Square Games 2

[heylise]

I could not open the other 'Square Games', so I start a new one. The other one is at:
http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/I_Ching_community/messages/48/1252.html

1.1 Hidden (submerged) dragon. Do not act.
=>
44.1 It must be checked with a brake of bronze.
Perseverance brings good fortune.
If one lets it take its course, one experiences misfortune.
Even a lean pig has it in him to rage around.


I have put these 2 together, they 2 are fanyao, so their meanings should be complementary. The yang and the yin side of one situation.
In 1.1 it is too early to sow, wait for the time when the rains come (when the dragon leaves the water where he hides).
In 43.1 also a beginning, but the warning is not to let a small wrong one go on, so it will grow into a future with misfortune.
The bottom lines are the 'earth' lines, they are about tangible things and actions.

1.6 Arrogant dragon will have cause to repent.
=>
43.6 No cry.
In the end misfortune comes (or: completion brings misfortune).

43.6 Be open to others, yourself and the gods. Makes things known, conscious, don't try to keep them to yourself.
1.6 Follow the laws of universe, not your own laws.
I think they are both a warning against too much autonomy or ego.
The 'heaven' lines are about spirit.

All four: do not follow your own narrow view, but be open to the signs and laws of life and universe. All lines do so in regard to the future, which will be determined by what you do now.
I agree with what Mick said: Each of the lines contains a warning. All four lines seem to be echoing something of 44,1 "If one lets it take its course, one experiences misfortune."
And: "There's a thread of misfortune".
I think the reason for all the misfortune is, that it is difficult to give an approval to the right amount of self-determination versus too much. A warning against too much autonomy is easier.

And: "Do you think that 1,6 and 1,1 have the same kind of spoken rhythm to one another in Mandarin?"
qian2 long2 wu4 yong4
kang4 long2 you3 hui3
The first line has down, down at the end, but the second one down-up, down-up (tone 3 is like a V, first down and then up, like a question)

LiSe

 

[Frankelmick]

LiSe,

This is great.

So the 1,1 square seems to have a theme of warning you against going too much your own way.

I would really like to take the squares in some kind of sequence. Is that alright with you?

Maybe if we work our way upwards through Hexagram 1?

The next sequence of four would be 13,2 => 14,5 => 1,5 => 1,2

Fellowship with men in the clan.
Humiliation.
=>
He whose truth is accessible, yet dignified,
Has good fortune.
=>
Flying dragon in the heavens.
It furthers one to see the great man.
=>
Dragon appearing in the field.
It furthers one to see the great man.

Well this square seems completely different to the previous one.

There seems to be a positive suggestion to spend time with someone with understanding. Maybe this is a progression from the warning against too much autonomy?

Reading all four lines in this order, there seems to be a sense of awakening and then seeing the dragon fly down to Earth. Maybe this square represents waking up to the possibility of spiritual growth?

The awakening comes with the realisation of the humiliation of only associating with run-of-the-mill people. Then comes the search for an accessible, dignified truth. Then perhaps the need to find a teacher? Then the need to meet the teacher.

Thanks for explaining about tones 3 and 4
Tone 4 is down, tone 3 is like a V, down then up.
What are tones 1 & 2? How many tones are there?

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[heylise]

Tone 1 is 'horizontal', tone 2 up, then there is a 5th one, without any mark, which is neutral, but I don't know if that is like 1 or without any emphasis.
Vowels are seldom one sound, always as if they move from one sound to another one, like Chinese music does. Ee is a bit like eeyeah and a (the a of fAther) like e-a.
LiSe

 

[Frankelmick]

LiSe,

Thanks for that.

Is there a difference between the pronunciation of Lu Hx 10 and Lu Hx 56?

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[heylise]

13.4: War-chariots against a rampart. Not able to attack. Auspicious.
Together one can withstand enemies. Where one person has not enough strength, together one can build cities and walls to ward off attacks, join resources to withstand famine. You are more than a person, you are one of a family-village-country-humanity, add your efforts.

37. 4: A rich (or Wealth flowing into) family. Great auspiciousness.
When a group is organized as a family, they have many possibilities and resources. Everyone adds his personal assets, in his own niche. Together they can achieve more than an undifferentiated group. What Wilhelm translates is possible too: to be a member who balances the family.
Be a valuable member for this family-etc, add your gifts, skills, efforts.


14. 3: A Gong sacrifices to the Son of Heaven. Small people are not able to.
A big heart (mind) sees farther than personal or local interests. He sees the needs of the family-village-state-humanity, and is able to contribute to it.
Make your mind bigger-than-personal, directed towards the common good.

38. 3: Seeing the cart dragged, one's oxen pulled, one's people with bent head and cut off nose. Without a beginning, there is an end.
Outside the group is the big bad world. But knowing about it is necessary for a greater vision and in order to survive. Apart from a family base one also needs to be able to handle the outside world, others who are very different and often hostile.
They too (the big bad world) are members of this family, live with them too.

Hilary's comments on 38 (in the other 'Squares' thread) made me see the possibility of all this mishap being simply the result of the confrontation with 'the others'. It happens all the time, starts already in the first class in school, or even on the first day in the street. Children being nasty to you, displeased teachers, hard tasks.

This square was a tough one. Not only the 4 lines had to be combined, but the two kinds of lines too (line 3 and 4). It was a lot easier to find a common theme for lines 2 and 5, and these two are still not entirely clear.

The third line has to do with emotions and evaluation. It is the 'heaven' line of the bottom trigram, and a 'man' line in the hexagram. Heaven stands for the invisible, like spirit, emotions, religion, but combined with man especially human: emotions.
The fourth line with decisions, finding the road, choices. It is the 'earth' line of the top trigram, and a 'man' line of the hexagram: reality of human affairs.
Together they are the entire 'man' part of the hexagram, so I guess that is the main clue. The everyday human affairs.
Lines 2 and 5 were the 'man' parts of the trigrams, but trigrams are more abstract than hexagrams, so that 'man' had more to do with human as species, and human interconnections, than as individuals and personal actions.

LiSe

 

[heylise]

1.2 Dragon appearing in the field.
It furthers one to see the great man.
=>
13.2 Fellowship with men in the clan.
Humiliation.
=>
14.5 He whose truth is accessible, yet dignified,
Has good fortune.
=>
1.5 Flying dragon in the heavens.
It furthers one to see the great man.

Mick: "There seems to be a positive suggestion to spend time with someone with understanding. Maybe this is a progression from the warning against too much autonomy?"
Two words came to my mind too, which are identical to yours: time and understanding. Time rather as 'right time' though, and understanding as 'understanding the time'.

If Marshall is right, the dragon is the bringer of rain.

In hex.1 line 2 it appears in the field: big clouds, messengers of the coming rain. At this moment one should start sowing, or whatever the new season asks for. Maybe the 'great man' is the one who knows the signs, and is able to interpret them. Or the one who is able to immediately seize the moment.
Foresee through the signs, pick up the seeds of what will happen.

In line 5 the dragon flies high in the sky. It is the time of summer heat and drought, when a shower is a blessing, and very necessary (see Marshall).
Be prepared for whatever will happen, so you react in time.

It is very important to be open to the signs, to be flexible in interpreting them. So the people of 13.2, who stay in their narrow preconceptions, might very well miss the right moment.
Be without borders, so you never miss the opportunity.

In 14.5 there is a repeating of the character ru2, which has as meanings: thus, if, like or then. It is composed of woman and mouth: talk like a woman, adapting (must be very long ago - ?), changing according to what the moment asks for, not making definitive statements. "His truth mingling like, impressive like". Or: then associating, then authoritative. Reacting to what the situation asks for, one moment powerfully leading everyone, another moment one of the guys, or helping, or understanding.
Be flexible enough to do or be what the situation asks for.

Lines 2 and 5 have to do with relation, reaction, mediating. They are the middle lines of trigrams, the 'man'-lines. human as species, human interconnections and ways of dealing with the greater aspects of life. E.g. not with 'possessing something' but with the principle of 'Possessing'. Not with 'having or using time', but with the relation to 'the Time'. Not the relation with a person, but with humanity, or with 'Relating'.


Mick: "Reading all four lines in this order, . . "
(I don't think there is a 'sequence', a story. Or maybe there are four stories, depending at which line one starts it)

LiSe

 

[Frankelmick]

LiSe,

Thanks very much for the reply.

The diagram is really clear and everything you say makes perfect sense to me.

You say, "I don't think there is a 'sequence', a story. Or maybe there are four stories, depending at which line one starts it"

I agree. Perhaps these groups of four are more like circles with no fixed starting point?

This next group of four completes the Hx 1 squares.

10,3
A one-eyed man is able to see,
A lame man is able to tread.
He treads on the tail of the tiger.
The tiger bites the man.
Misfortune.
Thus does a warrior act on behalf of his great prince.

9,4
If you are sincere, blood vanishes and fear gives way.
No blame.

1,4
Wavering flight over the depths.
No blame.

1,3
All day long the superior man is creatively active.
At nightfall his mind is beset with cares.
Danger. No blame.

Well "No blame" comes through loud and clear, wouldn?t you say?

Nothing is easy in any of these lines. Uncertainty, fear, danger, misfortune all feature but there seems to be a thread of loyalty and sincerity.

If I had to try to summarise the three Hx 1 squares, how about this?

1,1 square ? don?t try to go your own way too much

1,2 square ? be alive to the moment

1,3 square ? nothing is easy but don?t blame yourself

Thanks again and best wishes,

Mick

 

[heylise]

I have done some more thinking about the lines 1.2 and 1.5. Marshall (Mandate, page 142) says, 1.2 might be about performing a sacrifice to make it rain, and 1.5 about omens for which days rain was expected.

The great man of 1.2 could be the one who knows the right sacrifices, the right moment, the one who is able to turn events into the desired direction.
It is the 'man' line of the trigram, and an 'earth' line of the hexagram: the connection between human affairs and the reality of life on earth.
(Changing into 13.2, with the warning not to let narrow human rules prevail)

The great man of 1.5 could be the one who is able to read the omens (and don't forget the weather forecast), interpret them right, and act according to them. Or, if you cast the coins and this is (one of) the lines you get, make sure you do indeed what the oracle says.
It is the 'man' line of the trigram, and a 'heaven' line of the hexagram: the connection between human affairs and heaven.
(Changing into 14.5, with the advice to act proportionnally/appropriately to the situation)

LiSe