Contemplation (20)
6
5
The Judgement
CONTEMPLATION. The ablution has been made,But not yet the offering.
Full of trust they look up to him.
The Image
The wind blows over the earth:The image of CONTEMPLATION.
Thus the kings of old visited the regions of the world,
Contemplated the people,
And gave them instruction.
Line Poems
- 6 - Contemplation of his life. The superior man is without blame.
- 5 - Contemplation of my life. The superior man is without blame.
- 4 - Contemplation of the light of the kingdom. It furthers one to exert influence as the guest of a king.
- 3 - Contemplation of my life Decides the choice Between advance and retreat.
- 2 - Contemplation through the crack of the door. Furthering for the perseverance of a woman.
- 1 - Boylike contemplation. For an inferior man, no blame. For a superior man, humiliation.
Commentary
A slight variation of tonal stress gives the Chinese name for this hexagram a double meaning.It means both contemplating and being seen, in the sense of being an example.
These ideas are suggested by the fact that the hexagram can be understood as picturing a type of tower characteristic of ancient China.
A tower of this kind commanded a wide view of the country; at the same time, when situated on a mountain, it became a landmark that could be seen for miles around.
Thus the hexagram shows a ruler who contemplates the law of heaven above him and the ways of the people below, and who, by means of good government, sets a lofty example to the masses.
This hexagram is linked with the eight month (September–October).
The light–giving power retreats and the dark power is again on the increase.
However, this aspect is not material in the interpretation of the hexagram as a whole.
