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Etymology of Zhun's (3) Transition level

confucius

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Lost in the middle of three Yin lines as in the heart of a sombre forest, far away from the two Yang levels where are begun and channelled initial movements, the level describes a position which is inadequate and isolated. Yin at a Transition level is an incorrect line – actually the only incorrectly positioned line of the hexagram – and without relationship. Here one goes forward beyond complications which are yet perceptible. When one does not possess the necessary information to go Dear Hunting, it is preferable to abstain from going.

Giving up while it is still time is to behave as an Accomplished Chief. An alternative to the impetuous attitude which is lost in an obscure place, the Accomplished Chief personifies the shrewdness which allows to discern the potential as soon as its first hints. He who notices in time that he is going astray does not hesitate to change his plan and by such foreseeing keeps his forces intact.

鹿 Hunting : Once in a while there is hunting in the Yi Ching, but most of the time it is Birds rather than large mammals. Actually, the text does not specifically talk of Hunting, for, the word used means, literally : To Go Towards.

即 Deer : The Deer is one of the rare wild animals mentioned in the Yi Ching, with the Fox and the Tiger. It is here the only time it is mentioned although many jade deer representations were discovered in tombs dating from the period of the Zhou dynasty. The symbolics attached to the Deer are various, associating it to wedding and sexuality
( the young deer’s hoof is used in pharmacology as an aphrodisiac) , it is also used for social promotion and also for shamanic practices where it is used as a strange head garment. Finally, Taoists consider it as an accompanying talisman, after death, towards immortality.



元 Without : The text shows a classic negation used only twice in the context of the Yi Ching ( here and at Jian’s-53 first level) while it is found often times in the Tao Te Ching where its definition means Essential.

虞 Getting Prepared : The ideogram, rather complex, can also mean Forest Ranger. Therefore the phrase can be understood as Hunting Deep without a Ranger, meaning Without a Guide. Both ways of reading and understanding come to the same thing, that of a careless and pre-matured expedition.


中 Deepest Centre : The text only bears the ideogram Middle. Deep was chosen to highlight the use of the character meaning Just Middle as it is understood in Zhong Fu’s (61) ideogram.

幾 At the First Hint : The ideogram, whose true form means A Very Infinitely Tiny Part, is written as the embryo’s embryo again cut in two by an arrow. This relative nothingness is not to be understood as a quantity but rather as a developmental state. The idea here is not some mysterious time symbol but, rather, of the natural promises of the turnaround of a situation, the very first hint of an undergoing mutation. Outside the particular expression at the approach of the full moon which marks the beginning of a drastic change – as it is seen at Xiao Xu’s (9) sixth level, Guei Mei’s (54) fifth and Zhong Fu’s (61) fourth, such precision is only found here, at the transition level between the inner and the outer. Actually, such mutation hints are so particular to distinguish that only an Accomplished Chief can do so. Others notice nothing and push forward until the situation becomes embarrassing.

君 子 Accomplished Chief : Symbolic personage whose presence signals that the situation requires particular qualities of courage and discrimination. Here, these qualities allow to measure the difficulties of the Beginning at the very start of the chosen path so as to avoid the traps of impulsiveness.

不 如 舎 Rather Give Up : The text has three characters of which the first is a Negation, the second the character As ( see the second level) and the third a word meaning Residence, Temporary Housing ( that which by definition one must leave). This last definition can be used instead of another character rather close graphically ( the only difference is the symbol of the Hand, symbol of action) and meaning To Leave, To Sacrifice. If the meaning of this phrase leaves no doubt as to its definition, its construction and repeating are difficult to render in English.

往 To Go : Extremely useful, this ideogram has, in the context of the Yi Ching, the sense of an advice To Get Things Going, an injunction to Go Forth.




菩 Embarrassing : Mantic appreciation indicating a lack of fluidity which shrink the possibilities of action.

往 菩 To Go Forth is Embarrassing : Rare mantic formula indicating that to pursue will only result in an immediate and rash reaction which can only slow down the development of the situation. To Go Forth is only profitable at the following level.
 

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