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Yi Jing [I Ching]: The Book of Changes

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Hexagram 61

Zhōng Fú [Inner Truth]

    Original Translation
The Image   Wind over lake.
  Xùn (The Gentle, Wind, Wood) above, Duì (The Joyous, Lake) below.
The Judgment   Zhōng Fú (moves even) pigs and fish, and leads to good fortune. There will be advantage in crossing the great stream. There will be advantage in being firm and correct.
 

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In Zhōng Fú we have the (two) weak lines in the innermost part (of the figure), and strong lines occupying the central places (in the trigrams). (We have the attributes) of pleased satisfaction and flexible penetration. Sincerity (thus symbolled) will transform a country.

'Pigs and fish (are moved), and there will be good fortune:'--sincerity reaches to (and affects even) pigs and fishes. 'There will be advantage in crossing the great stream:'--(we see in the figure) one riding on (the emblem of) wood, which forms an empty boat.

In (the exercise of the virtue denoted by) Zhōng Fú, (it is said that) 'there will be advantage in being firm and correct:'--in that virtue indeed we have the response (of man) to Heaven.

 

(The trigram representing the waters of) a marsh and that for wind above it form Zhōng Fú. The superior man, in accordance with this, deliberates about cases of litigation and delays (the infliction of) death.
Line 1 1 The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject resting (in himself). There will be good fortune. If he sought to any other, he would not find rest.
  'The first NINE, (undivided), shows its subject resting (in himself). There will be good fortune:'--no change has yet come over his purpose.
Line 2 2 The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject (like) the crane crying out in her hidden retirement, and her young ones responding to her. (It is as if it were said), 'I have a cup of good spirits,' (and the response were), 'I will partake of it with you.'
  'Her young ones respond to her:'--from the (common) wish of the inmost heart.
Line 3 3 The third SIX, divided, shows its subject having met with his mate. Now he beats his drum, and now he leaves off. Now he weeps, and now he sings.
  'Now he beats his drum, and now he leaves off:'--the position (of the line) is the appropriate one for it.
Line 4 4 The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject (like) the moon nearly full, and (like) a horse (in a chariot) whose fellow disappears. There will be no error.
  'A horse the fellow of which disappears:'--he breaks from his (former) companions, and mounts upwards.
Line 5 5 The fifth NINE, undivided, shows its subject perfectly sincere, and linking (others) to him in closest union. There will be no error.
  'He is perfectly sincere, and links others to him in closest union:'--the place (of the line) is the correct and appropriate one.
Line 6 6 The topmost NINE, undivided, shows its subject in chanticleer (trying to) mount to heaven. Even with firm correctness there will be evil.
 

'Chanticleer (tries to) mount to heaven:'--but how can (such an effort) continue long?

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