The Lines

[crystal_blue]

Do the Lines have meaning independent of a particular Hexagram - I mean, there is the concept of upper and lower Trigrams representing the outer and the inner situation respectively, just wondering if there's anything for the Lines?

 

[bradford]

Do the Lines have meaning independent of a particular Hexagram - I mean, there is the concept of upper and lower Trigrams representing the outer and the inner situation respectively, just wondering if there's anything for the Lines?

Yes. The dimension is called Yao Wei or Line Position. A lot of the text symbolism is derived from symbolism associated with these six positions. There are no hard and fast rules, but the following is a list of general tendencies. This was taken from my Dimensions chapter, where you can find more information:


The Time Of:
Line 6: Outcome, Transcendence, Excesses, Retirement, Anticlimax, Denouement
Line 5: Manifestation, Mastery, Control, Authority, Achievement, Finesse, Optima
Line 4: Practice, Execution, Establishment, Advance with Purpose, Maneuvering
Line 3: Immersion, Exposure, Risk, Thorny Details, Transition, Insecurity, Focus
Line 2: Internal Development, Scoping, Grouping, Preparation, Small Advances
Line 1: Entrance, Beginnings, Potential, Impressions, Explorations, Tentativeness

Parts of the Body: (There are some exceptions to these)
Line 6: Head, Ears, Crown, Topknot, Tongue, Jowls, Horns
Line 5: Shoulders, Neck, Arms, Jawbones
Line 4: Trunk, Torso, Heart, Belly, Abdomen
Line 3: Thighs, Hips, Loins, Waist, Rump
Line 2: Calves, Legs, Knees
Line 1: Feet, Toes, Sandals; Hooves, Tail; Ground, Grass, Roots

People and Positions: (Many exceptions. Wife does not occur at Lines 1, 4 & 6)
Line 6: Sage, Climber, Refugee, Retiree, Extremist, Diehard, Elder, Advisor
Line 5: Sovereign, Authority, Executor, Leader, Husband, Father; Man at Work
Line 4: Chief or Sovereign’s Minister, Officer, Duke, Son, Empowered Delegate
Line 3: Lower Official, Subordinate, Subject, Worker, Journeyman, Local Leader
Line 2: Assistant, Subordinate, Servant, Mother, Maiden, Woman in the Home
Line 1: Newcomer, Apprentice, Innocent, Youth (Lines 1, 2 &3); Common People

Situations and Suggested Approaches:
Line 6: The best time to know when to stop, reflect, wrap up, integrate and enjoy. An
obsession, compulsion, or even too much momentum, can be embarrassing.
Line 5: The time bears its fruit. Subsequent decay is still not apparent. A time for the
moderation and balance suited to mastery and nobility. The merit shows.
Line 4: A time of familiarity, if not mastery. Niches are occupied, if not adapted to. Effects
of diligence, reliability, talent, skill and effectiveness begin to appear.
Line 3: A time of complexity, details and many responsibilities. Little mastery of the
environment yet. Getting a grip or finding the right quantum of boldness.
Line 2: A time for Zhen: persistence, commitment, loyalty, focus or thoroughness.
Situations broaden, some limits are learned, skills and resources are called on.
Line 1: Seeds are planted, embryos grow. Premature action presents problems. A time to
prepare the basics and learn: there are many unknowns. Care needed.

 

[crystal_blue]

Yes. The dimension is called Yao Wei or Line Position. A lot of the text symbolism is derived from symbolism associated with these six positions. There are no hard and fast rules, but the following is a list of general tendencies. This was taken from my Dimensions chapter, where you can find more information:


The Time Of:
Line 6: Outcome, Transcendence, Excesses, Retirement, Anticlimax, Denouement
Line 5: Manifestation, Mastery, Control, Authority, Achievement, Finesse, Optima
Line 4: Practice, Execution, Establishment, Advance with Purpose, Maneuvering
Line 3: Immersion, Exposure, Risk, Thorny Details, Transition, Insecurity, Focus
Line 2: Internal Development, Scoping, Grouping, Preparation, Small Advances
Line 1: Entrance, Beginnings, Potential, Impressions, Explorations, Tentativeness

Parts of the Body: (There are some exceptions to these)
Line 6: Head, Ears, Crown, Topknot, Tongue, Jowls, Horns
Line 5: Shoulders, Neck, Arms, Jawbones
Line 4: Trunk, Torso, Heart, Belly, Abdomen
Line 3: Thighs, Hips, Loins, Waist, Rump
Line 2: Calves, Legs, Knees
Line 1: Feet, Toes, Sandals; Hooves, Tail; Ground, Grass, Roots

People and Positions: (Many exceptions. Wife does not occur at Lines 1, 4 & 6)
Line 6: Sage, Climber, Refugee, Retiree, Extremist, Diehard, Elder, Advisor
Line 5: Sovereign, Authority, Executor, Leader, Husband, Father; Man at Work
Line 4: Chief or Sovereign’s Minister, Officer, Duke, Son, Empowered Delegate
Line 3: Lower Official, Subordinate, Subject, Worker, Journeyman, Local Leader
Line 2: Assistant, Subordinate, Servant, Mother, Maiden, Woman in the Home
Line 1: Newcomer, Apprentice, Innocent, Youth (Lines 1, 2 &3); Common People

Situations and Suggested Approaches:
Line 6: The best time to know when to stop, reflect, wrap up, integrate and enjoy. An
obsession, compulsion, or even too much momentum, can be embarrassing.
Line 5: The time bears its fruit. Subsequent decay is still not apparent. A time for the
moderation and balance suited to mastery and nobility. The merit shows.
Line 4: A time of familiarity, if not mastery. Niches are occupied, if not adapted to. Effects
of diligence, reliability, talent, skill and effectiveness begin to appear.
Line 3: A time of complexity, details and many responsibilities. Little mastery of the
environment yet. Getting a grip or finding the right quantum of boldness.
Line 2: A time for Zhen: persistence, commitment, loyalty, focus or thoroughness.
Situations broaden, some limits are learned, skills and resources are called on.
Line 1: Seeds are planted, embryos grow. Premature action presents problems. A time to
prepare the basics and learn: there are many unknowns. Care needed.

Very extensive, thank you.
-

If the Line texts are then applying these stages to each Hexagram, is it accurate to say they don't really correspond to whether that Line is Yang or Yin, or is this implicit in said text?

 

[Sparhawk]

If the Line texts are then applying these stages to each Hexagram, is it accurate to say they don't really correspond to whether that Line is Yang or Yin, or is this implicit in said text?

IMO, yes and no (I know, kind of cryptic... ). The text of the lines applies a little loosely with the line positions. Just remember what Brad said: "There are no hard and fast rules, but the following is a list of general tendencies."

L

 

[bradford]

Very extensive, thank you.
-

If the Line texts are then applying these stages to each Hexagram, is it accurate to say they don't really correspond to whether that Line is Yang or Yin, or is this implicit in said text?

I'd call that a correct statement, and I don't see Yang and Yin implicit in the texts either.
In the Han dynasty people started making a big deal about something called "Correctness"
(Dang or Zheng in Chinese), meaning Yang lines in Odd places, Yin in Even, but I think statistical analysis can show this dimension to be completely irrelevant to the content of line texts. I tried to find some meaning in this but could not. Neither could I find meaning or relevance in dimensions called Centrality or Holding Together.