The wisdom of I Ching

Chapter 64 No.60 Hexagram Festival

thrift
wisdom
up and down
Festival, Henry.Bitter festivals cannot be chaste.Jie Gua and Huan Gua are "comprehensive hexagrams", laxity and restraint are complementary to each other. "Xu Gua Zhuan" said: "Things cannot be separated at the end, so they are treated with festivals." "Jet" is a bamboo joint, which is separated from each other and has the meaning of stopping.In this hexagram, the lower hexagram "Dui" is Ze, and the upper hexagram "Kan" is water. When water flows into the marsh, it will overflow if it is excessive, so it should be restrained, so it is called Jie hexagram.Temperance is a virtue, and thus prospers; but temperance, if it is excessive, makes itself miserable, whether it is too restrictive or too narrow.Therefore, this excessive bitterness cannot be regarded as a rule.

"彖" says: Festival, "Heng", the division of rigidity and softness and the rigidity in the middle. "Bitter festivals cannot be chaste", the way is poor.Talking about taking risks, being in position to cut, and being right is to make progress.The heaven and the earth are divided into four seasons, and the festival is based on the system, which will not hurt wealth or the people.

In this hexagram, there are three rigid lines and three soft lines, and the upper and lower hexagrams are all in the middle of the rigid line.But don't be painfully restrained, because this way, blocking itself won't work.In this hexagram, the lower hexagram "Dui" is joy, and the upper hexagram "Kan" is danger. And risk becomes the meaning of temperance. The "Ninth Five-Year Plan" is the rightful throne, controlling the world, and having the virtue of being upright, so it is unimpeded.Because of the restraint of the heaven and the earth, the four seasons can be neat and orderly, and the cycle is endless. Therefore, the sages should follow the example of the heaven and the earth and establish a system to control the endless desires of people. In this way, the talents will neither be wasted nor harm the people.

"Xiang" said: "There is water on the lake, festivals; the emperor gives it to the number of degrees, and discusses virtue." "Number of degrees" refers to the number and length, and refers to the etiquette system with different levels of clothing, food, housing and transportation according to class.In this hexagram, the upper hexagram is water, and the lower hexagram is water, and the water flows into the lake, which itself has the function of restraint.A gentleman should imitate this spirit, formulate etiquette systems to control people's desires; comment on virtues to control people's behavior so that they do not exceed the norms.This idea of ​​enacting rituals to control desires was most prominent in Xunzi at the end of the Warring States period.

Ninth day of the lunar month: No blame if you don’t go out to court.

"Xiang" said: "If you don't go out to court, you will know Tongsai." "House Court" is outside the door of the house, the courtyard surrounding the house, that is, the inner courtyard. The "ninth day of the ninth day" is masculine and upright, with the ability to stand out, but it is not the right time for the beginning of the hexagram.Therefore, self-restraint, not going out of the inner courtyard, can be so cautious, there will be no disaster.

"Xiang Zhuan" said: This is because you can see through, knowing that the time has not come, and the passage is blocked. "Xi Ci Zhuan" also extended that this is a word of caution; because the next hexagram "Dui" has a symbol of saying.

This line shows that first of all, self-restraint should be exercised, and words and actions should be cautious.Ninety-two: Do ​​not go out to court, fierce.

"Xiang" said: "If you don't go out of the court, it will be fierce"; "Men Ting" The courtyard inside the gate, that is, the outer courtyard, is closer to the outside than the household courtyard.The first line is not yet the time to go out, but "Ninety-two" is masculine, and it is already possible to go out.However, because the Yang Yao and Yin positions are not correct, there is no support in the upper hexagram, and they don't know how to accommodate them, so they still restrain themselves and don't go out of the outer courtyard.Therefore, "Xiang Zhuan" said: This is an extreme loss of opportunity, you should go out instead of going out, so it is dangerous.

This line shows that excessive restraint will lose the opportunity.Six Three: If you are not restrained, you will feel sorry for it, and there is no blame.

"Xiang" said: "Who is to blame" for the "sigh" of "improperness". "Six Three" is feminine, weak-willed, and out of alignment, so that it is intemperate, resulting in the result of having to sigh. "No blame" here should not be explained by no disaster, but as the "Xiang Zhuan" said, who can be blamed?
This line shows that temperance should be restrained and if restraint is not, then one is to blame.June Fourth: Ann Festival, Heng.

"Xiang" said: "Heng" in "An Jie" is also inherited from the Tao.

"Safe Festival" means that it is not forced, but temperance with peace of mind. The "June Fourth" is soft and straight, and the "Ninth Five-Year Plan", the main body that takes over the hexagram above, is influenced by it, and realizes the principle of restraint in accordance with nature, and can be restrained with peace of mind, so it is prosperous.

This line shows that temperance should go with the flow and not be forced.Ninth Five-Year: "Gan Festival, auspicious", there is still time to go.

"Xiang" said: "Ji" in "Sweet Festival" is in the middle. "Sweet Festival" is opposite to "Bitter Festival", which is a sweet and happy moderation. "ninth five"

Masculine and upright, in the position of the monarch, it is exactly what is said in "Zhuan Zhuan" that "when in the position, you can cut, and when you are in the right position, you can communicate".With the status of the king, control the world, and use the virtue of Zhongzheng to make it unimpeded.

Upper Six: bitter festival, chaste and vicious, remorse for death.

"Xiang" said: "Bitter festival, chaste and fierce", its way is poor.

"Xiang Zhuan" said: "Excessive restraint, the result will be fierce." It is because the way of restraint has been exhausted.

A Comprehensive Overview of Jie Gua

[Meaning] Temperance and restraint - the disadvantages of insatiable governance.

[Gua Yi] Temperance, thrift, thrift, thrift.

[Introduction] Festival means "limited and limited", which means to abide by the festival. "Jie" originally means bamboo knot, which means the distinction of proper interval.From personal health (temperance), relationships with others (morality), policies (jieyi) to the passage of heaven and earth (seasons), everything must be observed in order to proceed smoothly.The shape of the hexagram indicates that the Zhize (dui) is filled with water (kan), so that the water can be regulated, not flooded, not overflowing and wasting, and not drying up.Eliminating temptations and accepting them with pleasure (du) is the real self-control. However, it is not good to be too constrained in frugality. If you get sick because of excessive frugality, you will overcorrect.

[Gua Yi] The upper hexagram Kan is water, and the lower hexagram is water.Water flows into the marsh, too much and too much, and the water will overflow.A moderation that symbolizes things.Jie Gua explains for us the principle of moderation, neither excessive nor backward.

[Structural model] Excessive restraint, willingness to accept restraint, safety and restraint, restraint when restraint, whether to act or not, self-restraint, temperance (temperance and thrift).

[Yin and Yang] three yin and three yang.

[Position] One line and five lines of yang occupy the positive position, and four lines and six lines of yin occupy the yin position, which is positive.The Yin and Yang of the second line and the third line are misaligned, which is not correct.

[Status] The festival is righteous and the career is prosperous.

[Hexagram] Going up the ridge and down the marsh, the water in the ridge continuously flows down into the marsh, and when the water in the marsh is full, it will overflow.How can the water in the lake not overflow?An image of water conservation.

[Thinking mode] Appropriate and reasonable restraint is a necessary principle of conduct in people's life and career.How can we reasonably grasp the principle of moderation?Temperance requires timely knowledge and self-restraint through self-cultivation.Temperance should be enough and just right.Temperance must master adaptability.

【Philosophical Enlightenment】Taking the example of how the water in the natural world keeps flowing into the marsh, how to keep the water from overflowing or wasting in the marsh, to explain the principle of moderation.Enlighten people to adhere to the principle of temperance in their own life and career.

[Decision-making thinking] Moderate self-restraint, just right, contentment, unlimited spiritual space, short physical life, life desires should be enough.In the face of the development and growth of economic undertakings, we must proceed step by step and not pursue high targets too much.We must maintain restraint and expand in a planned way.Don't ask too much of others and yourself, do what you should do, stop when you should stop, let nature take its course.Work is dull and error-prone, and life is dissolute, often causing trouble.Make friends, don't go beyond the boundaries, everything is enough.

(End of this chapter)