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Hexagram 55, Feng, Abundance

peter2610

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A hexagram which I used to often find confusing was Hexagram 55 - Abundance. The Judgement sounds very encouraging with talk of the King attaining abundance etc but nearly all the individual lines present situations of limitation, obfuscation, incapacity or isolation. Any proposed action appears to be limited by fundamental misunderstanding or error.

The constituent trigrams of Hexagram 55 are Chen and Li. In The Early Heaven sequence these two trigrams occur sequentially (Chen followed by Li) and if combined together in that order they produce Hexagram 21, Shih Ho, Biting Through - the penetrating attainment of truth and reality required for personal growth and the administration of justice. Chen (dynamic action) moves towards, and penetrates, the clarity of Li by Biting Through 4th yang. But, as the line-text for 4th yang indicates, this process requires perseverance, the ability to remain in one place and gradually penetrate any obstructing element (Nuclear Hexagram - Hexagram 39, Obstruction). We must be prepared to halt and allow our awareness and understanding to develop to the point where we have complete certainty as to our direction and purpose.

If one is too impatient for this process then Chen will sweep past Li, penetrating clarity will be lost and replaced by an abundance of potentially misguided energy. One will be presented with Hexagram 55, Feng, Abundance, a situation in which clarity or the lack of clarity are the key components.. Hexagram 55 is underpinned by the Nuclear Hexagram, Hexagram 28 - The Big Mistake (not its only meaning but an important aspect of the nuclear hexagram of which I wish the reader to be aware). Through our refusal to halt and persevere until penetrating clarity is achieved we fall victim to our own impetuosity and find ourselves in a situation fraught with difficulty and danger where we see stars at noon (we are totally misguided, eclipsed). In the midst of this misguided confusion we must not forget that the basic structure of the hexagram (Chen above Li) offers the potential promise of dynamic action (Chen) based upon internal clarity (Li) and it is at fifth yin that this is fully realised. Here one employs the insight needed to achieve a ‘revolution’ in one’s awareness (Line resultant Hex. 49, Revolution) and can move forward with abundant certainty.

So Hexagram 55 presents a situation of potentially stark contrasts, ranging from clear-sighted advance to bewildered confusion and impasse (as with every other hexagram, the line-texts and judgements are best viewed as potential situations rather than ineluctable certainties). The fundamental confusion created by this hexagram derives from the fact that the glowing outcome described in the Judgement is only likely to occur to one at fifth yin, the remaining lines nearly all presenting situations of potentially misguided confusion. A very similar negative change created by Chen’s impatient demand for progress occurs when Chen supersedes Tui in a Hexagram 17, Sui, situation and creates a situation represented by Hexagram 54, Kuei Mei, The Marrying Maiden.
 

bradford

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It takes a certain executive kind of intelligence and judgment (that of the King) to deal with getting everything you've wished for.
 

charly

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A hexagram which I used to often find confusing was Hexagram 55 - Abundance. The Judgement sounds very encouraging with talk of the King attaining abundance etc but nearly all the individual lines present situations of limitation, obfuscation, incapacity or isolation. Any proposed action appears to be limited by fundamental misunderstanding or error.
...
Hi, Peter:

I believe that all the speech behind the Judgement about royal majesty isn'l but later Zhous and later dynasties propaganda in order to weakening the strong impact of Wen Wang, Wu Wang and Zhou Gong rebelion against the ruling dynasty of Shang and its ideological consequence, the right to rebelion.

A foot note in page 19 of «The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody», by Will Cuppy, says:

«Faraohs wore artificial beards symbolical of artificial wisdom. »​

First Zhous had realized that they don´t owned the Heaven´s Mandate to rule, they have it only borrowed, while they behave correctly. If not, the people always had the right to rebel.

See Wilhelm:

ABUNDANCE has success.
The king attains abundance.
Be not sad.
Be like the sun at midday.

It is not given to every mortal to bring about a time of outstanding greatness and abundance. Only a born ruler of men is able to do it, because his will is directed to what is great. Such a time of abundance is usually brief. Therefore a sage might well feel sad in view of the decline that must follow. But such sadness foes not befit him. Only a man who is inwardly free of sorrow and care can lead in a time of abundance. He must be like the sun at midday, illuminating and gladdening everything under heaven.

Wilhelm / Baynes H. 55 Judgement:

See a literal translation of the Zhou Yi:


豐亨
feng1 heng1
ABUNDANT FEAST (1)
Celebration of abundance.

王假之
wang2 jia3 zhi1
KINGS BORROW IT (2)
Royal abundance is temporary, fake or conditioned.
All the royal power is vanity.

勿憂
wu4 you1
DON'T WORRY
Don't be worried for it.
It happens to everybody. Nothing lasts for ever.

宜日中
yi2 ri4 zhong1
SUITABLE MIDDAY
Noon or midday is appropriate
Enjoy the sun while it shines.


Of course, there are many other literal translations possible.

All the best,


Charly


_______________________
(1) Fengyi 豐邑 was one of the Zhou´s capitals.
(2) usually translated in the Changes as to attain or to approach actually means "artificial / nominal / false / fake / supposing / if / to borrow / to avail oneself of".
叚 + 人 person → person whose face is temporarily overlaid by a mask → temporary; provisional; false → lend/borrow temporarily; suppose that; put up a brave front. Leisure is a borrowed meaning, via 暇.

Lawrence Howell at Kanjinetworks
Ch.
 

peter2610

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Yes, Bradford, I'd agree. One at 5th yin must carefully consider the possible consequences of any options that now become available. Growing awareness of these consequences (Ko - Revolution) calls for consideration from the highest levels within a society or the highest levels within self.
 
S

sooo

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For me, 55 has more to do with going inside than burning with thunderous judgement. Brightness is inner brightness, which is why all the changing lines refer to brightness covered, sometimes by celestial events, sometimes earthly environmental protection, including or in particular line 1, which changes to 62, and the fan yao is misfortune through flying: a symbolic likeness to Icarus. While there's no need to be sad, neither is there justification for pompous pretense or screening off those perceived to be lessor beings. Even a king needs friends.
 

peter2610

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Thanks Charly, for a very thought-provoking answer.

If I understand your answer correctly you are suggesting that the First Zhous accepted that the ruling mandate was granted by Heaven and could be withdrawn at any time but the Later Zhous and other dynasties emphasised the exclusive royal prerogative to rule in order to strengthen their position against any possible rebellion - this approach, of course, leads to the view that any ruling dynasty has a legitimate right to uphold and sustain its position indefinitely.

The Judgement, as you yourself point out, refers to 'the king' attaining abundance, hence it could be argued that it supports the view that such abundance is received by virtue of royal privilege - it gives no direct reference to time or duration other than an implicit link to transience through the endorsement to 'Be like the sun at midday.' The Commentary on the Decision, however, gives a directly specific reference to transient duration - 'When the sun stands at midday, it begins to set; when the moon is full, it begins to wane. The fullness and emptiness of heaven and earth wane and wax in the course of time.'

Let us examine the hexagram progressions a little further in order to see what they might reveal. The line which receives abundance in Hexagram 55 is fifth yin. This produces the progression 55,5 - 49. Now if we examine the parallel nuclear progression to 55,5 - 49 we receive (28,6 - 44). The parallel nuclear progression contains the same 'parallel' meaning as the initial (manifest) progression, hence it provides a very convenient way of assessing one's interpretation of any given reading. (28,6 - 44) starts from a position of excess, the structure of any roof becomes excessive if its principal anchor-points, the ends of the ridge-beam, are in a weak condition or poorly secured. Hence one at 28,6 (one end of the ridge-beam) is, to start with, in a very precarious position and the line-text - 'One must go through the water. It goes over one's head. Misfortune. No blame.' - offers nothing to alleviate the situation, but it does offer a valuable insight into one's position. The approaching blessings and fame at fifth yin in Hex.55 are, in essence, identical to the water going over one's head in Hex.28. Blessings and fame can surely saturate and overwhelm one with the same dramatic force as a deluge of water going over one's head - in essence they are the same process.

The situation at 55,5 calls for great care and accurate appraisal, it is NOT an easy position to occupy.
 

charly

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Thanks Charly, for a very thought-provoking answer.

If I understand your answer correctly you are suggesting that the First Zhous accepted that the ruling mandate was granted by Heaven and could be withdrawn at any time but the Later Zhous and other dynasties emphasised the exclusive royal prerogative to rule in order to strengthen their position against any possible rebellion - this approach, of course, leads to the view that any ruling dynasty has a legitimate right to uphold and sustain its position indefinitely.
...
Hi, Peter:

I believe that at the begining the main reason invoked for justifying the rebellion was the charismatic leadership of Wen Wang (the Civil King or the Cultured King), a good ruler from the periphery of the Shang Kingdom, who was accepted or even loved by his people.

In later times justification evolved towards the evil, almost demoniac, character of the last Shang ruler whose wife was possessed by a fox spirit. This evolution narrowed the possibilities to legitimate any popular revolution.

...The Judgement, as you yourself point out, refers to 'the king' attaining abundance, hence it could be argued that it supports the view that such abundance is received by virtue of royal privilege - it gives no direct reference to time or duration other than an implicit link to transience through the endorsement to 'Be like the sun at midday.' The Commentary on the Decision, however, gives a directly specific reference to transient duration - 'When the sun stands at midday, it begins to set; when the moon is full, it begins to wane. The fullness and emptiness of heaven and earth wane and wax in the course of time.'
...
The king ATTAINING abundance, a born ruler being the only provider of abundance for the people, is, I believe, based in a biased translation not consistent with the standard sense of the character/word jia3 which focuses in the temporary or even false nature of appearences. (1)

jia3 also occurs in H.45 and H.59, often said "The King approaches his temple" instead of "Kings have temples on loan", or "Kings nominally have temples", which is, I believe, the most literal sense.

That's why the association with "don't worry" and "carpe diem" equivalents.

Will continue with the lines as soon as possible.


All the best,


Charly
________________________________________
(1) Kerson Huang translated "The King LENDS his presence", more literal would be "the King has it —ABUNDANCE— on loan", say, temporary or conditional possession.

Ch.
 

anemos

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Interesting discussion !

The Judgement, as you yourself point out, refers to 'the king' attaining abundance, hence it could be argued that it supports the view that such abundance is received by virtue of royal privilege - it gives no direct reference to time or duration other than an implicit link to transience through the endorsement to 'Be like the sun at midday.' The Commentary on the Decision, however, gives a directly specific reference to transient duration - 'When the sun stands at midday, it begins to set; when the moon is full, it begins to wane. The fullness and emptiness of heaven and earth wane and wax in the course of time.'


imo, abundance has three 'forms' in 55 : abundance of choices, attaining personal abundance( fulfilling your role) , and, last but not least, spreading /sharing this abundance. Its the hero's call - in term of Campbell's Hero Journey. There is a call, and a sacrifice( tho subtle) and there is not much time to dwell on 'what if's '. What charly, said "carpe diem' There is something personal and also collective. In the midst of darkness, you need to be the Sun , in the center of the sky... in the center. Stand up, stand out ..There are helpers and foes and there is a Goal ( the polestar)

The abundance of choices, might be the 'eclipsed' view... not really many choices... Oscillation is caused, imo, from the heavy burden of responsibility- the Heaven's Mandate. But the "eclipsed view" could be also seen in another way. Like when you paint and to get a better feel of the painting you close your eyes and everything fades, still , what you gain is the big picture- the goal ? So, imo, the eclipse is a kind of "protection' too, i agree with Sooo's pov; helps to screening out - an aspect of decision making maybe ?

there are other hexs about choices and decisions and inner negotiations of choosing A , B, C .. etc... In 55 , the feel I got from my readings is that you know exactly what needs to be done and the difficulty is to decide, to leave something behind and assume your role. No time to mourn- Yi says... something has to die, something is dead but not the sun.
 

charly

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Interesting discussion !
... What charly, said "carpe diem' There is something personal and also collective. In the midst of darkness, you need to be the Sun... No time to mourn...
Hi, Maria:

In the midst of darkness we can enjoy like kings. feng means EXUBERANCE and with a radical at the left it is li, manners, RITES. Feng, as a protograph of li had maybe both senses: exuberant rites made in the shade...

Inner: fire (middaughter, passion) or light (clarity, guidance)
Outer: thunder (eldest son / big brother, rumble / command / arousing = provoking arousal)

Have you read Steve´s Marshall book relating H.55 with the Zhou conquest being the eclipse an omen of success? Let me know what you think.

Yours,


Charly
 

anemos

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Have you read Steve´s Marshall book relating H.55 with the Zhou conquest being the eclipse an omen of success? Let me know what you think.

Yours,


Charly

no, don't have the book. Anything you could share about it ?

In the midst of darkness we can enjoy like kings. feng means EXUBERANCE and with a radical at the left it is li, manners, RITES. Feng, as a protograph of li had maybe both senses: exuberant rites made in the shade...

... and about the bold one too :) curious ( a looot ;) )
 
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S

sooo

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Hi, Maria:

In the midst of darkness we can enjoy like kings. feng means EXUBERANCE and with a radical at the left it is li, manners, RITES. Feng, as a protograph of li had maybe both senses: exuberant rites made in the shade...

Inner: fire (middaughter, passion) or light (clarity, guidance)
Outer: thunder (eldest son / big brother, rumble / command / arousing = provoking arousal)

Have you read Steve´s Marshall book relating H.55 with the Zhou conquest being the eclipse an omen of success? Let me know what you think.

Yours,


Charly

I think you've hit the nail, which answers the question why all of 55 lines seem to be about the midday sun being obscured or eclipsed. Even line 5 points to the necessity of modesty and receptivity to receiving valuable council. Only then can brilliance shine like the sun at midday, and this is the omen hoped for and sought in this hexagram. A true executive surrounds him or herself with those more competent in their specialties, more intelligence than the executive possesses. Any manager worth their ink knows this.
 

peter2610

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anemos The abundance of choices said:
Thanks Maria, there's much here that I can fully agree with. My original intention was to illustrate the contrast that occurs when two trigrams (Chen and Li) initially in keeping with the Early Heaven sequence (Chen below Li - Hex 21, Shih Ho) are re-ordered to produce Chen above Li - Hex 55 Feng.
Hex 21, Biting Through, represents a situation of careful penetration in order to arrive at an accurate understanding of a situation, in going through this process one absorbs and integrates the principal elements involved in the truth of the situation. But this can often involve modest perseverance and a sustained desire for truth.
In contrast, Feng 'appears' to offer immediate satisfaction. In the fullest surge of abundant EXUBERANCE (thanks Charly) Chen abandons its place in the Early Heaven sequence and sweeps past Li to form Hex 55, Feng. In our fervent desire for progress we abandon the sustained pursuit of truth and seek instead the immediate fulfilment of our desires. Chen over Li appears to promise a favourable situation but closer analysis reveals a very different picture. In passing over Li, Chen creates the lower nuclear trigram Sun, representing shade and darkness - lack of awareness - an eclipse. The new upper nuclear trigram is Tui, which can represent breaking apart. Thus we have a situation based on lack of awareness with the likely potential of falling apart. Chen above Li presents an open-ended situation, Chen is no longer focused on an identifiable target (as it is in Hex 21, Shih Ho) it can now have any target, it no longer has a goal or direction but is driven-on by the relentless urges of ego. Power is no longer based upon disciplined appraisal, it is now simply assumed on the basis of freedom from responsibility. In such a chaotic setting it is unsurprising that the claim to insight will be assumed or ‘borrowed’ by those with little or no actual insight.

A saving grace present throughout the entire hexagram is nicely described by yourself, Maria. In a position of sustained eclipse the impact of the individual components, the relative formations, of the situation fades and fades, leaving one with a view of the big picture - the goal. In Taoism and some Buddhist schools this is described as a condition of ’No Mind’ and is regarded as the highest level of perception. I fully agree with your description of this in your work as an artist where your struggle to capture the ‘essence’ of a picture will be supreme.
 

anemos

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Chen above Li presents an open-ended situation, Chen is no longer focused on an identifiable target (as it is in Hex 21, Shih Ho) it can now have any target, it no longer has a goal or direction but is driven-on by the relentless urges of ego. Power is no longer based upon disciplined appraisal, it is now simply assumed on the basis of freedom from responsibility. In such a chaotic setting it is unsurprising that the claim to insight will be assumed or ‘borrowed’ by those with little or no actual insight.

Peter, in your personal readings, when given 55 can you recall if your experience a lack of awareness or was kind of abundant awareness that was overwhelming ( a similar feeling as in 28 yet sprung from totally different 'causes' ) too much light, iow. Having in mind some specific and powerful 55 readings , I recall feelings as I perfectly knew what needed to be done, yet that sources of "insight" was not comprehensible in terms of rational explanation ; "where that came from ?" "what is this "vision" was questions were asking myself. The "what " needed to be done was clear in some ways ;the "how" and the origins of this 'insight' was how I experience the eclipse.

I'm not suggesting that is the only way to decode 55 yet the intensity of this experience makes me ask the rest of you if you can relate or experience something similar.
 

anemos

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Only then can brilliance shine like the sun at midday, and this is the omen hoped for and sought in this hexagram.

...like the eclipsed sun brings forth clarity (?)
 
S

sooo

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...like the eclipsed sun brings forth clarity (?)
and awe.., appreciation for the source(es) and the support. The eclipsed sun is a short-lived event, and a reminder that this overwhelming light is essential for life and success, yet it can not be looked at directly. So this leader must possess humility and not mistake him/herself as being the source.
 

peter2610

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Peter, in your personal readings, when given 55 can you recall if your experience a lack of awareness or was kind of abundant awareness that was overwhelming ( a similar feeling as in 28 yet sprung from totally different 'causes' ) too much light, iow. Having in mind some specific and powerful 55 readings , I recall feelings as I perfectly knew what needed to be done, yet that sources of "insight" was not comprehensible in terms of rational explanation ; "where that came from ?" "what is this "vision" was questions were asking myself. The "what " needed to be done was clear in some ways ;the "how" and the origins of this 'insight' was how I experience the eclipse.

I'm not suggesting that is the only way to decode 55 yet the intensity of this experience makes me ask the rest of you if you can relate or experience something similar.

It's very often a combination similar to your description. I might have a very clear idea of what I would like to achieve but on consideration discover that the benefit is not as likely as it seemed, or if Hex 55 appears retrospectively, after the event, it will prompt me to search for 'hidden' consequences that I had not identified previously - the reading is urging me to reconsider an action or attitude that I previously thought appropriate but which I now realise was taken in a state of 'eclipse' where my abundant exuberance concealed my true lack of understanding. The possible realisation of a goal carries a great deal of emotional momentum which can easily eclipse any consideration of whether or not the goal or the method are valid. The "how" and the FULL CONTENT of the "what" become almost of secondary importance.

An interesting reading that involved Hex 55 occurred only yesterday. The reading concerned a furniture removal and storage company who had somehow managed to "lose" a large amount of my parents' furniture whilst holding it in storage. The matter is complex, with the company having lost documents, inventories and agreements and has been ongoing for some considerable time. My early readings indicated a successful action against the company but things have since ground to a complete halt, hence my question to the I Ching: Am I going to receive justice regarding the missing family furniture? 55,2,5 - 43

2nd yin: Increasing the shade, seeing stars at midday, if you go on in this way you will have doubt and affliction. But if there is sincerity and it is acted on, it will bring good fortune.

One might at first view this as a literal answer, that is, my (false) hope for justice is increasing the shade, such that I see stars at midday. However, when one considers that the I Ching's previous replies had assured me of receiving justice it becomes clear that the I Ching is now addressing my doubting these previous answers and not persevering in rectitude (Line resultant Hex 34 Ta Chuang). The line text actually confirms this view - "if you go on in this way you will have doubt and affliction." My doubting the I Ching's previous assurances is causing an eclipse in my outlook.

5th yin: Bringing beautification, there is glory; this is auspicious.

In a Taoist interpretation this line represents bringing the yin impulses and the yang impulses into balanced harmony, such that one attains a state of 'No Mind' or openness within which the beauty of nonstriving clarity will arise. If my doubt and uncertainty at 2nd yin can be resolved correctly my outlook will attain a state of balanced harmony.

Rather than address the central question (will I receive justice) directly, this reading is addressing my compromised state of mind and placing a heavy emphasis on the fact that I have previously been assured of receiving justice.
 

charly

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no, don't have the book. Anything you could share about it ?
Hi, María:

I had an accident and have lost the last posts. As soon as I get my Steve Marshall I will share.

... and about the bold one too :) curious ( a looot ;) )

You know my weakness. I believe that both the trigram configuration and the name FENG means -among many other things- DEEP FIRE MOVING NOISY AROUSAL = EXUBERANCE, sexy appearances based on deep or even hidden passion.

See what does Uncle Hanzy says of whose first component is of course feng.

豔 ... yan4 ... plump / voluptuous / gorgeous / colorful / gaudy / anything pertaining to love, as a love story, love song, etc. / amorous / a beauty / radiant / to admire or envy

Source: Sears' Chineseetymology
http://www.chineseetymology.org/CharacterEtymology.aspx?submitButton1=Etymology&characterInput=豔


ANYTHING PERTAINING TO LOVE!​

The lower component of Feng is a SACRED VESSEL, meaning the sacred inner source holding the flourishing of life (1), which I believe, is the same as LOVE.

And there are more connections...

All the best,


Charly
__________________________________
(1) The upper component in ancient characters were FLOWERS, in the actual traditional character flowers in the valleys between mountains. The Lilies of the Valley? GOD = LOVE? or viceversa?.
Ch.
 

anemos

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and awe.., appreciation for the source(es) and the support. The eclipsed sun is a short-lived event, and a reminder that this overwhelming light is essential for life and success, yet it can not be looked at directly. So this leader must possess humility and not mistake him/herself as being the source.

I can deeply, completely, relate to that.

My doubting the I Ching's previous assurances is causing an eclipse in my outlook.

doubts are a basic element of an 55 situation, in many occasions in regards to my circumstances and readings. I can agree for an eclipsed effect of doubts.

Hi, María:

I had an accident and have lost the last posts. As soon as I get my Steve Marshall I will share.

Looking forward Charly and thanks for the (double) effort for posting it :)
 

charly

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Svenrus had noticed that Steve Marshall gives free access to his «Mandate» in pdf and epub.
I didn't recover my old «Mandate», but now I've got a nice ebook, free of errors and easily readable.
Better is late than never.

Maria: thanks to Steve and Svenrus, if you are still interested can get it here:
https://www.biroco.com/yijing/mandate/

Ch.
 

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