In the midst of chaos, clarity emerges when courage guides you to break through limitations and reveal your true self.
From
64
Before Completion
To
43
Breakthrough
One is fully satisfied with the scale of the results. taoscopy.com
Before Completion64
Completing a task doesn’t guarantee rest. Remain vigilant, attentive to evolving situations, ready to adapt and act as needed.
↓ Line 1
At the beginning of an undertaking, one must be cautious. Impulsiveness leads to mistakes and embarrassment.
↓ Line 3
Premature action leads to failure. However, with preparation, one can overcome great challenges.
↓ Line 5
Integrity and perseverance bring success. The influence of a virtuous person is beneficial.
↓ Line 6
Celebration and confidence are appropriate, but overindulgence leads to loss and regret.
↓ Breakthrough 43
Break through obstacles with determination and clarity. Confront negativity openly while maintaining integrity and wisdom. The truth must be revealed, yet patience is required.
Other titles: Before Completion, The Symbol of What is not yet Past, Not-yet Fording, Not Yet Completed, Tasks yet to be Completed, Not yet, Yet to be, Before the End, Mission yet Unaccomplished, A State of Transition
Judgment
Legge: Unfinished Business suggests successful progress, butif the young fox that has nearly crossed the stream gets his tail wet, there will be no advantage.
Wilhelm/Baynes:Before Completion. Success. But if the little fox, after nearly completing the crossing, gets his tail in the water, there is nothing that would further.
Blofeld: Before Completion -- success! Before the little fox has quite completed its crossing of the ice, its tail gets wet. [This implies that we are to expect a setback in our plans.] No goal (or destination) is favorable now. [Hence this is a time for waiting and for drawing in our horns. That the LAST of the sixty-four hexagrams should be Before Completion rather than After Completion (#63) may seem surprising until it is recalled that there is nothing final about it; the cycle of change continues, passing from hexagram #64 onto the first hexagram, and so on eternally.]
Liu: Before Completion. Success. A young fox almost across wets his tail in the water. Nothing benefits.
Ritsema/Karcher: Not-yet Fording, Growing. The small fox, a muddy Ford. Soaking one's tail: without direction: Harvesting. (Without direction: Harvesting, WU YU Li: no plan or direction is advantageous; in order to take advantage of the situation, do not impose a direction on events.) [This hexagram describes your situation in terms of being on the edge of an important change of situation. It emphasizes that waiting and accumulating energy to begin the upcoming move is the adequate way to handle it...]
Shaughnessy:Not Yet Completed: Receipt; the little fox at the point of fording, wets his tail; there is no place beneficial.
Cleary (1): Being as yet unsettled is developmental. A small fox, having nearly crossed the river, gets its tail wet, does not succeed.
Cleary (2): Being unsettled leads to success. A little fox, almost crossing, gets its tail wet. Nothing is gained.
Wu:Mission yet Unaccomplished indicates pervasiveness. A little fox almost makes it crossing the river, but gets its tail wet. Nothing is gained.
The Image
Legge: Fire over water -- the image ofUnfinished Business. The superior man carefully discriminates among the qualities of things, and the different positions they naturally occupy.
Wilhelm: Fire over water: the image of the condition before transition. Thus the superior man is careful in the differentiation of things, so that each finds its place.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes fire above water. The Superior Man takes care to distinguish between things before arranging them in order.
Liu: Fire above water symbolizes Before Completion. The superior man carefully distinguishes things, and puts them in their appropriate place.
Ritsema/Karcher: Fire located above stream. Not-yet Fording. A chun tzu uses considering to mark-off the beings residing on-all-sides.
Cleary (1): Fire is above water, not yet settled. Thus superior people carefully discern things and keep them in their places.
Cleary (2): Fire over water – unsettled.
Wu: There is fire above water; this is Mission yet Unaccomplished. Thus the jun zi makes careful distinction of things and their proper places of being.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: Progress and success are suggested by the magnetic fifth line in the ruler's place. Although he has nearly crossed the stream, the young fox has not yet escaped from the midst of danger and calamity. Getting his tail wet means that the end does not reflect the intent of the beginning. Although the places of the different lines are not those appropriate to them, yet a dynamic and a magnetic line always respond to each other.
Legge:Unfinished Businessis the reverse of Completion: it means that the successful accomplishment of the matter at hand has not yet been realized; the crossing of the great stream is as yet incomplete.
Some have wished that theI Chingmight have concluded with Completion, and the last hexagram have left us with the picture of human affairs all brought to good order. But this would not have been in harmony with the idea of change. Again and again it has been pointed out that we find in the book no idea of a perfect and abiding state. Just as the seasons of the year change and pursue an ever-recurring round, so it is with the phases of society. The reign of order has peaked and declined, and this hexagram calls us to renew the struggle to make things right again. It deals with the conduct necessary to secure this result.
Not one of the lines in the hexagram is in its correct place -- all the dynamic lines are in magnetic places, and the magnetic lines are in dynamic places. At the same time, each of them has a proper correlate, so there is the possibility of some progress.
The symbol of the fox suggests a want of caution on the part of those who try to remedy prevailing disorders. They are unsuccessful and thereby get themselves into trouble. Line two represents this state of mind -- he is dynamic in a magnetic place in the center of the trigram of Peril. He is restless, and attracted by his magnetic correlate in the fifth place, he will be incautious in taking action. The outcome of the issue will be different than what was intended at the beginning.
The trigram of Water is below, and Fire above, showing how the two principles cannot act on each other profitably. This symbolizes the unregulated condition of general affairs now prevailing.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Judgment: Although many achievements fuel our growth, the ego is only the facilitator, not the doer. To ignore this truth creates negative consequences: don't destroy the Work!
The Superior Man critically examines the situation and re-checks his priorities.
This hexagram represents the time before the climax of a cycle, just as the preceding figure symbolizes the time after the climax (and hence the transition to a new beginning). The Work is by no means "almost over" -- the lines all match as correlates, but every one of them unites "upside-down," so to speak. (Turn the hexagram over, and then they are in perfect correlation.) That the superior man "discriminates among the qualities of things, and the different positions they naturally occupy" means that he knows that the correct positions of the lines (the ones they "naturally occupy") are as in hexagram number sixty-three, not this one.
This "backward correlation of lines" is arguably a fair image of the relationship of thoughts and feelings in the average human psyche. The stresses of life are what eventually break up these mismatched correlates through endless cycles of stimulus and response until they finally all unite correctly in a hypothetical "Completion of the Great Work." That this is an ideal rather than a humanly attainable goal is suggested in this quote from Shao Yung:
The principle of the Way finds its full development in Heaven; the principle of Heaven, in Earth; the principle of Earth, in the myriad things; and that of the myriad things, in man. One who knows how the principles of Heaven, Earth, and all things find their full development in man can give full development to his people.
For all practical purposes, it is wisest to aspire to attainable completions and realize that the Work's "full development" is the Self's, not the ego's responsibility.
To strive for perfection is a high ideal. But I say: "Fulfill something you are able to fulfill rather than run after what you will never achieve." Nobody is perfect. Remember the saying: "None is good but God alone" [Luke 18:19], and nobody can be. It is an illusion. We can modestly strive to fulfill ourselves and to be as complete human beings as possible, and that will give us trouble enough. Jung -- The Tavistock Lectures
The Judgment suggests that before any climax or resolution there may still exist an indeterminate amount of free choice to influence the outcome -- only the specific circumstances can suggest how much or how little. As always, the choices are defined within the structure of the situation. The magnetic ruler in the fifth place implies that a favorable outcome is possible, but only through clear perception and willpower can it come about.
The conditional interpretation (boldface italics added) in both Legge's and Wilhelm's translation of the Judgment is necessary for its text to make sense. Note that Ritsema/Karcher define "Without direction: Harvesting" as: "No plan or direction is advantageous; in order to take advantage of the situation, do not impose a direction on events." This is a common oracle response, and sharpens the meaning here. Line one depicts the negative consequences of ignoring the Judgment’s explicit message.
Line 1
Legge: The first line, magnetic, shows its subject like a fox whose tail gets immersed. There will be occasion for regret.
Wilhelm/Baynes: He gets his tail in the water. Humiliating.
Blofeld: Its tail gets wet -- disgrace! [If we receive this moving line, the setback is likely to be discreditable to us.]
Liu: He wets his tail. Humiliation.
Ritsema/Karcher: Soaking one's tail. Abashment.
Shaughnessy: Wetting his tail; distress.
Cleary (1): Getting the tail wet, one is humiliated.
Cleary (2): Getting the tail wet is humiliating.
Wu: The tail is immersed. Humiliating.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: This is the very height of ignorance. Wilhelm/Baynes: For he
cannot take the end into view. Blofeld: This also implies that we do not know how to take advantage of opportunities. Ritsema/Karcher: Truly not knowing the end indeed. Cleary (2): One still does not know the limit. Wu: It shows the subject is clumsy.
Legge: Line one is magnetic, at the bottom of the trigram of Peril, and responds to the dynamic fourth line who is not in his correct place. She attempts action but finds cause to regret it.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: At the outset, the man attempts to advance in a frenzy during times of disorder in pursuit of tangible accomplishments. This only leads to humiliation, since the time for good results is not at hand.
Wing: There is a strong urge to end a chaotic situation, yet it is not the time for clearheaded action. You do not see clearly all of the implications and consequences of your actions. Any actions will bring you problems and, perhaps, disgrace.
Editor: This line portrays the negative interpretation of the conditional Judgment. You are vulnerable to detrimental influences -- this could be due to either arrogance or ignorance, or both. The line often refers to going too far, or forcing an issue. Compare with line 63:6: Wilhelm/Baynes: "He gets his head in the water. Danger."
The people who fancy they are sure of themselves are the ones who are truly unsure ... In the long run it is the better adapted man who triumphs, not the wrongly self-confident, who is at the mercy of dangers from without and within. Jung --Depth Psychology and Self-Knowledge
A. Your assumptions in the matter at hand are premature and ignorant of their consequences.
B. You are rashly presumptuous.
Line 3
Legge: The third line, magnetic, shows its subject with the state of things not yet remedied, advancing on; which will lead to evil. But there will be advantage (Sic) in trying to cross the great stream.
Wilhelm/Baynes: Before completion, attack brings misfortune. It furthers one (Sic) to cross the great water.
Blofeld: The crossing is incomplete, so to advance now would bring misfortune; yet it will be advantageous (Sic) to cross the great river (or sea). [The second and third clauses of this passage appear contradictory; but not if we interpret them to mean that, though we must halt for a while, we should preserve our determination to go forward to the end when conditions warrant an advance.]
Liu: Before completion achieving success, continuing -- misfortune. It is beneficial (Sic) to cross the great water. [This line indicates frustration.]
Ritsema/Karcher: Not-yet Fording, chastising: pitfall. Harvesting: wading the Great River. (Sic)
Shaughnessy: Not yet completed; to be upright is inauspicious; beneficial (Sic) to ford the great river.
Cleary (1): As yet unsettled, it bodes ill to go on an expedition, but it is beneficial (Sic) to cross great rivers.
Cleary (2): While unsettled, etc.
Wu: In time of Mission yet Unaccomplished, going forward is foreboding, but crossing the great river is advantageous (Sic).
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: Advancing will lead to evil. The place of the line is not that appropriate for it. Wilhelm/Baynes: The place is not the appropriate one. Blofeld: The first part of this passage is suggested by the line's unsuitable position. Ritsema/ Karcher: Situation not appropriate indeed. Cleary (2): The position is inappropriate. Wu: The position is improper.
Legge: The K'ang-hsi editors say that it is very difficult to understand what is said under line three, and many critics suppose that a negative has dropped out, and that we should really read that "It will not be advantageous to try to cross the great stream."
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: The time is ripe for transition, but the man lacks sufficient strength to act alone. Advancing under these conditions would mean disaster.
Wing: The continuing pursuit of your aim will bring you frustration because it cannot be achieved within your current situation. If you must achieve this particular goal, it would be better to begin anew, with the aid of new friends. Otherwise you may dull your energies and vision with discouragement.
Editor: There is serious ambiguity here. I asked the oracle to comment on the situation of this line, and received hexagram 18:4 -- "You cannot succeed until you rectify a past mistake." Then I asked what would be the effect of adding the negative to the line, and received hexagram 22:2 and 5 -- "Form follows function," and, "A small offering is appreciated." As far as I am concerned, the answer is clear: the line doesn't make sense unless the negative is replaced. We are dealing with a book which was first written down in 1143 BC, and copied by hand for more than two-thousand years before it was first printed. In editing this edition I have caught myself making copying errors more than once, so it is easy to appreciate the problems involved in maintaining accuracy over millennia.
Addendum , 01/16/06: I asked the oracle to comment again on my interpretation of this line and received hexagram 61, Inner Truth, without changing lines.
The wise man sees evil coming and avoids it, the fool is rash and presumptuous. Proverbs 14: 16
A. The Work is incomplete. To push ahead blindly can only lead to confusion.
B. Don't force an incomplete transition.
C. "Don't push the river."
Line 5
Legge: The fifth line, magnetic, shows its subject by firm correctness obtaining good fortune, and having no occasion for repentance. We see in her the brightness of superior intelligence, and the possession of sincerity. There will be good fortune.
Wilhelm/Baynes: Perseverance brings good fortune. No remorse. The light of the superior man is true. Good fortune.
Blofeld: Persistence in a righteous course brings good fortune and absence of regret. The lustre of the Superior Man wins people's confidence -- hence the good fortune.
Liu: Continuing -- good fortune. No remorse. The glory of the superior man wins the confidence of the people. Good fortune.
Ritsema/Karcher: Trial: significant, without repenting. A chun tzu’s shining. Possessing conformity, significant.
Shaughnessy: Determination is auspicious; regret is gone. The gentleman's radiance has a return; auspicious.
Cleary (1): Remaining correct brings good results, without regret; the light of a superior person has truth and goodness.
Cleary (2): Correctness brings good results; regret vanishes. The illumination of developed people leads to good results.
Wu: To be persevering is auspicious. There will be no regrets. This shows the brilliance of the jun zi. With confidence, there will be good fortune.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: The diffusion of that brightness tends to good fortune. Wilhelm/ Baynes: His light brings good fortune. Blofeld: The Superior Man has the glorious custom of distributing his good fortune among the needy. [From the point of view of divination, this implies that we should be very generous in sharing the promised good fortune.]Ritsema/Karcher: One's brilliance significant indeed. Cleary (2): The radiance of the illumination of developed people leads to good results. Wu: His radiance brings good fortune.
Legge: Line five is magnetic in a dynamic place, but she is the humble ruler who is supported by the dynamic second line, and hence the auspice is very good.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: Steadfastness to correct action and to sincerity on the part of the man has rallied men of good faith. Victory is achieved. A glorious new era has replaced the decadent old one.
Wing: Honest determination and correct principles have banished difficulties and created the stimulating environment of an advanced society. A superior personality can now rally others around him and lead them into a bright new era. Great things can be attained.
Editor: The fifth line is in the middle of the trigram of Clarity, of light and intelligence. She has the insight and comprehension which enable her to persevere -- clarity is the foundation of will. The idea is that perseverance and comprehension reinforce each other.
It is necessary that we should seek and knock, and thereby ask the Omnipotent Power within ourselves, and remind it of its promises and keep it awake, and if we do this in the proper form and with a pure and sincere heart, we shall receive that for which we ask, and find that which we seek, and the doors of the Eternal that have been closed before us will be opened, and what was hidden before our sight will come to light. Paracelsus
A. Look for the light, then follow it.
B. Clear perception enables you to differentiate the situation.
Line 6
Legge: The sixth line, dynamic, shows its subject full of confidence and therefore feasting quietly. There will be no error. If he exceeds this confidence, till he is like the fox who gets his head immersed, he will fail of what is right.
Wilhelm/Baynes: There is drinking of wine in genuine confidence. No blame. But if one wets his head, he loses it, in truth.
Blofeld: Those in whom the people repose their trust may feast themselves without doing wrong; but if they allow their heads to get wet they will forfeit that trust. [This is a warning against excess. We have every right to enjoy our good fortune within reasonable bounds; but, if we are guilty of an excess comparable to that of drunken men who pour wine over one another's heads, we shall forfeit the high esteem in which we are (or soon will be) held.]
Liu: He drinks wine with confidence. No blame. When his head gets wet, he loses confidence.
Shaughnessy: There is a return in drinking wine; there is no trouble. Wetting his head; there is a return, losing this.
Cleary (1): Having faith, one drinks wine without blame. When one gets one’s head wet, having faith ceases to be right.
Cleary (2): There is sincerity in drinking wine, without fault. But if one becomes totally immersed, having faith ceases to be right.
Wu: Having confidence in one’s capacity in drinking wine is not a cause for error. However, if he immerses his head in it, the confidence is misplaced.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: He does not know how to submit to the proper regulations. Wilhelm/Baynes: When one wets his head while drinking wine, it is because he knows no moderation. Blofeld: Because that would indicate a lack of restraint. Ritsema/ Karcher: Truly not knowing articulating indeed. Cleary (2): Not knowing proper measure. Wu: He does not know his limit.
Legge: When the work of the hexagram is complete, line six appears properly disposed to remain quiet and enjoy the confidence of his own power. If, on the contrary, he goes on to exert these powers and meddle with the peril of the situation, the issue will be bad. The symbolism of line six indicates a want of caution, and an unwillingness to submit one's impulses to the regulation of reason and prudence.
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Siu: The man is filled with confidence and quietly feasting with convivial friends. No error will result from such exuberance during the dawning of a new era. It must be kept within proper bounds, however. Otherwise, intemperance will lead to forfeiting the favorable gains achieved.
Wing: After the struggles are over there is a prevailing sense of well being which comes from the promise of a refreshing new time. Enjoy this time of celebration but do not indulge in excess, or your vision and, therefore, your confidence may be lost.
Editor: To "feast quietly" is to nourish oneself in a seemly manner. The idea is to calmly consolidate your gains-- rest easy and don't be greedy for more than you already possess. Ritsema/Karcher's advice from the Judgment: "In order to take advantage of the situation, do not impose a direction on events," is especially appropriate here.
It is an honor for a man to cease from strife; But every fool will be meddling. Proverbs 20: 3
A. A modest success is indicated. Keep your head and don't get carried away: "Leave well-enough alone."
Other titles: Break-through, The Symbol of Decision, Resolution, Determination, Parting, Removing Corruption, Eradication
Judgment
Legge: Recognizing the risks involved in criminal prosecution, justice demands a resolute proof of the culprit's guilt in the royal court. One informs one's own city that armed force is not necessary. In this way progress is assured.
Wilhelm/Baynes:Break-through. One must resolutely make the matter known at the court of the king. It must be announced truthfully. Danger. It is necessary to notify one's own city. It does not further to resort to arms. It furthers one to undertake something.
Blofeld: Resolution. When a proclamation is made at the court of the King, frankness in revealing the true state of affairs is dangerous. [In vital matters, frankness may prove dangerous.] In making announcements to the people of his own city, it is not fitting for the ruler to carry arms. [It is better to repose trust in our own people.] It is favorable to have some goal (or destination).
Liu: Determination. Someone is proud in the king's court, and the king trusts him. If one exposes the truth, danger. It must be told to one's own people. Using force does not benefit. It does benefit to do something else. [You must decide how to deal with a situation before it reaches a dangerous point, or things will take their own course and overwhelm you.]
Ritsema/Karcher:Parting, displaying tending-towards kingly chambers. Conforming, crying-out, possessing adversity. Notifying originates from the capital. Not Harvesting: approaching arms. Harvesting: possessing directed going. [This hexagram describes your situation in terms of separation and diverging directions. It emphasizes that resolutely dividing your energies is the adequate way to handle it...]
Shaughnessy:Resolution: Raised up at the royal court, returning crying out; there is danger. Announcing from the sky; not beneficial to regulate the belligerents; beneficial to have someplace to go.
Cleary (1): Parting is lauded in the royal court. The call of truth involves danger. Addressing one’s own domain, it is not beneficial to go right to war, but it is beneficial to go somewhere. [The royal court is the abode of the mind-ruler, where true and false are distinguished.]
Cleary (2): Decision is brought up in the royal court. A sincere statement involves danger, etc.
Wu:Eradication indicates a conceited pronouncement in the royal court on the one hand, and a concerted call for vigilance on the other. It is essential to make the danger known to the people, but not to resort to force now. It is advantageous to have undertakings.
The Image
Legge: The image of the waters of a marsh mounting over heaven forms Resoluteness. The superior man, in accordance with this, does not hoard his wealth, but shares it with his subordinates.
Wilhelm/Baynes: The lake has risen up to heaven: the image of Break-through. Thus the superior man dispenses riches downward and refrains from resting on his virtue.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes a marshy lake being drawn (sucked) towards the sky. The Superior Man distributes his emoluments to those below; dwelling in virtue, he renounces them.
Liu: The lake ascends to heaven, symbolizing Determination. The superior man distributes wealth below him, without displaying his favors.
Ritsema/Karcher: Above marsh with-respect-to heaven. Parting. A chun tzu uses spreading-out benefits to extend to the below. A chun tzu uses residing-in actualizing tao, by- consequence keeping-aloof. [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 what it is meant to be.]
Cleary (1): Moisture ascends to heaven, which parts with it. Thus do superior people distribute blessings to reach those below, while avoiding presumption of virtue. [After people get mixed up in temporal conditioning, the discriminatory consciousness takes charge of affairs; wine and sex distract them from reality, the lure of wealth deranges their nature, emotions and desires well forth at once, thoughts and ruminations arise in a tangle, and the mind-ruler is lost in confusion. Because habituation becomes second nature over a long period of time, it cannot be abruptly removed. It is necessary to work on the matter in a serene and equanimous way, according to the time: Eventually discrimination will cease, and the original spirit will return; the human mind will sublimate and the mind of Tao will be complete – again you will see the original self.]
Cleary (2): … If they presumed on their virtue, they would be resented.
Wu: The marsh rises to heaven; this is Eradication. Thus the jun zi distributes his emolument to those below and is loath to monopolize virtues.
COMMENTARY
Confucius/Legge: Resoluteness is the symbol of displacing or removing. We see the dynamic lines displacing the magnetic line. The figure displays the attributes of Strength and Cheerfulness. There is displacement, but harmony continues. The exhibition of the criminal's guilt in the royal court is shown by the magnetic line mounted on five dynamic lines. The awareness of danger and appeal for justice makes the matter clear. If he has recourse to arms, what he prefers will soon be exhausted. When the advance of the dynamic lines is complete, there will be an end to displacement.
Legge:Resoluteness represents the third month when the last vestige of winter, represented by the sixth line, is about to disappear before the advance of summer. The single yin line at the top symbolizes an inferior man, a feudal prince or high minister who is corrupting the government. The five yang lines below are the representatives of good order. The lesson of the hexagram is how to remove corruption from the kingdom. He who would do this must do so by the force of his character more than the force of arms. Never forgetting the dangerous nature of his undertaking, he must openly denounce the criminal in the court and awaken general sympathy to his cause. Among his own adherents ("In his own city") he must prevent any tendency to resort to armed conflict. As a worthy statesman he is not motivated by private feelings.
Hu Ping-wen says: "If but a single inferior man is left, he is sufficient to make the superior man anxious; if but a single inordinate desire be left in the mind, that is sufficient to disturb the harmony of the heavenly principles. The eradication in both cases must be complete, before the labor is ended."
NOTES AND PARAPHRASES
Judgment:Resoluteness involves astute discernment of what is wrong and a discreet re-establishment of order without polarizing the situation. Be clear in your own strategy, but let common sense be your guide about how much you need to disclose to others. Avoid aggression at all costs.
The Superior Man maintains equilibrium by distributing his energy equitably -- he smoothes things out.
The forty-third hexagram is an image of the eradication of an inferior force from the situation at hand: five yang lines resolutely advance on the single yin line, which is about to be pushed out of the hexagram at the top. This is a negative image of the twenty-third hexagram, Disintegration, which shows the opposite situation of five lower yin lines undermining one upper yang line. It is instructive to compare the nearly identical message for the superior man in the Images of each of these figures. The idea is one of fostering an equitable distribution of energy within the situation -- Disintegration and the Resoluteness required to rectify it are extreme situations requiring extreme measures. Such extremes must always be neutralized through a justly distributed balance of forces.
It's not the concern of law that any one class in the city fare exceptionally well, but it contrives to bring this about for the whole city, harmonizing the citizens by persuasion and compulsion, making them share with one another the benefit that each class is able to bring to the commonwealth. And it produces such men in the city not in order to let them turn whichever way each wants, but in order that it may use them in binding the city together. Plato --The Republic
Compare the nuances of meaning in each translation of the Judgment. Wilhelm's is most radical, advising a direct (albeit dangerous), expose of what is wrong. Most of the others imply room for discretion about what needs to be revealed. Diplomacy is the art of knowing when full- disclosure only prevents resolution of the problem. Ritsema/Karcher allude to the proper mind-set required to manage such situations: "[A chun tzu uses] residing-in actualizing tao, by-consequence keeping-aloof." To "reside in actualizing tao," is to live directly from one's essence, and when this is associated with "keeping-aloof" we get an image of quietly rectifying a situation without revealing our purpose or strategy.
Psychologically interpreted,Resoluteness, like Disintegration, depicts an extreme situation which must first be rectified, then prevented from re-occurring through the maintenance of a just balance of power which is administered by the ego under the will of the Self.