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Hex. 14 from Confucian perspective

tuckchang

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Da You 大有 literally signifies possession at large scale, i.e. abundant possessions. However, according to the hexagram sequence, Da You is paraphrased as a society wherein wealth is evenly distributed after peace is achieved in hexagram 13: Tong Ren, especially when Da Yu is interpreted as ‘to be possessed by 大家 (da4 jia1), i.e. all of people’. From the viewpoint of its internal hexagram, Guai (hexagram 43), wherein a torrential downpour of water might sweep away everything in the path, Da You contains a potential crisis and might burst if abundant possessions aren’t well distributed.
On the other hand, if Da You is denominated according to its image of one feminine line, line 5, possessing all five masculine lines, i.e. all the large ones, it should be signified as possessing largeness 有大, like a virtuous king, who rules the hexagram Da You and possesses all resources. Hence, its changed hexagram, Bi3: intimate interdependence (8), signifies by virtue of cohesion, it becomes a treasure bowl wherein all resources converge.

Every hexagram has its own virtue and talent, as well as performance and achievement which can be exhibited by its master line, as well as its bottom and upper trigrams. The founding line is the one by which a hexagram is formed and denominated; the representative line presents its essence and significance, and the host line is the one that dominates the whole hexagram. The bottom and the upper trigrams presents those, like the internal trigram exhibiting its instinct and the external trigram, its disposition; the internal trigram representing its talent and the external trigram, its performance, the internal trigram also symbolizing the thing-in-itself and the external trigram, the environment. From the viewpoint of the social ranking and the time space continuum, the bottom trigram represents those below, while the upper trigram represents those above; the bottom trigram is the beginning and start, while upper trigram is the ending; the bottom trigram, the cause and the upper trigram, the effect.

Line 5 of Da You is its host and representative line; it is the only feminine line and occupies the king’s position, position 5. All the other masculine lines come to associate with it. Due to its tender character and dignitary position, i.e. it is modest but honorable and with the principle of moderation, it possesses largeness and can maintain the state of abundant possessions. The virtue of Da You is rigidity and perseverance like the internal trigram Qian (perseverance, the sky) but civilization like the external trigram Li (clinging, fire); it conforms to the sky and acts timely; hence it will greatly and smoothly progress.

Line 5, the king who possesses all resources, sincerely and trustworthily associates with others (all his subjects); he is (humble but) dignified; auspiciousness. Line 5 represents the upper trigram Li (clinging, fire), the contour of which is similar to that of the hexagram Zhong Fu: sincerity & trust in the heart (61).

Line 2, the courtier (of the duke, or a senior official) correlates with line 5 and offers its service like a big cart bearing all heavy loads (i.e. to deliver a full cart of resources); to go somewhere; no calamity (or fault).

Line 3, the duke, has no link to line 5; however the duke will repay his tribute to the king since that which he possesses is bestowed by the king, signifying what is taken from society should be used in the interests of society, but the villain won’t. The noble pays tribute to the king; the villain is unable to do so.

Abundant possessions will incur jealousy and create menace to others as well. Line 4, the courtier, is next to line 5, thus must act with a low profile and doesn’t expose its treasures, since the king will levy extra resources for helping those who are in need. 彭 (peng2) is a drumbeat and is also annotated as a grand and multitudinous state. In the era of abundant possessions, to beat the drum and exhibit the grand state can be regarded as to show off. 匪 (fei1: not) 其彭: Do not exhibit the grand state; no calamity (or fault), signifying as long as line 4 can keep its status unchanged, i.e. not to become the feminine and share the possession of largeness, the king, the representative line of the trigram Li, will remain in a state of brightness and civilization.

Line 1 is the commoner who has no access to the king; but this is not calamitous, since line 5 sustains the line 6, the shrine (i.e. the country), all the resources will be attributed to the country and then be evenly attributed downward; all commoners will benefit eventually. Thus, being hurt due to no association (or No harmful pride), (but) it is not calamitous; (there will be) no calamity if one can adamantly undergo the plight, which also signifies that a person shouldn’t be proud of reaching abundant possessions, and then he can avoid calamity.

If line 6 can successfully achieve its mission, i.e. to distribute wealth to all the people, the hexagram will go to the next hexagram Qian1: humidity (15), wherein there is no misfortune in texts. Thus, it is be blessed by heaven, auspiciousness and nothing unfavorable, as Da You (abundant possessions) doesn’t brim over the dam and won’t burst. Confucius’s remarks of Xi Ci Zhuan (繫詞傳) advise how to attain abundant possessions and maintain them: To bless signifies to assist. That which obtains the assistance of heaven is submissiveness (i.e. submissive to the mandate of heaven); that which obtains the assistance of people is sincerity & trust. Hence, the one, who acts sincerely & trustworthily, always keeps submissiveness in mind and respects virtuous persons, will be blessed by heaven; auspiciousness and nothing unfavorable.

Fire is above the sky, signifying Da You. The upper trigram Li is the sun; the sun is shining in the sky and illuminates the whole of creation, so there is no room for darkness. Thus, Confucius’s commentary on its image suggests that a gentleman should curb evil and enhance goodness, submit to the mandate of heaven and cultivate life.

Regards
Tuck :bows:
www.iching123.com
 

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