The wisdom of I Ching

Chapter 2 The First Hexagram Stem (1)
the great heaven is the way of the king
wisdom
up and down
Qian, Yuan, Heng, Li, Zhen.

The first hexagram of 64 hexagrams is Qian hexagram; the second hexagram is Kun hexagram. "Qian" means heaven, and "kun" means earth. "Xu Gua Zhuan" said: "There is heaven and earth, and then all things are born." Heaven and earth are the root of creation of all things; therefore, it is listed as the first and second hexagrams of the 64 hexagrams.

"Qian" is the stretched form of phosgene at sunrise; it also has the meaning of "jian" with similar pronunciation.In the duality of yang and yin that constitutes the universe, yang has the essence of creative and active "health" and is purely composed of yang qi, the largest of which is heaven; ", which is equivalent to the sky.Then, use two threes to overlap up and down to represent the complex changes in the way of heaven.

Both the upper and lower hexagrams are used, and they symbolize the purest yang and the highest health, to emphasize that the appearance of the sky remains unchanged.

However, why is this hexagram named "Qian" instead of Tian directly?Because the sky is a visible image, and "Qian" is named after the function of the sky.

"Qian, Yuan, Heng, Li, Zhen" is the "hexagram speech" of the Qian hexagram, which is an assertion for judging good or bad luck. "Qian" is the name of the hexagram, which is the function of the sky and the law of the sky. "Yuan" has the meaning of big and beginning. "Heng" means Tong, "Li" means harmony, and "Zhen" means righteousness and firmness.The original intention of King Wen's "Hexagrams" was to say: "The function of heaven is the great root of the creation of all things, unimpeded, peaceful and beneficial, omnipotent, and persistent." Persistence is the most important thing. The motive must be pure and must last. Continuing, the final result will still not be complete.

Ninth day: Qianlong, don't use it. "Chu" starts from the bottom, the first line of the Qian Gua; "Nine" is the Yang line.This is the assertion made by the Duke of Zhou when the Qian hexagram is obtained during divination, and the first line appears Laoyang; that is, although it is a yang line, it may also become a yin line.

"Dragon" is the most revered mysterious animal in ancient my country. It can live in three places, dive into the abyss, walk on land, and soar in the sky. It has an unpredictable and impermanent character.Therefore, it is used to symbolize the changes in the way of heaven, the ebb and flow of yin and yang, and the impermanence of human affairs. At the same time, it is also used to symbolize the infinite potential of heaven and great figures who can make a difference.

"Dive" means to hide.The activity of the dragon belongs to the Yang line. Although this line is Yang line, it is located at the bottom, that is, when the Yang energy has just occurred underground and cannot move outside; "Do not use" means that it cannot function or Taking action has the meaning of unusable, unusable, and unnecessary; but it also has the meaning of potential power, unpredictable, and difficult to limit.

This line shows that during the incubation period, one should wait patiently and not act rashly.Ninety-two: Seeing the dragon in the field, benefiting to see the adults.The second line of the Qian hexagram is in the center of the next hexagram, so "getting the middle" is a favorable position. "Two" is an even number and belongs to yin. If a yang line appears in the yin position, it is usually considered "not right"; but in the two hexagrams Qian and Kun, there is no question of whether it is right or wrong.In addition, as opposed to the yang line in the "five" position, the "two" position should be a yin line in order to "correspond"; but in Qian Gua, even though it is a yang line, it can still "correspond" to the "five" position.

"See" is now. The dragon hidden in the "ninth day of the first day" has risen and appeared in the field.Because the Yang Yao is vigorous and in the middle of the "two", it possesses the virtue of the mean. "Adult" refers to a person who is both holy and wise, with both status and virtue. A great person like this kind of vigorous and righteous person with moderate virtue has emerged from forbearance and has done something secretly. His virtue will surely benefit the world and bring people Incomparable vitality and hope.It is of course beneficial to meet such a great person, so this line is symbolized by "seeing the dragon in the field";

However, the positions of "two" and "five" are different. In the position of "two", no power has been gained yet, but the virtues of great sages have already appeared. "Benefit to see adults" is not necessarily an adult itself, and it may also mean seeing such a great person with status or no status.It is said that this symbolizes when King Wen Yuli was released.

This line shows that when great figures appear, they will bring vitality and hope to the world, and those who have made achievements should support and support them;

Nine three: A gentleman works hard all day long, and is vigilant at night, without blame. "Dry dry" means healthy and unremitting efforts. "Vigilance" means vigilance, "If"

Same. "Li" is rigorous. "Blame" means to deviate from the group, which will inevitably cause mistakes and disasters. "Nine" is the yang line, "three" is the odd number of yang positions, and the yang line is the yang position, so the masculinity is upright.However, it has left the middle position of "two" and risen to the highest position of "three" in the next hexagram, which is too upright and dangerous.A virtuous gentleman has a strong and upright nature. If he works hard all day long and still guards against fear and vigilance at night, even if he is in a dangerous position, he will not make mistakes or disasters.

This "Yao Ci" completely explains the hexagrams with personnel and affairs.When a gentleman with wisdom and virtue has appeared and attracted attention, he is in a dangerous position.

At this time, one must work hard at all times, work tirelessly, be vigilant day and night, and devote oneself to the completion of virtue without ceasing; only by being cautious can you avoid mistakes and disasters, and if you are arrogant, you will incur danger.In other words, this is a period that symbolizes the vigilance and hard work of King Wen after returning to the country.

This line shows that during the growth period, the feathers are at their last, so one should work hard, but one must refrain from fear to avoid disasters.

Nine Fourth: You may jump into the abyss, no blame. "Or" is an infinitive, which has the meaning of confusion and similarity. Although "yue" has not yet soared, it is already active. "Abyss" is a deep water cave that is empty above and bottomless below.At this moment, the dragon has not yet made up its mind whether to soar; but it is already in the abyss, or leaping, or lurking, with well-founded advances and retreats, eager to try.Has unlimited potential power.

"Yuan" is lower than "Tian" in "[-]", but it is the starting point for leaping out and soaring into the sky; therefore, its position is above Tian.This line is a yang line, and the ground is in the yin position of the even number "four". It has just left the lower hexagram and rises to the bottom of the upper hexagram. It still lacks a sense of stability. .Therefore, the dragon "or jumping in the abyss" symbolizes that it is waiting to move. As long as you grasp the most favorable time to advance and retreat, there will be no mistakes or disasters.In other words, this is the tentative stage that symbolizes King Wu sending troops to Wujin and then retreating.

This line shows that we have reached the trial stage of eagerness to try, and we should carefully grasp the most favorable timing when deciding to advance or retreat.

Ninety-five: Flying dragon is in the sky, good to see adults.

"Five" is in the middle of the upper hexagram, and the Yang Yao is in an odd number of Yang positions. Therefore, it is the most ideal position, and "Yao Ci" is also the most auspicious.

The dragon has the right time and place, soars in the sky, occupies unlimited space for activities, and is like the sun in the middle, condescending, illuminating the sky and the earth, with unlimited potential.In terms of personnel, he is a vigorous and upright great figure who has already occupied the status of a ruler.In ancient times, the emperor was called "Nine-Five Supreme". Although it did not originate from this "Yao Ci", it was based on Yili. "Nine" is the highest digit of yang numbers, and "five" is the most middle digit of yang numbers, which means "supreme zhongzheng".Therefore, this line, with a flying dragon in the sky, rains sweetness and rain, symbolizing the grace of a great person and popularizing all peoples.

The judgment of "Master Lijian" is the same as that of "Ninety Two", but because of the different status of "Two" and "Five", its function has also developed from the inside to the outside.However, it still does not only refer to divination people, who themselves are equivalent to "adults". There are also great people who should choose talents and abilities to benefit the people;Song Taizu once asked Wang Zhaosu: "How can ordinary people occupy the hexagram 'Ninth Five-Year, the flying dragon is in the sky, benefit to see adults'?" Wang Zhaosu replied: "There is no hindrance. When we occupy this hexagram, it means Your Majesty's flying dragon is in the sky. God', we are 'beneficiary'." The witty answer made Zhu Xi highly praised.One said, this is a symbol of King Wu defeating Zhou and winning the world.

This line shows that we have reached the heyday of great success, we should select the virtuous and capable, and the virtuous and capable should also support and protect the lord.

Upper Nine: Kanglong has regrets. "Shangjiu" is the highest, last, and last line of Qian Gua.It has reached the extreme, and there is no higher position, so the extremes of things must be reversed. Although the position is high, it is not as good as the "five".

"Kang" means extremely high and dry.The dragon flies too high, reaches the extreme high and dry, can neither ascend nor descend, is in a dilemma, and regrets it.Qian hexagrams are all yang lines, and at the position of "five", the masculinity is just balanced; but when it reaches the limit of masculinity, it will form a state of great victory due to excessive energy; at this time, if there is another action , On the contrary, the situation is so serious that you regret it.Therefore, the dragon soaring to the limit is used to symbolize the phenomenon of the dilemma of ascending and descending.

In this state, you must be prepared for danger, be vigilant, and stop pursuing satisfaction too much. "Book of Changes" often uses "full of damage" to guard against teachings, and extreme joy begets sorrow. This is a representative example.

This line shows that prosperity and decline are the normal rules of nature, and we should be vigilant and restrained.

Use nine: see dragons without a leader, auspicious.Among the 64 hexagrams, there are only Qian hexagrams and Kun hexagrams, with additional assertions of "Yongjiu" and "Yongliu". "Yongjiu" is the assertion used when there are Qian hexagrams in divination, and all lines are "Lao Yang", that is, all lines have the possibility of becoming Yin lines.In the records of the 29th year of Zhaogong in "Zuo Zhuan", there is a record of "Qian Zhikun", and at this time the assertion of "Yongjiu" is quoted.Of course, the other hexagrams will also have changes in the whole line, but none of them have the assertions of "Yongjiu" and "Yongliu", so you have to look at the "Gua Ci" of this hexagram to determine.

As mentioned earlier, when the yang is full, it will be born, "Kanglong has regrets".Taking the Qian Gua as an example, the anode and the yin are born, the whole hexagram and each line are bound to change, and there is no possibility of staying the same; on the contrary, the masculinity is extremely strong, and it must become feminine, so that it will be stable.Therefore, Qian Gua must start from the "ninth day of the first month", thoroughly understand the changes of each line, make good use of them, and not be constrained by the changes, so as to "use the ninth day" instead of being "nine"

Used.That is to say, we must be detached from things, observe and analyze objectively, grasp the laws of change, and respond appropriately, so that we will have no disadvantages.

A group of dragons, observed carefully, no matter how strong and brave they are, there is no phenomenon of being competitive and leading changes.In terms of personnel, if you are strong and powerful, but do not try to be the first, and you are at the top of the leadership, you can coexist as equals and help each other in harmony. With this attitude in life, you will definitely not attract danger, and of course it will be auspicious.

This line shows that the use of the law should not be bound by the law. Only by being calm, objective, not impulsive, not being aggressive, not acting rashly, and using power to make changes, can one grasp changes and use the rules well.

"Yuan" said: Dazai Qian "Yuan", the aunt of all things, is the ruler of the sky.The cloud travels and the rain applies, and the product flows in shape.The Ming Dynasty has always been in the Ming Dynasty, and the six times have been completed.Time to ride six dragons to control the sky.The main road changes, everyone corrects their lives, and maintains harmony, which is "Li Zhen".The first common thing to come out is Xianning in all countries.

Confucius wrote "Zhuan Zhuan" to explain the "Gua Ci" of Qian Gua, explaining the meaning of "Qian" according to the law of heaven, and divided "Yuan Henry Zhen" into four virtues for interpretation.From "Dazai Qianyuan" to "Naitongtian", explain "Yuan".First of all, praise Qian Yuan for his greatness. "Yuan" means big and beginning, so "Da Zai" and "Zi Shi" are said. "Dry" refers to the function of the sky. It is said in "Xi Ci Zhuan": "The great virtue of the heaven and the earth is born every day." The function of the sky is the unconscious impulse to generate all things, the endless idea. , everything happens at the same time. "Capital" means to take, and all things are taken from the function of heaven, so that they can come into being, so it is said: "Great! The function of heaven begins to become the root of creation of all things, and it governs the universe with the image of heaven."

"Clouds flow and rain, and goods flow shape." Explaining "Heng", the ancients believed that the source of life is Qi, that is, breath and breath.The breath of heaven is the element that constitutes all things and the source of flow that gives life.The air that rises from the void, most notably the movement of clouds, and then abundant rain falls, causing the vitality of the sky to spread to every corner of the world, endowing all things with various forms.This is the function of Tian's endless life, prosperity without hindrance, the stage of spreading and spreading.

The endless function of heaven is the driving force behind the great and bright universe from beginning to end.With time, there are six stages of change from latent, manifest, growth, leaping, soaring to fullness. The function of time is like riding six dragons, controlling the sky, and galloping freely on the track.

Below "Changes in Main Road", explain "Li" and "Zhen". "The Doctrine of the Mean" says: "Heaven's destiny refers to nature." Nature is received from heaven, and destiny is given by heaven; there is only a difference in position, but the essence is the same. "Qian" is the law of heaven, which is changing all the time. In this change, all things are born, and each is given life according to its essence, so there is a complete law.Only by maintaining this great harmony of nature can all things find their proper place and spring, and the true peace and benefit will continue to be pure.Therefore, "Yuan" and "Prosperity" are the occurrence and expansion of the great function of endless life, while "Li" and "Zhen" are the completion of this function.Heaven is the source of all things; at the same time, it also guarantees the great harmony of the universe, transcending all things, and making all countries in the world peaceful.

From the above explanations, on the whole, "Yuan" is equivalent to the germination of seeds, and "Heng"

It is growth, "benefit" is flowering, and "zhen" is fruit.After fruiting, the seeds fall to the ground and germinate again, that is, the four virtues of Yuan, Xiang, Li, and Zhen, which cycle endlessly in chronological order, without beginning and end.Between these four virtues, the vitality of heaven continues to spread; therefore, "Yuan" is one of the four virtues, but it also covers the four virtues.In terms of personnel, it means that a gentleman with virtue can become the leader of the country and practice the laws of heaven in politics to make the world peaceful. Compared with the simple "Gua Ci", the interpretation of "Zhuan Zhuan" has a high degree of theory, but it is still consistent in the overall theme.

"Xiang" says: "Heaven moves vigorously, and a gentleman keeps his own borders."

"Xiang Zhuan" is composed of two parts explaining the symbols of the upper and lower hexagrams and explaining the "Yao Ci". The further explanation is still quite simple and not far from the original meaning.From eight trigrams to 64 hexagrams, abstract symbolic symbols are used. In order to be easy to understand, the symbols of hexagrams are explained with things that can be observed, felt, and experienced in the phenomenal world; so it is called "Xiang Zhuan" or "Xiang Zhuan". Xiangci".

These two sentences are explaining the "hexagrams", which are called "elephants", which means big phenomena.Usually "elephant" is explained by what the upper three paintings are, what the lower three paintings are, and what the combined hexagram is; but it is not the case for the Qian hexagram, because there is only one sky.

However, it is meaningful to overlap with and for the whole day.Because the celestial bodies move day after day and never stop, so two overlaps are used to show the repeatability of the celestial bodies' movement. "Jiang" is the same as strong, and "self-improvement" means forcing oneself, restraining selfish desires, and making unremitting efforts.The celestial bodies move round and round, vigorous and powerful, and a gentleman should imitate the sky, force himself endlessly, make unremitting efforts, strive for progress, and benefit the world.

"Xiang" says: "Heaven moves vigorously, and a gentleman keeps his own borders." "Don't use Qianlong", the sun is below. "See the dragon in the field", De Shipu also. "Do it all day long".Repeatedly also. "Or jump in the abyss", enter "no blame". "The flying dragon is in the sky", and "adults" made it. "Kanglong has regrets", it won't last long. "Using nine", Tiande cannot be the first.

This is the part explaining the "Yao Ci" in "Xiang Zhuan", which is called "Xiaoxiang", which means small phenomenon.

A lurking dragon cannot function; because of the masculine power, it is still lurking underground.When the dragon appears in the field, it is influencing all things with virtue, so as to unite comrades.To strive for self-improvement all day long is to repeatedly practice the laws of the sky in order to train oneself.

(End of this chapter)