I Ching Hexagram 16 - Yu / Enthusiasm

• Above Chen the Arousing, Thunder
•  
• Below K'un the Receptive, Earth

Introduction

The strong line in the fourth place, that of the leading official, meets with response and obedience from all the other lines, which are all weak. The attribute of the upper trigram, Chen, is movement; the attributes of K'un, the lower, are obedience and devotion. This begins a movement that meets with devotion and therefore inspires enthusiasm, carrying all with it. Of great importance, furthermore, is the law of movement along the line of least resistance, which in this hexagram is enunciated as the law for natural events and for human life.

See the James Legge translation of this hexagram.

Judgement

Enthusiasm. It furthers one to install helpers and to set armies marching.

Judgement Commentary

The time of Enthusiasm derives from the fact that there is at hand an eminent man who is in sympathy with the spirit of the people and acts in accord with it. Hence he finds universal and willing obedience. To arouse enthusiasm it is necessary for a man to adjust himself and his ordinances to the character of those whom he has to lead. The inviolability of natural laws rests on this principle of movement along the line of least resistance. Theses laws are not forces external to things but represent the harmony of movement immanent in them. That is why the celestial bodies do not deviate from their orbits and why all events in nature occur with fixed regularity. It is the same with human society: only such laws are rooted in popular sentiment can be enforced, while laws violating this sentiment merely arouse resentment. Again, it is enthusiasm that enables us to install helpers for the completion of an undertaking without fear of secret opposition. It is enthusiasm too that can unify mass movements, as in war, so that they achieve victory.

The Image

Thunder comes resounding out of the earth: The image of Enthusiasm. Thus the ancient kings made music In order to honor merit, and offered it with splendor to the Supreme Deity, Inviting their ancestors to be present.

Image Commentary

When, at the beginning of summer, thunder--electrical energy--comes rushing forth from the earth again, and the first thunderstorm refreshes nature, a prolonged state of tension is resolved. Joy and relief make themselves felt. So too, music has power to ease tension within the heart and to loosen the grip of obscure emotions. The enthusiasm of the heart expresses itself involuntarily in a burst of song, in dance and rhythmic movement of the body. From immemorial times the inspiring effect of the invisible sound that moves all hearts, and draws them together, has mystified mankind. Rulers have made use of this natural taste for music; they elevated and regulated it. Music was looked upon as something serious and holy, designed to purify the feelings of men. It fell to music to glorify the virtues of heroes and thus to construct a bridge to the world of the unseen. In the temple men drew near to God with music and pantomimes (out of this later the theater developed). Religious feeling for the Creator of the world was united with the most sacred of human feelings, that of reverence for the ancestors. The ancestors were invited to these divine services as guests of the Ruler of Heaven and as representatives of humanity in the higher regions. This uniting of the human past with the Divinity in solemn moments of religious inspiration established the bond between God and man. The ruler who revered the Divinity in revering his ancestors became thereby the Son of Heaven, in whom the heavenly and the earthly world met in mystical contact. These ideas are the final summation of Chinese culture. Confucius has said of the great sacrifice at which these rites were performed: 'He who could wholly comprehend this sacrifice could rule the world as though it were spinning on his hand.'

The Lines

Six at the beginning means: Enthusiasm that expresses itself brings misfortune.

Changing only this line creates Hexagram 51 - Chen / The Arousing (Shock, Thunder). Boasting and chest beating in an enthusiastic manner is irritating and annoying. Don't do it! The short term pleasure to be gained may be outweighed by the negative consequences produced. Legge is equally convinced that this lines problem is his mouth "...shows its subject proclaiming his pleasure and satisfaction. There will be evil." The resultant hexagram 51, Chen, shows the consequences, shock and awe! However Chen also makes clear that if we do not succumb to panic in response to the shock success will come so we learn our lesson!

Six in the second place means: Firm as a rock. Not a whole day. Perseverance brings good fortune.

Changing only this line creates Hexagram 40 - Hsieh / Deliverance. Enthusiasm does not overtake he who draws this line. Acting in a manner appropriate to the situation when required, brings good fortune. Legge puts it thus "He sees a thing without waiting till it has come to pass ... All is indicative of good fortune". The resultant hexagram, 40, Deliverance, indicates that the situation will end well with tensions easing and a normal situation returning.

Six in the third place means: Enthusiasm that looks upward creates remorse. Hesitation brings remorse.

Changing only this line creates Hexagram 62 - Hsiao Kuo / Preponderance of the Small. Unlike the previous line this one is dependent on others and looks to them rather than himself. Ones fate should not be put in the hands of others if it can be avoided. Legge is more brutal, this line "...shows one looking up for favours, while he indulges the feeling of pleasure and satisfaction." The remorse felt speaks for itself. The resultant hexagram 62 makes clear the outcome for this line is, at best minor, small, piddling.

Nine in the fourth place means: The source of enthusiasm. He achieves great things. Doubt not. You gather friends around you as a hair clasp gathers the hair.

Changing only this line creates Hexagram 2 - K'un / The Receptive. Here we have motivating enthusiasm able to induce others to help achieve great things. Legge says this line "...shows him from whom the harmony and satisfaction come". This hexagram is changing to hexagram 2 which is an omen of sublime success. How wonderful!

Six in the fifth place means: Persistently ill, and still does not die.

Changing only this line creates Hexagram 45 - Ts'ui / Gathering Together (Massing). This is another of the lines that looks bad, and is bad yet has an ultimate outcome that is better than expected. Persistently ill but at least he dosen't die! Legge goes further and says that this line represents a weak ruler "...he is in danger of being carried away by the lust of pleasure." These interpretations are quite different, nevertheless the resultant hexagram, 45, indicates that eventually the person concerned, in this line, gathers followers and attains good fortune and success. Presumably this line is a warning that as long as one maintains inappropriate enthusiasms, one will find good fortune hard to come by.

Six at the top means: Deluded enthusiasm. But if after completion one changes. There is no blame.

Changing only this line creates Hexagram 35 - Chin / Progress. This has a similar taste to the previous one. There inappropriate enthusiasms kept one hostage in a state of perpetual weakness. Here we are following the wrong path, wrong is wrong no matter how enthusiastic we are about it. The resultant hexagram 35 shows that we learn our error and change our goals success is assured. Legge is similarly certain that even someone "...with darkened mind devoted to the pleasure and satisfaction of the time" can still change and achieve success. Just be enthusiastic about the correct things!

See the James Legge - I Ching Hexagram 16 - Yu / Enthusiasm translation of this hexagram.