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.

Under heaven thunder rolls: All things attain the natural state of innocence. Thus the kings of old, Rich in virtue, and in harmony with the time, Fostered and nourished all beings.

*** Innocent behavior brings good fortune.

*** If one does not count on the harvest while plowing, Nor on the use of the ground while clearing it, It furthers one to undertake something.

*** Undeserved misfortune. The cow that was tethered by someone Is the wanderer's gain, the citizen's loss.

*** He who can be persevering Remains without blame.

*** Use no medicine in an illness Incurred through no fault of your own. It will pass of itself.

*** Innocent action brings misfortune. Nothing furthers.

Innocence. Supreme success. Perseverance furthers. If someone is not as he should be, He has misfortune, And it does not further him To undertake something.

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.

Fire over wood: The image of The Caldron. Thus the superior man consolidates his fate By making his position correct.

*** A ting with legs upturned. Furthers removal of stagnating stuff. One takes a concubine for the sake of her son. No blame.

*** There is food in the ting. My comrades are envious, But they cannot harm me. Good fortune.

*** The handle of the ting is altered. One is impeded in his way of life. The fat of the pheasant is not eaten. Once rain falls, remorse is spent. Good fortune comes in the end.

*** The legs of the ting are broken. The prince's meal is spilled And his person is soiled. Misfortune.

*** The ting has yellow handles, golden carrying rings. Perseverance furthers.

*** The ting has rings of jade. Great good fortune. Nothing that would not act to further.

The Caldron. Supreme good fortune. Success.

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.

Thunder and rain set in: The image of Deliverance. Thus the superior man pardons mistakes And forgives misdeeds.

*** Without blame.

*** One kills three foxes in the field And receives a yellow arrow. Perseverance brings good fortune.

*** If a man carries a burden on his back And nontheless rides in a carriage, He thereby encourages robbers to draw near. Perseverance leads to humiliation.

*** Deliver yourself from your great toe. Then the companion comes, And him you can trust.

*** If only the superior man can deliver himself, It brings good fortune. Thus he proves to inferior men that he is in earnest.

*** The prince shoots at a hawk on a high wall. He kills it. Everything serves to further.

Deliverance. The southwest furthers. If there is no longer anything where one has to go, Return brings good fortune. If there is still something where one has to go, Hastening brings good fortune.

Winds following one upon the other: The image of the Gently Penetrating. Thus the superior man Spreads his commands abroad And carries out his undertakings.

*** In advancing and in retreating, The perseverance of a warrior furthers.

*** Penetration under the bed. Priests and magicians are used in great number. Good fortune. No blame.

*** Repeated penetration. Humiliation.

*** Remorse vanishes. During the hunt Three kinds of game are caught.

*** Perseverance brings good fortune. Remorse vanishes. Nothing that does not further. No beginning, but an end. Before the change, three days. After the change, three days. Good fortune.

*** Penetration under the bed. He loses his property and his ax Perseverance brings misfortune.

The Gentle. Success through what is small. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. It furthers one to see the great man.

Water on the mountain: The image of Obstruction. Thus the superior man turns his attention to himself And molds his character.

*** Going leads to obstructions, Coming meets with praise.

*** The king's servant is beset by obstruction upon obstruction, But it is not his own fault.

*** Going leads to obstructions; Hence he comes back.

*** Going leads to obstructions, Coming leads to union.

*** In the midst of the greatest obstructions, Friends come.

*** Going leads to obstructions, Coming leads to great good fortune. It furthers one to see the great man.

Obstruction. The southwest furthers. The northeast does not further. It furthers one to see the great man. Perseverance brings good fortune.