Other titles: According With, Acquiring Followers, Adapting, Adjusting, To Accord With, To Accompany, Concordance, Conformance to The Work, "Learn to serve in order to rule. Quit the old ways." -- D.F. Hook
Judgment
Legge: Following indicates successful progress and no error through firm correctness.
Wilhelm/Baynes: Following has supreme success. Perseverance furthers. No blame.
Blofeld:Following. Sublime success! Righteous persistence brings reward -- no error! [This sublime success comes, of course, only to those who follow what is right, namely the will of heaven or of those whose own will embodies it.]
Liu:Following. Great success. It is of benefit to continue. No blame.
Ritsema/Karcher: Following. Spring Growing Harvesting Trial.
Without fault. [This hexagram describes your situation in terms of being impelled or drawn into moving forward. It emphasizes that yielding to the impulse by accepting guidance is the adequate way to handle it. To be in accord with the time, you are told to: follow!]
Shaughnessy:Following: Prime receipt; beneficial to determine; there is no trouble.
Cleary (1):Following is greatly developmental: it is beneficial if correct; then there is no fault.
Cleary (2): Following is very successful, etc.
Wu: Following is primordial, pervasive, prosperous, and persevering. There will be no blame.
The Image
Legge: Thunder in the marsh: the image of Following. The superior man, in accordance with this, at nightfall enters his house and rests.
Wilhelm/Baynes: Thunder in the middle of the lake: the image of Following. Thus the superior man at nightfall goes indoors for rest and recuperation.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes thunder rumbling within a swamp! When darkness falls, the Superior Man goes within and rests peacefully. [The component trigrams can be read as thunder and marsh, but also as movement and joy. In the Book of Change, joy is frequently associated with willing obedience to and glad acceptance of what is right.]
Liu: Thunder in the lake symbolizesFollowing. In the evening, the superior man rests and relaxes in his home.
Ritsema/Karcher: Marsh center possessing thunder. Following. A chun tzu uses turning-to darkening to enter a reposing pause.
Cleary (1): There is thunder in the lake, Following. Thus do superior people go inside and rest when the sun goes down.
Cleary (2): … Leaders go in and rest at sundown.
Wu: Thunder in the marsh is the symbol of Following. Thus the jun zi retires toward the twilight of the day.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: In Followingthe dynamic trigram places itself under the magnetic. We see in them the attributes of Movement and Pleasure. Through firm correctness all under heaven will be found following at such a time.
Legge: Following comes after Enthusiasm, the symbol of harmony and satisfaction. When these conditions prevail men are sure to follow. The hexagram includes the ideas of both following others and being followed by others.(Emphasis mine, Ed.) The good auspice is due to this flexibility, but in either instance the following must be guided by a reference to what is correct. The lower trigram of Movement represents the eldest son, and the upper trigram of Pleasure represents the youngest daughter. The strong places itself under the weak -- esteeming others higher than himself, and giving the idea of following. The union of Movement with Pleasure suggests the same idea.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Judgment: Following means advancement through willpower.
The Superior Man rests on his inner virtue.
In Following, the trigram of Movement "follows" the trigram of Cheerfulness: independent action subordinates itself and allows itself to be led by cheerful obedience. In terms of the Work, this symbolizes our willingness to "follow" or adhere to its principles. Psychologically interpreted, Followingmeans the compliant subordination of ego-autonomy to the Great Work of psychic integration.
Blofeld points out that the trigram of Joy, or Cheerfulness is often associated with "willing obedience to and glad acceptance of what is right." Hence the cheerful following of the intent of the Self. He explains the role of the superior man in the Image as: "It is not hard to see the connection between following and resting peacefully; for, once we have given our allegiance to others [the Self], we no longer have to worry about what should be done."
At seventy ... Confucius allowed his mind to follow whatever it desired, yet everything he did was naturally right of itself. His actions no longer needed a conscious guide. He was acting without effort. This represents the last stage in the development of the sage. Fung Yu-Lan -- A Short History of Chinese Philosophy
When received without changing lines this hexagram often takes the meaning of: "To accord with" -- in such instances the answer is an affirmation to your query.
Line 1
Legge: The first line, dynamic, shows us one changing the object of his pursuit; if he is firmly correct there will be good fortune. Going beyond his own gate to find associates, he will achieve merit.
Wilhelm/Baynes: The standard is changing. Perseverance brings good fortune. To go out of the door in company produces deeds.
Blofeld: Those in power undergo a change -- righteous determination brings good fortune! Going forth from home and mingling with those outside will produce tangible results.
Liu: One's position is changing. To continue brings good fortune. Both friends and business are gained by going out. Success.
Ritsema/Karcher: An office: possessing denial. Trial: significant. Issuing-forth from the gate, mingling possesses achievement.
Shaughnessy: The office perhaps notifies; determination is auspicious; going out of the gate to interact has results.
Cleary (1): Standards change; it is good to be correct. Going outside and mixing is effective.
Cleary (2): … Interaction outside the gate is successful.
Wu: The way of conducting public affairs is subject to change. Perseverance will bring good fortune. Success can be had by communicating with people from without.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legg e: He will not fail in the method he pursues. Wilhelm/
Baynes: To follow what is correct brings good fortune. One does not lose oneself. Blofeld: The first sentence presages the good fortune derived from officials undergoing a change of heart and following what is right. The tangible results mentioned at the end of the passage imply that we shall not fail. Ritsema/Karcher: Adhering-to correcting significant indeed. Not letting-go indeed. Cleary (2): It is good to follow what is right …In the sense of not losing. Wu: Because following what is correct is auspicious … Because his position is not compromised.
Legge: The dynamic first line is the lord of the lower trigram. The magnetic lines ought to follow him, but he is beneath them in the lowest place in the figure. This suggests that he should change his pursuit. Because of his strength and correct position, he will be fortunate in this. Going beyond his gate for associates shows public spirit and an absence of selfish motivation.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: At the outset, the man changes his objectives. He will succeed if he remains firm in principle and goes beyond selfish considerations to mingle freely with those who do not share his feelings, as well as those who do.
Wing: A change is occurring, whether in your own objectives or in the situation around you. In order to accomplish something you should now communicate with persons of all persuasions and opinions. Yet remain internally principled and discerning.
Editor: Psychologically, an inner transformation is taking place. If this is the only moving line, hexagram number forty-five, Contraction, is created, so a (possibly unconscious) re-arrangement of attitudes and perceptions is suggested. To "go beyond one's own gate" implies a need to expand your horizons during a shift in the balance of forces.
When I reached thirty I looked back on my past. The previous victories were not due to my having mastered strategy. Perhaps it was natural ability, or the order of heaven, or that other schools' strategy was inferior. After that I studied morning and evening searching for the principle, and came to realize the Way of Strategy when I was fifty. Miyamoto Musashi -- A Book of Five Rings
A. Change your focus, marshal your forces, and seek wider horizons.
Line 5
Legge: The fifth line, dynamic, shows us the ruler sincere in fostering all that is excellent. There will be good fortune.
Wilhelm/Baynes: Sincere in the good. Good fortune.
Blofeld: Confidence is admirable -- good fortune! [ Confidence in the context of this hexagram implies perfect trust in those we follow.]
Liu: There is confidence in goodness. Good Fortune.
Confucius/Legge: His position is correct and in the center. Wilhelm/ Baynes: The place is correct and central. Blofeld: The suitable position of this line. Ritsema/Karcher: Situation correctly centering indeed. Cleary (2): Because the state is correctly balanced. Wu: Because his position is correct and central.
Legge: Line five is dynamic in his central and correct place, with line two as a proper correlate. Hence the auspicious symbolism.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: The ruler fosters excellence, which brings on good fortune.
Wing: If you sincerely insist upon the very best, the chances are that you will get it. Set your sights high. Good fortune.
Editor: Wilhelm points out that the ruler in line five "follows" the sage in line six, who represents the way of heaven -- or, in our terms, the ideals of the Work. When the "ruler" (psychologically in this case, the ego) follows the way of heaven (the Work), then his subjects (inner aspects) will follow him, and the kingdom (psyche) will prosper.
Everything that happens to us, properly understood, leads us back to ourselves; it is as though there were some unconscious guidance whose aim it is to deliver us from all ties and all dependence and make us dependent on ourselves. Jung --Letters
A. Your attitude is in accordance with the advancement of the Work.
Line 6
Legge: The sixth line, magnetic, shows us that sincerity held and clung to, yea, and bound fast. We see the king with it presenting his offerings on the Western Mountain.
Wilhelm/Baynes: He meets with firm allegiance and is still further bound. The king introduces him to the Western Mountain.
Blofeld: He obtained people's allegiance and his followers clung to him. During the time he spent on the Western Mountain, the King made sacrifice.
Liu: Deeply involved with one's fellows, one tries to continue. The King offers the Western Mountain.
Ritsema/Karcher: Grappling, tying-to it. Thereupon adhering holding-fast-to it. The king availing-of Growing tending- towards the Western mountain.
Shaughnessy: Grabbing and tying him, and thereafter binding him; the king uses aromatic grass on the western mountain.
Cleary (1): Binding and tying up; the king sacrifices on west mountain.
Cleary (2): In a binding involvement, the king sacrifices on the western mountain.
Wu: He is constrained and bound in order to follow. May a king make offerings to the gods of the western mountain.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: The idea of the hexagram has reached its extreme development. Wilhelm/Baynes: At the top it ends. Blofeld: Those above us have exhausted their merit. Ritsema/Karcher: Exhausting the above indeed.
Cleary (2): This is the upper impasse of involvement. Wu: Because he has reached the upper limit.
Legge: The concept of Followingreaches its highest representation in the topmost line. The action, directed by the most sincere devotion to what is right, influences both men and spiritual beings. The Western Mountain is Mt. Khi, at the foot of which was the original settlement of the house of Kau in 1325 B.C.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: The sage, who is retired, is recalled by the king because of his unique qualifications. The faithful and effective subject is rewarded.
Wing: You are called upon, by virtue of your wisdom and expertise, to lead another. You will unquestionably become involved, but you will be rewarded for your unselfish commitment.
Editor: Psychologically, Legge's commentary suggests the idea of devotion and sacrifice uniting forces in both conscious and unconscious realms of the psyche. The Confucian commentary suggests that the principle of Followingcomes to an end when ego and Self merge. To offer a sacrifice on the peak of the Western mountain: a high spiritual place where the sun sets (an image of the completed Work), implies this. Getting this line doesn't mean the Work is literally completed (it never is in this space-time dimension), but that you have probably integrated some significant inner complexes. Compare this line with 46:4.
The surrender of the limited purposes of the ego to the much larger goals of the Self -- goals within which the lesser egoic purposes are in fact meaningfully encompassed -- does not do away with the sense of freedom. On the contrary, only by subordinating the limitations of the ego to the Self do we truly justify our freedom and do we meaningfully validate our responsibility for our actions and decisions. S.A. Hoeller -- The Gnostic Jung
A. Devotion to the Work brings unity to the psyche.
Autres titres : Progrès, Prospérité, Le Symbole de l'Avancement, Avancer, Avancement, Faire des Progrès, Comprendre l'Idée, "Vient l'Aube"
Jugement
Legge : Dans Avancement de la Conscience, nous voyons un prince qui assure la tranquillité du peuple, présenté à ce titre avec de nombreux chevaux par le roi, et reçu trois fois par jour en entretiens.
Wilhelm/Baynes : Progrès. Le puissant prince est honoré avec de nombreux chevaux. En une seule journée, il est reçu en audience trois fois.
Blofeld : Progrès. Le prince richement doté reçoit des faveurs royales sous forme de nombreux chevaux et est reçu en audience trois fois en une seule journée. [Ce passage indique un grand mérite richement récompensé.]
Liu : Le Marquis K'ang (riche, puissant, en bonne santé) est doté de nombreux chevaux par le roi, qui le reçoit trois fois en une seule journée.
Ritsema/Karcher : Prospérité, le feudataire calme profite de l'octroi de chevaux pour multiplier les multitudes. Soleil de jour trois fois réfléchi. [Ce hexagramme décrit votre situation en termes de prospérité sous la pleine lumière du soleil. Il souligne que contribuer à cette augmentation en aidant les choses à prospérer est la manière adéquate de la gérer...]
Shaughnessy : Le Seigneur de Kang est ainsi récompensé par des chevaux en nombre luxuriant, se connectant trois fois en plein jour.
Cleary (1) :Avancement, un seigneur solidement établi présente de nombreux chevaux, et accorde audience trois fois par jour.
Cleary (2) : Avancement, un seigneur solidement établi est présenté avec, etc.
Wu : Avancement indique que le prince qui a assuré la paix et la prospérité de l'État est doté de nombreux chevaux de qualité. Le roi lui accorde audience trois fois en une journée.
L'Image
Legge : L'image de la terre et celle du soleil brillant émergeant au-dessus d'elle forment Avancement de la Conscience. L'homme supérieur, en accord avec cela, s'engage à rendre plus brillante sa vertu éclatante.
Wilhelm/Baynes : Le soleil se lève sur la terre : l'image du Progrès. Ainsi l'homme supérieur lui-même éclaire sa vertu éclatante.
Blofeld : Ce hexagramme symbolise le feu flamboyant de la terre. L'Homme Supérieur reflète en sa personne la gloire de la vertu céleste.
Liu : Le soleil se levant au-dessus de la terre est le symbole du Progrès. Ainsi l'homme supérieur éclaire son caractère.
Ritsema/Karcher : La clarté émerge au-dessus de la terre. Prospérité. Un chun tzu utilise l'éclairage originel pour éclairer l'actualisation-tao. [Actualiser-tao : ...capacité à suivre le cours tracé par le processus continu du cosmos... Lié à acquérir, TE : acquérir ce qui fait qu'un être devient ce qu'il est censé être.]
Cleary (1) : La lumière émerge au-dessus de la terre, avancement. Ainsi les personnes supérieures s'illuminent elles-mêmes de la qualité de l'éveil.
Cleary (2) : La lumière émerge au-dessus du sol, avancement. Les personnes développées illuminent la qualité de l'éveil par elles-mêmes.
Wu : La clarté s'élève au-dessus de la terre ; c'est Avancement. Ainsi le jun zi garde sa vertu éclatante brillante.
COMMENTAIRE
Confucius/Legge : Dans Avancement de la Conscience nous avons le soleil brillant apparaissant au-dessus de la terre ; le symbole de la Soumission Docile s'attachant à celui de la Grande Clarté ; et la ligne magnétique avancée et se déplaçant au-dessus : toutes ces choses nous donnent l'idée d'un prince qui assure la tranquillité du peuple.
Legge : Le sujet du Jugement est un prince féodal dont les services à son pays l'ont rendu acceptable à son roi. La faveur du roi lui a été montrée par des cadeaux et des attentions personnelles. Le symbolisme des lignes indique les situations rencontrées par le prince. Le caractère écrit pour ce hexagramme signifie "avancer", une qualité qu'il partage avec les hexagrammes numéro quarante-six, Ascension, et numéro cinquante-trois, Progrès Graduel. Dans le cas présent, le soleil montant de la terre au méridien suggère facilement l'idée d'avancer.
Hu Ping-wen (dynastie Yuan) dit : "Parmi les choses fortes, il n'y a rien de plus fort que le Ciel, et donc l'homme supérieur se modèle sur sa force. Parmi les choses brillantes, il n'y a rien de plus brillant que le soleil, et il se modèle sur sa clarté."
Anthony : Ce hexagramme concerne le développement personnel qui produit des progrès dans notre situation de vie externe. Si nous ne progressons pas, nous devrions revoir notre attitude. Certaines idées largement acceptées peuvent être décadentes du point de vue du Sage, et donc obstruer le progrès. [Le "Sage" d'Anthony est conceptuellement identique au "Soi. -- Ed.]
NOTES ET PARAPHRASES
Jugement : Lorsque les manifestations autonomes de nos pulsions intérieures sont canalisées, leur énergie devient celle de l'ego. (Interprété psychologiquement : Ego et Soi sont en accord.)
L'Homme Supérieur concentre sa conscience sur le perfectionnement de l'Œuvre. (Parfois, cela peut prendre le sens de : "Devenir sage !")
Le trigramme de la Clarté en progression sur celui de la Docilité donne la formule pour un Avancement de la Conscience. La soumission de l'ego aux restrictions de l'Œuvre, et la soumission tranquille conséquente de ses pulsions, appétits et impulsions agités, aboutit finalement à un flux d'énergie concentré de l'intérieur. (Après des années d'effort, cela est parfois ressenti physiquement comme une sensation rayonnante émanant de la poitrine, ou de la région du cœur.) Recevoir cette figure sans lignes changeantes ne signifie pas nécessairement que l'on a atteint cette phase de l'Œuvre, mais cela suggère un progrès dans cette direction. Le nom traditionnel de ce hexagramme est, en fait : Progrès.
Le roi offrant des chevaux au prince en récompense pour avoir pacifié le royaume est analogue au Soi récompensant l'ego pour avoir contrôlé les forces autonomes au sein de la psyché. C'est une discipline essentiellement chamanique : les "chevaux" symbolisent les pulsions et émotions apprivoisées. De telles circonstances indiquent un Avancement de la Conscience ou une progression vers le but de "l'éveil" ou de l'intégration psychique, symbolisé par le soleil traversant la terre.
Cet état de dynamisme de la vie dans lequel la conscience se réalise comme une personnalité divisée et séparée qui aspire et s'efforce vers l'union avec son partenaire inconnu et inconnaissable, le Soi, Jung l'a appelé le processus d'individuation. C'est un effort conscient pour devenir ce que l'on "est" ou plutôt "est censé être." E.C. Whitmont -- La Quête Symbolique
La dernière phrase de la citation ci-dessus est exactement analogue à la traduction de Ritsema/Karcher de l'Image de ce hexagramme, où l'homme supérieur (chun tzu) "utilise l'éclairage originel pour éclairer l'actualisation-tao."
"Actualisation-tao" est la "capacité à suivre le cours tracé par le processus continu du cosmos... Lié à acquérir, TE : acquérir ce qui fait qu'un être devient ce qu'il est censé être."
Interprété psychologiquement alors, ce hexagramme aborde divers thèmes rencontrés au cours du processus d'individuation, qui n'est rien d'autre qu'un Avancement de la Conscience.
La phrase clé dans le Jugement de Legge est "la tranquillité du peuple." Il est relativement facile de sublimer ses pulsions, tout en ressentant encore du ressentiment à ce sujet -- en effet, c'est la forme que prend normalement le processus au début de l'Œuvre. Nos forces intérieures sont comme des enfants ou des animaux qui doivent apprendre à accepter les restrictions de la discipline. Une fois qu'ils l'ont acceptée et ont cessé de la ressentir (c'est-à-dire une fois qu'ils sont devenus "tranquilles"), ils sont prêts à être utiles aux intentions du Soi.
Par exemple : un chien non dressé poursuivra et tuera instinctivement des moutons s'il en a l'occasion ; d'autre part, un chien correctement dressé rassemblera et contrôlera un troupeau de moutons même en l'absence de son maître. Quiconque a observé un chien de berger dressé en action sait quels exploits étonnants ils accomplissent avec une grande joie dans la performance. Ils sont "tranquilles" dans leur rôle, et protégeront même les moutons des chiens non dressés qui les tueraient. Lorsque nos instincts ont appris à accepter tranquillement la discipline, ils sont prêts à nous aider dans les niveaux supérieurs de l'Œuvre. Jusqu'à ce moment, l'Œuvre consiste en grande partie à "dresser le chien." L'analogie est appropriée, car tout comme un chien non dressé n'est jamais aussi heureux dans sa volonté qu'un chien bien dressé dans son but, de même la permissivité indisciplinée ne peut se comparer aux joies du pouvoir contrôlé et de l'intention focalisée.