I CHING

61

Chung Fu / Inner Truth

The wind blows over the lake and stirs the surface of the

water. Thus visible effects of the invisible manifest

themselves. The hexagram consists of firm lines above and

below, while it is open in the center. This indicates a heart

free of prejudices and therefore open to truth.

On the other

hand, each of the two trigrams has a firm line in the middle;

this indicates the force of inner truth in the influences they

present.

The attributes of the two trigrams are: above, gentleness,

forbearance toward inferiors; below, joyousness in obeying

superiors. Such conditions create the basis of a mutual

confidence that makes achievements possible.

The character of fu ("truth") is actually the picture of a bird's

foot over a fledgling. It suggests the idea of brooding. An

egg is hollow. The light-giving power must work to quicken

it from outside, but there must be a germ of life within, if

life is to be awakened. Far-reaching speculations can be

linked with these ideas.

THE JUDGMENT

INNER TRUTH. Pigs and fishes.

Good fortune.

It furthers one to cross the great water.

Perseverance furthers.

Pigs and fishes are the least intelligent of all animals and therefore the

most difficult to influence.

The force of inner truth must grow great

indeed before its influence can extend to such creatures. In dealing with

persons as intractable and as difficult to influence as a pig or a fish, the

whole secret of success depends on finding the right way of approach.

One must first rid oneself of all prejudice and, so to speak, let the

psyche of the other person act on one without restraint. Then one will

establish contact with him, understand and gain power over him. When a

door has thus been opened, the force of one's personality will influence

him. If in this way one finds no obstacles insurmountable, one can

undertake even the most dangerous things, such as crossing the great

water, and succeed.

But it is important to understand upon what the force inner truth depends.

This force is not identical with simple intimacy or a secret bond. Close

ties may exist also among thieves; it is true that such a bond acts as a

force but, since it is not invincible, it does not bring good fortune. All

association on the basis of common interests holds only up to a certain

point. Where the community of interest ceases, the holding together

ceases also, and the closest friendship often changes into hate. Only

when the bond is based on what is right, on steadfastness, will it remain

so firm that it triumphs over everything.

The interior sincerity is what really happens inside one. The inner

sincerity means to recognize it, to assume it, not to cover it, because it

is what one knows as true.

Pigs and fish were presented to the Lord of Heaven by the common

people, but these humble contributions, presented with inner sincerity

were worthy of blessings. See Comment to the Judgment in DECREASE

(41)

THE IMAGE

Wind over lake: the image of INNER TRUTH.

Thus the superior man discusses criminal cases

In order to delay executions.

Wind stirs water by penetrating it. Thus the superior man, when obliged

to judge the mistakes of men, tries to penetrate their minds with

understanding, in order to gain a sympathetic appreciation of the

circumstances. In ancient China, the entire administration of justice was

guided by this principle. A deep understanding that knows how to pardon

was considered the highest form of justice. This system was not without

success, for its aim was to make so strong a moral impression that there

was no reason to fear abuse of such mildness. For it sprang not from

weakness but from a superior clarity.

The wind that stirs the lake represents the action of the truth that

mobilizes the internal content. The wind on the lake means to try to

penetrate. That means that somebody capable, somebody who has

risen for its internal sincerity perceives things in such a deep way that

everything that can be sanctioned or negated, becoming understood.

THE LINES

Nine at the beginning means:

Being prepared brings good fortune.

If there are secret designs, it is disquieting.

The force of inner truth depends chiefly on inner stability and

preparedness. From this state of mind springs the correct attitude toward

the outer world. But if a man should try to cultivate secret relationships

of a special sort, it would deprive him of his inner independence. The

more reliance he places on the support of others, the more uneasy and

anxious he will become as to whether these secret ties are really tenable.

In this way inner peace and the force of inner truth are lost.

This means to move away from all other people's influence that could

create distortions, prejudices or oppositions. For that reason, if external

stimuli are sought, tranquility will be lost; it would lose the direction of

the search and therefore the possibility of inner truth.

Nine in the second place means:

A crane calling in the shade.

Its young answers it.

I have a good goblet.

I will share it with you.

This refers to the involuntary influence of a man's inner being upon

persons of kindred spirit. The crane need not show itself on a high hill. It

may be quite hidden when it sounds its call; yet its young will hear its

not, will recognize it and give answer. Where there is a joyous mood,

there a comrade will appear to share a glass of wine.

This is the echo awakened in men through spiritual attraction. Whenever

a feeling is voiced with truth and frankness, whenever a deed is the clear

expression of sentiment, a mysterious and far-reaching influence is

exerted. At first it acts on those who are inwardly receptive. But the

circle grows larger and larger. The root of all influence lies in one's own

inner being: given true and vigorous expression in word and deed, its

effect is great. The effect is but the reflection of something that

emanates from one's own heart. Any deliberate intention of an effect

would only destroy the possibility of producing it. Confucius says about

this line:

The superior man abides in his room. If his words are well

spoken, he meets with assent at a distance of more than a

thousand miles. How much more then from near by! If the

superior man abides in his room and his words are not well

spoken, he meets with contradiction at a distance of more than a

thousand miles. How much more then from near by! Words go

forth from one's own person and exert their influence on men.

Deeds are born close at hand and become visible far away.

Words and deeds are the hinge and bowspring of the superior

man. As hinge and bowspring move, they bring honor or

disgrace. Through words and deeds the superior man moves

heaven and earth. Must one not, then, be cautious?

If one cultivates sincerity all those who share the same temperament will

answer.

Six in the third place means:

He finds a comrade.

Now he beats the drum, now he stops.

Now he sobs, now he sings.

Here the source of a man's strength lies not in himself but in his relation

to other people. No matter how close to them he may be, if his center of

gravity depends on them, he is inevitably tossed to and fro between joy

and sorrow. Rejoicing to high heaven, then sad unto death --this is the

fate of those who depend upon an inner accord with other persons whom

they love. Here we have only the statement of the law that this is so.

Whether this condition is felt to be an affliction of the supreme

happiness of love, is left to the subjective verdict of the person

concerned.

Other translations for "comrade" would be "antagonist" or "enemy". In

both cases, the center of gravity is outside one and for this reason the

behavior of this line is inconsistent and erratic.

Six in the fourth place means:

The moon nearly at the full.

The team horse goes astray.

No blame.

To intensify the power of inner truth, a man must always turn to his

superior, from whom he can receive enlightenment as the moon receives

light from the sun. However, this requires a certain humility, like that of

the moon when it is not yet quite full. At the moment when the moon

becomes full and stands directly opposite the sun, it begins to wane. Just

as on the one hand we must be humble and reverent when face to face

with the source of enlightenment, so likewise must we on the other

renounce factionalism among men. Only be pursuing one's course like a

horse that goes straight ahead without looking sidewise at its mate, can

one retain the inner freedom that helps one onward.

"The nearly full moon" refers to a cycle about to culminate. This implies

to begin something new, to be projected in a new direction; for that

reason, one of the horses separates from its couple. The horse's

separation implies it leaves a cycle behind and it goes towards the

unreachable thing for which it has not evolved yet, with the result that it

has chosen the superior road, that is to say, the one on the way to the

growth, that is why there is no mistake. The horse that separates is a

symbol of free force, of energy that comes unfastened and advances.

The horse that gets apart its couple represents what no longer remains

together. It also means the end of a society, liberation, and the end of a

cycle that marks different roads.

Nine in the fifth place means::

He possesses truth, which links together.

No blame.

This describes the ruler who holds all elements together by the power of

his personality. Only when the strength of his character is so ample that

he can influence all who are subject to him, is he as he needs to be. The

power of suggestion must emanate from the ruler. It will firmly knit

together and unite all his adherents. Without this central force, all

external unity is only deception and breaks down at the decisive moment.

The power of the sincerity is the cohesion factor. Something which

maintains so strong the unit of a social group as the tangible truth of who

takes charge of it.

This is the proper time to establish relationships and to attach

associates.

Nine at the top means:

Cockcrow penetrating to heaven.

Perseverance brings misfortune.

The cock is dependable. It crows at dawn. But it cannot itself fly to

heaven. It just crows. A man may count on mere words to awaken faith.

This may succeed now and then, but if persisted in, it will have bad

consequences.

When reputation is higher than capability promises can't be carried out.

Sooner or later reality will take charge of the situation and misfortune

will arrive.