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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).

































































49. Ko / Revolution (Molting)
Tui, the Joyous
  joyful
  lake
  third daughter Sky's two strokes trait 0 6      
trait 1 5 Ch´ien, the Creative
  strong
  heaven
  father

Sun, the Gentle
  penetrating
  wind, wood
  first daughter
 
Man's two strokes trait 1 4  
Li, the Clinging
  light-giving
  fire
  second daughter trait 1 3  
Earth's two strokes trait 0 2  
trait 1 1      
 
 
 
 
 

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

The Hexagram


Ko / Revolution (Molting)
Above TUI THE JOYOUS, LAKE
Below LI THE CLINGING, FIRE

The Chinese character for this hexagram means in its original sense an animal's pelt, which is changed in the course of the year by molting. From this word is carried over to apply to the "moltings" in political life, the great revolutions connected with changes of governments.

The two trigrams making up the hexagram are the same two that appear in K'uei, OPPOSITION (38 ), that is, the two younger daughters, Li and Tui. But while there the elder of the two daughters is above, and what results is essentially only an opposition of tendencies, here the younger daughter is above. The influences are in actual conflict, and the forces combat each other like fire and water (lake), each trying to destroy the other. Hence the idea of revolution.

The Judgment


REVOLUTION. On your own day
You are believed.
Supreme success,
Furthering through perseverance.
Remorse disappears.

Political revolutions are extremely grave matters. They should be undertaken only under stress of direst necessity, when there is no other way out. Not everyone is called to this task, but only the man who has the confidence of the people, and even he only when the time is ripe. He must then proceed in the right way, so that he gladdens the people and, by enlightening them, prevents excesses. Furthermore, he must be quite free of selfish aims and must really relieve the need of the people. Only then does he have nothing to regret.

Times change, and with them their demands. Thus the seasons change in the course of the year. In the world cycle also there are spring and autumn in the life of peoples and nations, and these call for social transformations.

The Image


Fire in the lake: the image of REVOLUTION.
Thus the superior man
Sets the calendar in order
And makes the seasons clear.

Fire below and the lake above combat and destroy each other. So too in the course of the year a combat takes place between the forces of light and the forces of darkness, eventuating in the revolution of the seasons. Man masters these changes in nature by noting their regularity and marking off the passage of time accordingly. In this way order and clarity appear in the apparently chaotic changes of the seasons, and man is able to adjust himself in advance to the demands of the different times.

Lower line


Nine at the beginning means:
Wrapped in the hide of a yellow cow.

Changes ought to be undertaken only when there is nothing else to be done. Therefore at first the utmost restraint is necessary. One must become firm in one's mind, control oneself–yellow is the color of the mean, and the cow is the symbol of docility–and refrain from doing anything for the time being, because any premature offensive will bring evil results.

Second line


Six in the second place means:
When one's own day comes, one may create revolution.
Starting brings good fortune. No blame.

When we have tried in every other way to bring about reforms, but without success, revolution becomes necessary. But such a thoroughgoing upheaval must be carefully prepared. There must be available a man who has the requisite abilities and who possesses public confidence. To such a man we may well turn. This brings good fortune and is not a mistake. The first thing to be considered is our inner attitude toward the new condition that will inevitably come. We have to go out to meet it, as it were. Only in this way can it be prepared for.

Third line


Nine in the third place means:
Starting brings misfortune.
Perseverance brings danger.
When talk of revolution has gone the rounds three times,
One may commit himself,
And men will believe him.

When change is necessary, there are two mistakes to be avoided. One lies in excessive haste and ruthlessness, which bring disaster. The other lies in excessive hesitation and conservatism, which are also dangerous. Not every demand for change in the existing order should be heeded. On the other hand, repeated and well-founded complaints should not fail of a hearing. When talk of change has come to one's ears three times, and has been pondered well, he may believe and acquiesce in it. Then he will meet with belief and will accomplish something.

Fourth line


Nine in the fourth place means:
Remorse disappears. Men believe him.
Changing the form of government brings good fortune.

Radical changes require adequate authority. A man must have inner strength as well as influential position. What he does must correspond with a higher truth and must not spring from arbitrary or petty motives; then it brings great good fortune. If a revolution is not founded on such inner truth, the results are bad, and it has no success. For in the end men will support only those undertakings which they feel instinctively to be just.

Fifth line


Nine in the fifth place means:
The great man changes like a tiger.
Even before he questions the oracle
He is believed.

A tigerskin, with its highly visible black stripes on a yellow ground, shows its distinct pattern from afar. It is the same with a revolution brought about by a great man: large, clear guiding lines become visible, understandable to everyone. Therefore he need not first consult the oracle, for he wins the spontaneous support of the people.

Upper line


Six at the top means:
The superior man changes like a panther.
The inferior man molts in the face.
Starting brings misfortune.
To remain persevering brings good fortune.

After the large and fundamental problems are settled, certain minor reforms, and elaborations of these, are necessary. These detailed reforms may be likened to the equally distinct but relatively small marks of the panther's coat. As a consequence, a change also takes place among the inferior people. In conformity with the new order, they likewise "molt. " This molting, it is true, does not go very deep, but that is not to be expected. We must be satisfied with the attainable. If we should go too far and try to achieve too much, it would lead to unrest and misfortune. For the object of a great revolution is the attainment of clarified, secure conditions ensuring a general stabilization on the basis of what is possible at the moment.

Une suggestion pour les personnes qui écrivent dans les commentaires : plutôt que d'écrire des choses incompréhensibles vous pourriez plutôt, par exemple : 1) ajouter un texte ou un proverbe qui illustre bien l'hexagramme ou qui va dans le même sens. 2) Enoncer la question que vous avez posée à l'oracle et comment vous avez reçu la réponse. 3) Ajouter un commentaire explicatif qui complète la réponse : une histoire vécue qui illustre la portée de l'hexagramme. A vous. Merci.
Tao-In – 2009/12/01
Une suggestion pour les personnes qui écrivent dans les commentaires : plutôt que d'écrire des choses incompréhensibles vous pourriez plutôt, par exemple : 1) ajouter un texte ou un proverbe qui illustre bien l'hexagramme ou qui va dans le même sens. 2) Enoncer la question que vous avez posée à l'oracle et comment vous avez reçu la réponse. 3) Ajouter un commentaire explicatif qui complète la réponse : une histoire vécue qui illustre la portée de l'hexagramme. A vous. Merci.
Anon. – 2009/12/01
Ce site est tres interessant et bien constitue!
... les commentaires: nonsense!!!  ?!?!
Anon. – 2008/12/04
Normalement t'es rousse
1p0 – 2008/12/03
je te plaque et tu peux garder les gosses ^^
Orsius – 2008/12/02
La révolution pour l'abondance
après le solstice comme un soleil au midi
Tchen rencontre Li
et la quiétude parachève
algizsowilo – 2007/11/03
form sent
Anon. – 2007/12/04
choglamsar 22.10.2007 vote populiste en Suisse
Anon. – 2006/10/31
love sent
Anon. – 2006/12/09
evol sent f 31 01 07
lena – 2006/12/02
evol sent f 24 01 2007
lena – 2006/12/02
evol rel h f
lena – 2005/11/02
le dojo marque d'exacertude serat grandissant dans la seconde decade prener soins pendant les autres decade car ils sont minime si l'on utilise l'ordre de ming qui n'est pas un restaurant mais ma maitresse voila tu sais tout je te plaque et tu peut garder les gossses
jin kazama – 2005/12/01
Yi Jing I. 49. (49) IntroductionTable of content
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I Ching, the Book of Changes – Yi Jing I. 49. – Chinese off/onFrançais/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.

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