi Jing I. 5. (5) IntroductionTable of content
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I Ching, the Book of Changes – Yi Jing I. 5. – Chinese on/offFrançais/English
Alias Yijing, I Ching, Yi King, I Ging, Zhou yi, The Classic of Changes (Lynn), The Elemental Changes (Nylan), Le Livre des Changements (Javary), Das Buch der Wandlung.

The Book of Odes, The Analects, Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, Three-characters book, The Book of Changes, The Way and its Power, 300 Tang Poems, The Art of War, Thirty-Six Strategies
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