This Hexagram employs the metaphor of the hunt, the staking-out of game, and applies it to pursuit of any desired goal, stressing, as a further layer of symbolism, relationships with the opposite sex.
The lower trigram begins 1] by advising intermittent or indirect pursuit. The hunter in the realm of the hunted is at a disadvantage, his desire for continuance is immature, he is not really cognizant of the obstacles involved, and shouldn't engage in hot pursuit 2] An arena is staked out, the self doubt of the first line is broken down by patient reflection. The hunter finds himself in the hunt. 3] He becomes hyper-sensitized to his options in staking out or stalking and has further difficulty not opting out for lesser goals. But this is brought about by identifying with how one is externally perceived. How much weight should be given to prior commitments?
The upper trigram pursues the philosophical implications of the process 4] by using the stalker's killing place as a metaphor. An field empty will be a lure. One from which the game has been frightened will not be returned to; at the same time The hunter must achieve "not being here." All is illusory, on the one hand, but to the mind free of attachment all things come. 5] The static state of emptiness need not be adhered to, should in fact become an active one, the pursuit of lesser goals is part of the focus on the primary one. And the beckoned- game or goal- is dangerous, it may consume the hunter. 6] In all decision-making inner restfulness and acceptance are the most important qualities. Life is change.

auriel said:

This Hexagram employs the metaphor of the hunt, the staking-out of game, and applies it to pursuit of any desired goal, stressing, as a further layer of symbolism, relationships with the opposite sex ...

Click to expand...

Hi, Auriel:

Quite true. Maybe you're thinkint first at 32.4 sometimes translated a FIELD WITHOUT GAME or FIELD WITHOUT HUNT.

Of course hunting wives was usual in ancient times.

Another version of 32.4 might be:

田 tian2: field / farm /
无 wu2 : without / not / no / avoid /
禽 qin2: birds / fowl // animal under a net

FARM WITHOUT FOWLS
A farm with no fowls ...
[... is not a farm]

→ A HOME WITH NO WOMEN IS NOT A HOME.






From: http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2004-02/03/content_1296524.htm

There is also the sequence of 32.5 that says:

婦 fu4: woman /
人 ren2: man / person / people /
吉 ji2: fortunate / lucky /

夫 fu1: master / husband /
子 zi3: son / child / seed / egg / cub /
凶 xiong1: fierce / terrible / ominous /

That applied to couple relationship might say:

WOMAN - MAN, LUCKY
When intercourse is between equals,
say women and men with even rights, it is fortunate.

MASTER - CHILD, OMINOUS.
When it is hyerarchical, like between teacher and pupil, the couple will end badly, usually the woman with the worse part: horrible!

Another possibility:

WOMEN LUCKY.
婦人 furen = women
Women bring luck.

HUSBANDS CUBS, FIERCE.
Prospects of husband are fierce.
Girls: avoid them, prefer true men.

Was Kerson who said that the Zhou Yi was written by a woman?

(to be continued)

Yours,

Charly

Good to see, rather than deduce the interlinears.

On 32.5 It's as you suggest; as well:
"[the long-enduring relationship] suits man and woman, but when you apply it to the children, well, they'll turn on you."
or if we take 吉 ji as not "lucky" but "power" (as a variant of qi),
we have "a mother guarding her children is a fierce foe"
It may be implied as well that it's ". . .unlucky to hunt a mother with children" which is certainly a common folk wisdom.
Or simply "man and a woman [joined] is fortunate; a woman will protect her man and her children"

In the sense that the hexagram is about stalking, a balanced respect for the object of the hunt is dictated. The hunter's self-examinations bring up questions of an enduring nature.

in the sense that it's about enduring- their are two enduring states "the joy of man and woman, &the protection parents afford children" These are things worth hunting for. . .