Other titles: The Symbol of Harmonious Joy, Repose, Happiness, Providing-for/Provision, Excess, Merriment, Self-confidence, Contentment, Harmonize, Excitement, Intemperance, Self-deception "Repose in the absolute confidence that the action now being taken is right. Also refers to music." -- D.F. Hook
Judgment
Legge: Enthusiasm indicates that feudal princes may be set up and the army advantageously mobilized.
Wilhelm/Baynes:Enthusiasm. It furthers one to install helpers and to set armies marching.
Blofeld:Repose profits those engaged in building up the country and sending forth armies. [This means that perfect certainty as to the rightness of our cause is of great value under the conditions mentioned. The usual meaning of this character is "beforehand" or "happiness." In the English translation of Wilhelm's version, it appears as "enthusiasm." "Repose" was suggested by the Chinese experts who kindly vetted this manuscript. At first I felt hesitant about adopting it, until I realized that, where it is used favorably, it must be understood as the kind of mental repose which follows absolute confidence that the action now being taken is the right one. In lines one, three and six, however, it clearly means failure to act when action is essential; in line five, failure to act owing to incapacity.]
Liu:Happiness. It is of benefit to build up the country (or business), and send the army forth. [Receivers of this hexagram should be wary of exhibiting excessive enthusiasm when beginning a new undertaking. If they are not, there will be misfortune. The hexagram also advises that everything necessary for advancement should be made ready. Then if an opportunity presents itself, it should be seized immediately, without hesitation.]
Ritsema/Karcher: Providing-for , Harvesting: installing feudatories to move legions. [This hexagram describes your situation in terms of what is needed to meet the future. It emphasizes that accumulating strength through foresight and prudence so things can be fully enjoyed is the adequate way to handle it. To be in accord with the time, you are told to: provide-for!]
Shaughnessy: Excess: Beneficial to establish a lord and to move troops.
Cleary (1):Joy. It is advantageous to set up a ruler and mobilize the army.
Wu:Merriment indicates the advantage of establishing principalities and taking military actions.
The Image
Legge: Thunder exploding out of the Earth -- the image of Enthusiasm. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, composed their music and honored virtue, offering it especially to God when they worshipped him at the service of their ancestors.
Wilhelm/Baynes: Thunder comes resounding out of the earth: the image of Enthusiasm. Thus the ancient kings made music in order to honor merit, and offered it with splendor to the Supreme Deity, inviting their ancestors to be present.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes thunder over the earth. The ancient rulers venerated heaven's gifts with solemn music and they sacrificed abundantly to the Supreme Lord of Heaven in order to be worthy of their ancestors.
Liu: Thunder arising from the earth symbolizes Happiness. The ancient kings composed music to honor virtue, offering it to God and the spirits of their ancestors.
Ritsema/Karcher: Thunder issuing-forth-from earth impetuously. Providing-for. The Earlier Kings used arousing delight to extol actualizing-tao. Exalting worship's Supreme Above. Using equalizing the grandfather predecessors. [Actualize-tao:ability to follow the course traced by the ongoing process of the cosmos... Linked with acquire, TE: acquiring that which makes a being become what it is meant to be.]
Cleary (1): When thunder emerges the earth stirs: Thus did the kings of yore make music to honor virtue, offering it in abundance to God, thereby to share it with their ancestors.
Wu: Thunder breaks out above the earth with a boom; this is Merriment. Thus the ancient kings used music to praise virtuous accomplishments and made grand offerings to the Supreme Being to be accompanied by their ancestors.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: Enthusiasm shows one dynamic line inspiring responsive obedience in all the others: devoted obedience takes action. Such obedient action conforms to natural law and creates order and discipline in the people. The planets and the seasons follow their natural cycles. The sages similarly obey the laws of their nature and the people acknowledge their regulations and punishments as just.
Legge:Enthusiasm shows harmony and contentment throughout the kingdom -- a time when the people rejoice in their sovereign and readily obey him. At such a time his appointments and any military undertakings would be hailed and supported. Because he is close to the fifth place of dignity, the dynamic fourth line is seen as the chief executive officer of the ruler. The ruler has confidence in him, and all of the magnetic lines yield their obedience. Obedience is the attribute of the lower trigram which here takes the initiative and uses Movement, which is the attribute of the upper trigram.
The symbolism of the Image is more obscure than usual. The use of music at sacrifices is supposed to assist in producing the union between God and his worshippers as well as the present and past generations.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Judgment: Delegate authority and gather your forces.
The Superior Man synchronizes his will with the intent of the Self via the principles of the Work.
Enthusiasm is the reverse of the preceding hexagram of Temperance. In Temperance we saw the calm strength of a mountain concealed within the earth. In Enthusiasm we see thunder exploding out of the ground into the sky: the strength that was formerly tempered and restrained is now released. It is significant to note that while every line of Temperance is more or less "favorable,” every line of Enthusiasm is either negative or cautionary -- even the generally positive fourth line carries a hint of warning about “doubt.”
Negatively, Self-Deception (the passion of True Believers) seems to be what this hexagram is portraying. The figure often suggests a callow or deluded buoyancy -- the kind of outlook associated with romantic idealists. In its most negative aspect, Enthusiasm is Intemperance -- the exact opposite of the moderation and restraint shown in the preceding hexagram. The behavior of an untrained Great Dane puppy suddenly bursting into a formal dinner party could be described as "enthusiasm,” but hardly a desirable form thereof. The lower trigram of Obedient Devotion has suddenly employed the action and energy of the upper trigram of Thunderous Shock to express itself. This is inconsistent with the code of the superior man.
Conversely, in its most positive sense, Enthusiasm suggests the surety of total self-confidence. Blofeld translates this as Repose, explaining that the name was suggested to him by his Chinese advisors. We begin to understand this subtle distinction when we compare the seemingly obscure connection with music in the Image with a passage from Chuang- tse:
He who understands the music of heaven lives in accordance with nature in his life and takes part in the process of change of things in his death. In repose, his character is in harmony with the yin principle; in activity, his movement is in harmony with the yang principle. Therefore he who understands the music of heaven is not blamed by heaven or criticized by men ... It is said, "In action he is like heaven. In repose he is like the earth ... Because his mind has found repose, therefore the creation pays homage to him.”
To understand “the music of heaven” is to attain Repose, which is another way of describing the tranquility that comes with furthering the intent of the Self. The only dynamic line in the hexagram is in the minister's place just below the fifth-line ruler. He has the confidence of his sovereign and his actions therefore accord with heaven. We can turn to the Stoics to find an illustration of this idea:
My will is simply that which comes to pass. For I esteem what God wills better than what I will. To Him will I cleave as His minister and attendant; having the same movements, the same desires, in a word the same will as He. -- Epictetus
Thus we see that the hexagram can describe either one of two opposite conditions -- the intemperate Enthusiasm of ego-confidence (a synonym for Self-Deception), or the calm Repose of true SELF-confidence. The fifteenth and sixteenth hexagrams, each the inverse of the other, represent magnetic and dynamic aspects of the same general idea: Enthusiasm, when it emanates from the Self, is just Temperance in action.
Line 1
Legge: The first line, magnetic, shows its subject proclaiming her pleasure and satisfaction. There will be evil.
Wilhelm/Baynes:Enthusiasm that expresses itself brings misfortune.
Blofeld: The crowing of the cock bespeaks repose -- an evil omen! [A sleepy cockcrow is not likely to bring men leaping from their beds, yet the traditional role of the cock is to sound the call to renewed action.]
Liu: Happiness that shows itself off brings misfortune.
Ritsema/Karcher: Calling Provision. Pitfall. [Provide(-for)/Provision, YU: ready, prepared for; prearrange, take precaution, think beforehand; satisfied, contented, at ease.]
Shaughnessy: Calling out in excess; inauspicious.
Cleary (1): Trumpeting joy is inauspicious.
Wu: Crowing over merriment will be foreboding.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: Her wishes have been satisfied to overflowing. Wilhelm/ Baynes: This leads to the misfortune of having the will obstructed. Blofeld: The evil mentioned in this passage is that which results from utter exhaustion of the will-power. Ritsema/Karcher: Purpose exhausted, pitfall indeed. Cleary (2): Trumpeting joy bodes ill when the aspiration reaches an impasse. [The first yin harmonizes with the fourth yang above and rejoices in this; having no real qualities in oneself, only aspiring to cleave to others, how can one not come to an impasse?]Wu: Lacking aspiration will be foreboding.
Legge: Line one is magnetic, with a dynamic correlate in the fourth place. She may well enjoy the happiness of the time, but unable to contain herself, she erupts in boastful enthusiasm and calls undue attention to herself. Enthusiasm has thus been her undoing.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: At the outset, the man is enthusiastic and boastful.
Wing: Although you may have a harmonious connection with someone in a high position, it does not necessarily indicate that you are on top of the situation. Furthermore, if you boast of your advantage, you will surely invite disaster.
Editor: The meaning here can be subtle. Something (a strong emotion or attitude perhaps) is upsetting one’s equilibrium. In addition to the usual meaning of “enthusiasm,” this can symbolize any release or loss of energy (even despair, anguish, depression or grief – “Anti-Enthusiasm,” if you will), which serves to demolish Repose. Shaughnessy labels it Excess. Wilhelm and Blofeld render the Confucian commentary in terms of the obstruction or exhaustion of willpower. Ritsema/Karcher describe a loss of purpose; Cleary and Wu, blocked aspiration. If this is the only changing line, the hexagram changes to Shock, a plausible consequence in this case.
But woe unto you that are rich! For ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! For ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! For ye shall mourn and weep. Luke 6: 24-25
A. A false sense of well-being – or, a false sense of despair. Examine the situation to determine where your conscious outlook or emotional response does not conform with the goals of the Work.
B. Ego/Self Repose is obstructed by inappropriate belief.
Line 2
Legge: The second line, magnetic, shows one who is firm as a rock. She sees a thing without waiting till it has come to pass; with her firm correctness there will be good fortune.
Wilhelm/Baynes: Firm as a rock. Not a whole day. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Blofeld: Unmoved as a rock; before the end of day, righteous persistence will bring good fortune. [Unmoved as a rock because of the repose which results from absolute confidence in a decision already taken.]
Liu: Firm and stable like a rock. Do not wait a whole day. Continuing brings good fortune.
Ritsema/Karcher: Chain-mail tending-towards petrification: Not completing the day. Trial: significant.
Shaughnessy: Scratched on a rock; not to the end of the day; determination is auspicious.
Cleary (1): Firm as a rock, not procrastinating, rectitude is good.
Wu: He is upright like a rock. In less time than the passing of the day, he discriminates the good from the bad. To be persevering is auspicious.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: This is shown by the central and correct position of the line. Wilhelm/Baynes: Because it is central and correct. Blofeld: This is indicated by the suitable position of this line which is central to the lower trigram. Ritsema/Karcher: Using centering correcting indeed. Cleary (2):
It is balanced in the right way. Wu: Because he is central and correct.
The Master said:"Does not he who knows the inception of things possess spirit-like wisdom? The superior man, in his intercourse with the high, uses no flattery, and, in his intercourse with the low, no coarse freedom: does not this show that he knows the inception of things? Those beginnings are the slight stirrings of movement, and the earliest indications of good fortune or ill. The superior man sees them, and acts accordingly without waiting for the delay of a single day. As is said in the I Ching, `He is firm as a rock, and acts without waiting for the delay of a single day. With firm goodness there will be good fortune.' Firm as a rock, how should he have to wait a single day to ensure his knowing those beginnings and his course? The superior man knows the minute and the manifested; he knows what is weak, and what is strong: he is a model to ten-thousand."
Legge: The magnetic second line is in her correct central position in the lower trigram. Quietly and firmly she is able to abide in her place and exercise a far-seeing discrimination. All is indicative of good fortune.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: The man is quiet, but firm as a rock, yet sensitive to the first imperceptible signs of impending changes. He does not delay in taking action.
Wing: To be able to recognize the early signs of a change in fortune is a tremendous gift. While others may be swept away by compelling rhythms and fads, you adhere firmly to the underlying principles of your nature and react appropriately to the demands of the time. Such is the behavior of leaders.
Editor: All translations except Legge and Cleary's render the second sentence in the imagery of "not waiting for a whole day to pass,” which suggests action taken on the basis of foresight, premonition or intuition. This line is sometimes an injunction to follow your common sense -- saying in effect, that an oracle is unnecessary to proclaim the obvious.
You don't need a weatherman to know
which way the wind blows.
-- Bob Dylan
A. Proper discrimination knows when to act, and when to refrain from action.
B. Your own intuition already knows the answer to your query.
Line 3
Legge: The third line, magnetic, shows one looking up for favors, while she indulges the feeling of pleasure and satisfaction. If she would understand! If she be late in doing so, there will indeed be occasion for repentance.
Wilhelm/Baynes:Enthusiasm that looks upward creates remorse.
Shaughnessy: A bowl's excess; regret; being slow there is regret.
Cleary (1): Looking up to joy, if repentance is tardy, there will be regret.
Cleary (2): Looking up in joy, repent. If too late, there is regret.
Wu: Gazing at merriment will bring regret. Loitering about will bring regret.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: This is intimated by the position not being the appropriate one. Wilhelm/Baynes: The place is not the appropriate one. Blofeld: This is indicated by the line's unsuitable position. Ritsema/ Karcher: Situation not appropriate indeed. Cleary (2): Wu: Because his position is improper.
Legge: Line three is magnetic in a dynamic place. She looks upward and depends upon the ruling line above while she does nothing herself but indulge in pleasure. Unless she changes her attitude, the auspice is bad.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: The man looks upward for favors and continues his dependency upon others. He indulges in visions of pleasure and affluence. Unless he changes immediately, he will be sorry.
Wing: You have waited complacently for a cue from someone else to motivate you. Whatever the reasons for your hesitation, whether it is idle pleasure in the present or simply inertia, you are losing your independence and self-reliance. You can still save yourself. Move.
Editor: This line is magnetic when the times call for dynamic action, giving us an image of indolent dependency. Without doing anything, she wants to "have her cake and eat it too.” Sometimes one receives this line when in a state of despair: feeling as if abandoned to one's fate by an incomprehensible cosmos. The idea is that fate isn't going to make the transition for you: you must do it yourself.
To those who are self-conceited and vain of their imaginary knowledge of exterior things, having no real wisdom, nothing can be shown, because the perverted action of their own minds opposes the harmonious action of the Universal Mind and repulses it. The spheres of their souls become narrow and contracted, and cannot expand towards the whole. They rest self-satisfied, buried in the shadow of their own ignorance, and are inaccessible to the light of Nature. Paracelsus -- Philosophia Sagax
A. Stop indulging yourself and do what you know to be correct in the matter at hand.
Autres titres : La Puissance du Grand, Le Symbole de la Grande Vigueur, Personnes de Grande Autorité, Grande Force, Grand Revigorant, Grande Maturité, Force Accumulée, La Force des Puissants, Pouvoir Juste, Force Excessive
Jugement
Legge :Grande Puissance nécessite une fermeté correcte.
Wilhelm/Baynes :La Puissance du Grand. La persévérance est bénéfique.
Blofeld : La Puissance du Grand. La persistance dans une voie juste apporte des récompenses. [Ce hexagramme avec un groupe solide de lignes fermes surmonté par un petit nombre de lignes cédantes signifie évidemment la force -- dans ce cas, le pouvoir de réussir malgré les difficultés. Une grande partie de ce qui suit concerne les chèvres -- un symbole probablement suggéré par la forme du hexagramme, à savoir un corps solide distingué par une paire de cornes -- les lignes cédantes au sommet.]
Liu : Grande Puissance. Il est bénéfique de continuer.
Ritsema/Karcher : Grand Revigorant, Récolte d'Épreuve. [Ce hexagramme décrit votre situation en termes de la puissance revigorante d'une idée créative centrale. Il souligne que l'animation de tout ce qui vous entoure par cette motivation directrice est la manière adéquate de la gérer. Pour être en accord avec le temps, on vous dit de revigorer par le grand !]
Shaughnessy : Grande Maturité : Bénéfique de déterminer.
Cleary(1) :Grande puissance est bénéfique lorsqu'elle est correcte.
Wu : Grande Force indique qu'il est avantageux d'être persévérant.
L'Image
Legge : L'image du tonnerre sur le ciel forme le hexagramme de Grande Puissance. L'homme supérieur, en accord avec cela, ne fait pas un pas qui ne soit pas conforme à la bienséance.
Wilhelm/Baynes : Tonnerre dans le ciel au-dessus : L'image de La Puissance du Grand. Ainsi l'homme supérieur ne marche pas sur des chemins qui ne sont pas conformes à l'ordre établi.
Blofeld : Ce hexagramme symbolise le tonnerre dans le ciel. L'Homme Supérieur ne fait jamais un pas impliquant l'impropriété. [Note : La combinaison des trigrammes signifiant tonnerre et ciel suggère quelque chose de la qualité impressionnante du véritable grand.]
Liu : Le tonnerre dans le ciel au-dessus symbolise Grande Puissance. La conduite de l'homme supérieur ne s'oppose pas aux règles.
Ritsema/Karcher : Tonnerre situé au-dessus du ciel. Grand Revigorant. Un chun tzu n'utilise aucun code, ne marche nulle part.
Cleary (1) : Le tonnerre est dans le ciel, avec grande puissance. Ainsi les personnes supérieures s'abstiennent de ce qui est impropre.
Cleary (2) : … Les personnes développées ne font pas ce qui est impropre.
Wu : Il y a du tonnerre au-dessus du ciel ; c'est Grande Force. Ainsi le jun zi ne pratique pas ce qui n'est pas correct.
COMMENTAIRE
Confucius/Legge : Dans Grande Puissance nous voyons ce qui est grand devenir fort. Le trigramme de la Force dirige le trigramme du Mouvement, et donc l'ensemble exprime la vigueur. Mais ce qui est grand nécessite une fermeté correcte. Les attributs du ciel et de la terre sont affichés lorsque la fermeté et la correction atteignent leur état idéal.
Legge : Parce que les lignes dynamiques prédominent dans Grande Puissance, la figure suggère un état dans lequel il y a une abondance de force et de vigueur. La force seule suffit-elle pour la conduite des affaires ? Bien sûr que non ! La force doit toujours être subordonnée à l'idée de droit, et exercée uniquement en harmonie avec elle.
Le trigramme inférieur symbolise la Force, le supérieur symbolise le Mouvement. Dans le commentaire confucéen, "ce qui est grand” désigne le groupe de quatre lignes dynamiques qui nous frappe en regardant la figure, et aussi les hommes supérieurs en positions de pouvoir, dont ceux-ci sont les représentants. Que les attributs du ciel et de la terre soient affichés signifie que le pouvoir des hommes devrait être un reflet de la grande puissance que nous voyons travailler impartialement dans la nature.
Ch'eng-tzu dit sur l'Image : "Le tonnerre roulant dans le ciel et faisant trembler toutes choses est le symbole de Grande Puissance." En rapportant son application à l'homme, il cite un beau dicton de l'antiquité : "L'homme fort est celui qui se surmonte lui-même."
NOTES ET PARAPHRASES
Jugement : Contrôlez-vous.
L'Homme Supérieur ne fait rien qui ne soit pas en accord avec les principes du Travail.
Wilhelm et Blofeld traduisent ce hexagramme par La Puissance du Grand., mais je préfère la version de Liu de Grande Puissance, car elle a une connotation plus neutre. La Puissance du Grand évoque la puissance des rois et des empereurs, et implique un pouvoir "supérieur" exercé à sa propre discrétion. Il est trop facile de mal interpréter ce hexagramme comme une injonction claire à prendre des mesures unilatérales. Cela est rarement le cas -- le hexagramme dépeint une charge d'énergie latente qui doit être correctement gérée.
La figure est généralement comparée à l'image d'un bélier ou d'une chèvre -- les quatre lignes dynamiques inférieures étant le corps, et les deux lignes magnétiques supérieures représentant les cornes. Puisque ce hexagramme est la figure précédente de Retraite renversée, on peut imaginer les deux ensemble comme une personne se retirant à travers un pâturage poursuivie par une bête en charge. Le bélier/chèvre est mentionné dans quatre des six lignes du hexagramme. C'est certainementGrande Puissance, mais sous une forme si brute qu'elle ne peut être véritablement appelée La Puissance du Grand.
Vraiment Grande Puissance, comme le Jugement nous le dit, est dérivée de notre volonté de restreindre nos émotions, instincts et appétits. Notez que les lignes deux et quatre sont les lignes les plus positivement puissantes du hexagramme et que toutes deux impliquent la retenue de la puissance comme la manière appropriée d'atteindre ses objectifs. Sans lignes changeantes, le hexagramme se réfère parfois à des provocations dans lesquelles on est "légitimement” tenté à une démonstration auto-justifiée de "puissance.” Rappelez-vous que les ego-trips des autres ne vous concernent pas : l'homme supérieur ne répond pas à eux autrement que par une réserve digne. Considérez cela comme un test et soyez joyeux si vous le réussissez !
Tout ce qui se trouve dans la littérature ultérieure semble indiquer que ces écoles méditatives exigeaient une forte discipline et une adhésion fidèle à un régime strict. Les écoles étaient extrêmement exigeantes, et n'étaient ouvertes qu'à ceux prêts à se dévouer totalement. Avant même d'être admis dans l'une de ces anciennes écoles méditatives, une personne devait être non seulement spirituellement avancée mais en contrôle complet de toutes ses émotions et sentiments. Au-delà de cela, les disciplines de la Torah et des commandements étaient centrales pour ces écoles, et ces disciplines nécessitaient un degré de maîtrise de soi auquel tout le monde ne pouvait aspirer. Aryeh Kaplan -- Méditation Juive