Mountain under heaven: the image of Retreat. Thus the superior man keeps the inferior man at a distance, Not angrily but with reserve.
*** At the tail in retreat. This is dangerous. One must not wish to undertake anything.
*** He holds him fast with yellow oxhide. No one can tear him loose.
*** A halted retreat Is nerve-wracking and dangerous. To retain people as men- and maidservants Brings good fortune.
*** Voluntary retreat brings good fortune to the superior man And downfall to the inferior man.
*** Friendly retreat. Perseverance brings good fortune.
*** Cheerful retreat. Everything serves to further.
Retreat. Success. In what is small, perseverance furthers.
59 huàn 渙 ䷺ Dispersing/dispersion (dissolution)/dispersal -The wind drives over the water: The image of Dispersion. Thus the kings of old sacrificed to the Lord And built temples.
*** He brings help with the strength of a horse. Good fortune.
*** At the dissolution He hurries to that which supports him. Remorse disappears.
*** He dissolves his self. No remorse.
*** He dissolves his bond with his group. Supreme good fortune. Dispersion leads in turn to accumulation. This is something that ordinary men do not think of.
*** His loud cries are as dissolving as sweat. Dissolution! A king abides without blame.
*** He dissolves his blood. Departing, keeping at a distance, going out, Is without blame.
Dispersion. Success. The king approaches his temple. It furthers one to cross the great water. Perseverance furthers.
41 sǔn 損 ䷨ Diminishing/decrease/ -At the foot of the mountain, the lake: The image of Decrease. Thus the superior man controls his anger And restrains his instincts.
*** Going quickly when one's tasks are finished Is without blame. But one must reflect on how much one may decrease others.
*** Perseverance furthers. To undertake something brings misfortune. Without decreasing oneself, One is able to bring increase to others.
*** When three people journey together, Their number decreases by one. When one man journeys alone, He finds a companion.
*** If a man decreases his faults, It makes the other hasten to come and rejoice. No blame.
*** Someone does indeed increase him. Ten pairs of tortoises cannot oppose it. Supreme good fortune.
*** If one is increased without depriving others, there is no blame. Perseverance brings good fortune. It furthers one to undertake something. One obtains servants But no longer has a separate home.
Decrease combined with sincerity Brings about supreme good fortune Without blame. One may be persevering in this. It furthers one to undertake something. How is this to be carried out? One may use two small bowls for the sacrifice.
48 jǐng 井 ䷯ the well// -Water over wood: the image of The Well. Thus the superior man encourages the people at their work, And exhorts them to help one another.
*** One does not drink the mud of the well. No animals come to an old well.
*** At the well hole one shoots fishes. The jug is broken and leaks.
*** The well is cleaned, but no one drinks from it. This is my heart's sorrow, For one might draw from it. If the king were clear-minded, Good fortune might be enjoyed in common.
*** The well is being lined. No blame.
*** In the well there is a clear, cold spring From which one can drink.
*** One draws from the well Without hindrance. It is dependable. Supreme good fortune.
The Well. The town may be changed, But the well cannot be changed. It neither decreases nor increases. They come and go and draw from the well. If one gets down almost to the water And the rope does not go all the way, Or the jug breaks, it brings misfortune.
13 tóng rén 同人 ䷌ Concording People/fellowship with men/gathering men -Heaven together with fire: The image of Fellowship with Men. Thus the superior man organizes the clans And makes distinctions between things.
*** Fellowship with men at the gate. No blame.
*** Fellowship with men in the clan. Humiliation.
*** He hides weapons in the thicket; He climbs the high hill in front of it. For three years he does not rise up.
*** He climbs up on his wall; he cannot attack. Good fortune.
*** Men bound in fellowship first weep and lament, But afterward they laugh. After great struggles they succeed in meeting.
*** Fellowship with men in the meadow. No remorse.
Fellowship with Men in the open. Success. It furthers one to cross the great water. The perseverance of the superior man furthers.
46 shēng 升 ䷭ Ascending/pushing upward/ -Within the earth, wood grows: The image of Pushing Upward. Thus the superior man of devoted character Heaps up small things In order to achieve something high and great.
*** Pushing upward that meets with confidence Brings great good fortune.
*** If one is sincere, It furthers one to bring even a small offering. No blame.
*** One pushes upward into an empty city.
*** The king offers him Mount Ch'i. Good fortune. No blame.
*** Perseverance brings good fortune. One pushes upward by steps.
*** Pushing upward in darkness. It furthers one to be unremittingly persevering.
Pushing upward has supreme success. One must see the great man. Fear not. Departure toward the south Brings good fortune.
29 kǎn 坎 ䷜ Gorge/the abysmal (water)/repeated entrapment -Water flows on uninterruptedly and reaches it goal: The image of the Abysmal repeated. Thus the superior man walks in lasting virtue And carries on the business of teaching.
*** Repetition of the Abysmal. In the abyss one falls into a pit. Misfortune.
*** The abyss is dangerous. One should strive to attain small things only.
*** Forward and backward, abyss on abyss. In danger like this, pause at first and wait, Otherwise you will fall into a pit in the abyss. Do not act in this way.
*** A jug of wine, a bowl of rice with it; Earthen vessels Simply handed in through the window. There is certainly no blame in this.
*** The abyss is not filled to overflowing, It is filled only to the rim. No blame.
*** Bound with cords and ropes, Shut in between thorn-hedged prison walls: For three years one does not find the way. Misfortune.
The Abysmal repeated. If you are sincere, you have success in your heart, And whatever you do succeeds.
62 xiǎo guò 小過 ䷽ Small Exceeding/preponderance of the small/small surpassing -Thunder on the mountain: The image of Preponderance of the Small. Thus in his conduct the superior man gives preponderance to reverence. In bereavement he gives preponderance to grief. In his expenditures he gives preponderance to thrift.
*** The bird meets with misfortune through flying.
*** She passes by her ancestor And meets her ancestress. He does not reach his prince And meets the official. No blame.
*** If one is not extremely careful, Somebody may come up from behind and strike him. Misfortune.
*** No blame. He meets him without passing by. Going brings danger. One must be on guard. Do not act. Be constantly persevering.
*** Dense clouds, No rain from our western territory. The prince shoots and hits him who is in the cave.
*** He passes him by, not meeting him. The flying bird leaves him. Misfortune. This means bad luck and injury.
Preponderance of the Small. Success. Perseverance furthers. Small things may be done; great things should not be done. The flying bird brings the message: It is not well to strive upward, It is well to remain below. Great good fortune.