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 2
Legge: The second line, magnetic, shows us one who cleaves to the little boy, and lets go the man of age and experience.
Wilhelm/Baynes: If one clings to the little boy, one loses the strong man.
Blofeld: He belongs to (i.e. puts himself at the service of) the boy and thereby loses the adult. [The implied meaning is that he rejects what is superior and follows what is inferior.]
Liu: By staying with the boy, you lose the strong man.
Ritsema/Karcher: Tied-to the small son. Letting-go the respectable husband.
Shaughnessy: Tying the little son, losing the senior fellow.
Cleary (1): Involved with the child, one loses the adult.
Wu: She clings to her child, but loses her husband.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: He cannot be with the two at the same time. Wilhelm/ Baynes: One cannot be with both at once. Blofeld: He cannot be of service to both of them. Ritsema/Karcher: Nowhere joining associating indeed. Cleary (2): One is not with both at once. Wu: Because she cannot have both.
Legge: Line two is magnetic. His proper correlate is the dynamic fifth line, but he prefers to cling to the line below him, instead of waiting to follow line five.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: The man surrounds himself with the incompetent and dismisses the experienced.
Wing: Examine your goals and the standards you have set for yourself. If they are unworthy, inferior, weak, or nonexistent, you will remain low, and you will lose contact with productive, competent, worthwhile influences. You are forced to make a choice.
Editor: The content of this line prevents using the usual gender symbolism. Nevertheless, the message is unambiguous.
Most people learn how to think as very young children, and throughout their adult lives, they do not think any differently than they did as children. That is to say, most people use their minds in a manner not essentially different from the way they did when they were six years old ... It is significant that in Kabbalah, one's normal mode of thinking is referred to as the "mentality of childhood." ... More advanced modes of thought and states of consciousness, on the other hand, are referred to as the "mentality of adulthood." Aryeh Kaplan -- Jewish Meditation
A. Immature attitudes preclude growth.
Line 4
Legge: The fourth line, dynamic, shows us one followed and obtaining adherents. Though he is firm and correct, there will be evil. If he is sincere however in his course, and make that evident, into what error will he fall?
Wilhelm/Baynes: Following creates success. Perseverance brings misfortune. To go one's way with sincerity brings clarity. How could there be blame in this?
Blofeld: Following someone with an ulterior motive -- persisting in this course would bring misfortune. But, if as he goes his way he makes sincerity his beacon, what harm can come to him?
Liu: Success is gained by following. But to continue brings misfortune. Going the correct way leads to glory (brightness). How can there be blame?
Ritsema/Karcher: Following possessing catching. Trial: pitfall. Possessing conformity, locating-in tao uses brightening. Wherefore faulty? [Possessing conformity: "Inner and outer are in accord; confidence of the spirits has been captured..."]
Shaughnessy: In following there is a catch; determination is inauspicious. There is a return on the way; at the end of brightness, what trouble is there?
Cleary (1): Following has gain. Even if right, it is inauspicious. Truthfully remaining on the path, using understanding, what blame is there?
Cleary (2): Following gains, but it bodes ill even if right. Having faith in the way, thereby understanding, what fault is there?
Wu: To have a following may be advantageous. Despite perseverance, it will be foreboding. With confidence in his course, he can explain his intention. What blame can there be?
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: "He is followed and obtains adherents" -- according to the idea of the hexagram, this is evil. "He is sincere in his course" -- showing his intelligence, and leading to achievement. Wilhelm/Baynes: This bodes misfortune...This brings clear-sighted deeds. Blofeld: Following others with ulterior motives is surely evil; whereas sincerity along the way produces brilliant results. Ritsema/Karcher: One's righteousness: pitfall indeed... Brightening achieving indeed. Cleary (2): When following gains, the meaning is inauspicious. Having faith in the way, the understanding is successful. Wu: With confidence in his course, he can be successful.
Legge: Line four is dynamic, and in the place of a minister next to the ruler in line five. His having adherents will be injurious to the authority of the supreme ruler, and only sincere loyalty will save him from error and misfortune.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: The man acquires followers who flatter, scheme, and act subservient to seek personal gains. There is a chance that he will become dependent on them because of gratifying associations, which will detract from his authority in his position of influence. He must see through such adherents and free himself from egotistical encumbrances.
Wing: Those whom you appear to influence actually have ulterior motives in their allegiance to you. Look beyond the current flattering situation into your original principled aim. Strive to act independently.
Editor: The line is a clear warning about being corrupted by the projections of others. Viewed objectively, the ego is only a temporary personality created for the purpose of transforming psychic energy – a transitional tool or vessel emanated into matter by the Self for one brief lifetime. It is only a servant--never a master. Long dedication to the Work can concentrate power which the ego may be tempted to use for its own benefit--a dangerous seduction which can only harm the Work.
By permitting credulous and vulgar admirers to congregate about thee, there is liability of falling into the error of becoming puffed up with worldly pride. Guru Gampopa --Precepts of the Gurus
A. Don't let power go to your head. Sincerity prevents ego-trips.
B. Beware of elements which would distract you from the Work. That which seems "reasonable" is often just the voice of a demon: a temptation for the misuse of power.
C. What worked previously is now obsolete. A new strategy is now appropriate.
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.
Autres titres : L'Armée, Le Symbole de la Multitude et de l'Armée, Légions/Conduite, Les Troupes, Force Collective, Discipline, Soldats, Action de Groupe, Une Multitude Disciplinée, Discipline de l'Ego, Volonté "Peut se référer au deuil mais sa signification essentielle est la Discipline." -- D.F. Hook
Jugement
Legge :Discipline indique qu'avec une fermeté correcte et un leader d'âge et d'expérience, il y aura de la bonne fortune et pas d'erreur.
Wilhelm/Baynes :L'Armée. L'armée a besoin de persévérance et d'un homme fort. Bonne fortune sans blâme.
Blofeld : La persistance dans une voie juste apporte aux autorités bonne fortune et absence d'erreur. [Si la question ne concerne pas les affaires militaires, nous devons interpréter ce hexagramme symboliquement dans le sens où la vie est une bataille.]
Liu :L'Armée. L'armée exige persévérance et une personne forte (leader). Bonne fortune. Pas de blâme.
Ritsema/Karcher : Légions : Épreuve. Personnes respectables significatives. Sans faute. [Ce hexagramme décrit votre situation en termes de foules désorganisées ou de groupes de choses. Il souligne que l'organisation de ces choses en unités fonctionnelles est la manière adéquate de la gérer. Pour être en accord avec le temps, on vous dit de diriger !]
Shaughnessy : Les Troupes : Détermination pour l'homme âgé est de bon augure ; il n'y a pas de problème.
Cleary (1) : Pour que le leader de l'armée soit juste, une personne mature est bonne ; alors il n'y a pas d'erreur.
Wu : L'Armée indique persévérance. Dirigée par l'homme âgé, elle sera de bon augure.
L'Image
Legge : L'eau au milieu de la terre -- l'image deDiscipline. L'homme supérieur nourrit et éduque le peuple, et rassemble parmi eux une armée puissante.
Wilhelm/Baynes : Au milieu de la terre est l'eau : l'image de L'Armée. Ainsi l'homme supérieur augmente ses masses par la générosité envers le peuple.
Blofeld : Le symbole de l'eau entourée de terre. L'Homme Supérieur nourrit le peuple et le traite avec indulgence.
Liu : L'eau dans la terre symbolise l'Armée. L'homme supérieur augmente ses partisans par la bienveillance envers le peuple.
Ritsema/Karcher : Centre de la terre possédant un ruisseau. Légions. Un chun tzu utilise la tolérance envers les gens ordinaires pour accumuler des foules.
Cleary (1) : Il y a de l'eau dans la terre, L'Armée. Ainsi l'homme supérieur embrasse le peuple et nourrit les masses.
Cleary (2) : … Les leaders développent un groupe en admettant des gens.
Wu : Il y a de l'eau sous la terre ; c'est L'Armée. Ainsi le jun zi reçoit les gens et les abrite.
COMMENTAIRE
Confucius/Legge : Discipline décrit les masses qui composent l'armée, et la fermeté correcte mentionnée signifie une intention moralement correcte. Lorsque le leader utilise les masses avec une telle correction, il peut accomplir la volonté du souverain. Le point focal de la force dans la deuxième ligne est répondu par son corrélat approprié à la place du souverain. Bien que l'action soit dangereuse, elle est en accord avec les meilleurs sentiments des hommes, et bien que le leader puisse affliger le pays, le peuple le suivra toujours -- il y aura de la bonne fortune et pas d'erreur.
Legge :Discipline est symbolisée ici par la conduite d'une expédition militaire. L'arrangement des lignes suggère l'idée d'un général entouré de ses troupes. La ligne dynamique yang au centre du trigramme inférieur a la confiance du souverain magnétique à la cinquième place. Une confiance totale est placée en lui parce qu'il est fort et correct. Il est décrit comme un homme âgé et expérimenté, donc toutes ses entreprises réussiront.
Le caractère périlleux est l'attribut du trigramme inférieur, et la Docilité ou l'Accord avec les Autres, celui du supérieur. La guerre est comme un poison pour un pays -- douloureuse, et potentiellement ruineuse, et pourtant le peuple l'endure au nom du souverain qu'il aime et respecte.
En ce qui concerne l'Image, Chu Hsi dit : "Comme l'eau n'est pas à l'extérieur de la terre, les soldats ne sont pas à l'extérieur du peuple. Par conséquent, si un souverain est capable de nourrir le peuple, il peut obtenir les multitudes pour ses armées."
NOTES ET PARAPHRASES
Jugement : La discipline dirigée par la volonté et l'intention sérieuse fait avancer le Travail. Ou : Avec un jugement expérimenté et une volonté et une intention appropriées, il y aura un bon résultat.
L'Homme Supérieur entraîne et nourrit ses pouvoirs pour construire une unité invincible.
Le mot anglais "infantry", signifiant soldats à pied (l'épine dorsale de toute armée), est dérivé du mot français enfant, signifiant enfant. Cette association ancienne a été faite parce qu'un bon officier militaire était censé traiter ses soldats comme s'ils étaient ses propres enfants -- avec une discipline sévère mais aimante conçue pour améliorer leur caractère. Ce concept est ce à quoi l'Image fait allusion lorsqu'elle dit : “L'homme supérieur nourrit et éduque le peuple, et rassemble parmi eux une armée puissante.” Interprété psychologiquement, l'idée est que le complexe de l'ego est l'officier général dans la deuxième ligne qui nourrit, éduque et contrôle les autres complexes au sein de la psyché. Cela ne peut être accompli que par la discipline, et c'est pourquoi j'ai choisi ce nom pour le hexagramme plutôt que le titre plus habituel de L'Armée.
Avec la seule ligne dynamique du hexagramme placée au centre du trigramme inférieur, nous avons une image de la position du complexe de l'ego par rapport au reste de la psyché. Le souverain magnétique à la cinquième ligne représente le Soi, isolé de l'implication physique directe et dépendant de l'ego dynamique pour accomplir le Travail dans la dimension matérielle. Le septième hexagramme, donc, montre le Travail du point de vue de l'ego.
L'hexagramme numéro huit, Se Tenir Ensemble, est l'inverse de cette image, et montre le Travail du point de vue du Soi en dehors de l'espace-temps. Là, c'est le souverain dynamique de la cinquième ligne qui est le point focal -- une image du Soi entouré de ses satellites. Dans cette dimension, le complexe de l'ego de la deuxième ligne n'est qu'un autre complexe magnétique en compagnie d'autres complexes magnétiques. Idéalement, les complexes inférieurs au sein de la psyché devraient être magnétiques par rapport à un ego dynamique, mais l'ego est toujours magnétique par rapport au Soi dynamique. Du point de vue du Soi, tous ses complexes sont ses "enfants" magnétiques, ou "infanterie". Les hexagrammes sept et huit devraient être étudiés ensemble comme des images inversées pour obtenir une compréhension complète de chacun.
Les images dans les lignes de Discipline traitent toutes de la gestion des forces comme un tout coordonné -- tant qu'elles sont sous le commandement ferme de l'ego (qui n'est qu'un général exécutant les ordres du Soi), les choses se déroulent avec succès. Si la Discipline se décompose et que le général-ego perd le contrôle, la défaite est certaine.
Narutomi Hyogo a dit, "Ce qu'on appelle gagner, c'est vaincre ses alliés. Vaincre ses alliés, c'est se vaincre soi-même, et se vaincre soi-même, c'est surmonter vigoureusement son propre corps. C'est comme si un homme était au milieu de dix mille alliés mais qu'aucun ne le suivait. Si l'on n'a pas préalablement maîtrisé son esprit et son corps, il ne vaincra pas l'ennemi." Yamamoto Tsunetomo -- Le Livre du Samouraï