I Ching Hexagram 59 - Huan / Dispersion (Dissolution)
- Above Sun the Gentle, Wind
- Below K'an the abysmal, Water
Introduction
Wind blowing over water disperses it, dissolving it into foam and mist. This suggests that when a man's vital energy is dammed up within him (indicated as a danger by the attribute of the lower trigram), gentleness serves to break up and dissolve the blockage.
See the James Legge translation of this hexagram.
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Dispersion. Success. The king approaches his temple. It furthers one to cross the great water. Perseverance furthers.
Judgement Commentary
The text of this hexagram resembles that of Ts'ui, Gathering Together (45). In the latter, the subject is the bringing together of elements that have been separated, as water collects in lakes upon the earth. Here the subject is the dispersing and dissolving of divisive egotism. Dispersion shows the way, so to speak, that leads to gathering together. This explains the similarity of the two texts. Religious forces are needed to overcome the egotism that divides men. The common celebration of the great sacrificial feasts and sacred rites, which gave expression simultaneously to the interrelation and social articulation of the family and state, was the means of employed by the great ruler to unite men. The sacred music and the splendor of the ceremonies aroused a strong tide of emotion that was shared by all hearts in unison, and that awakened a consciousness of the common origin of all creatures. In this way disunity was overcome and rigidity dissolved. A further means to the same end is co-operation in great general undertakings that set a high goal for the will of the people; in the common concentration on this goal, all barriers dissolve, just as, when a boat is crossing a great stream, all hands must unite in a joint task. But only a man who is himself free of all selfish ulterior considerations, and who perseveres in justice and steadfastness, is capable of so dissolving the hardness of egotism.
The Image
The wind drives over the water: The image of Dispersion. Thus the kings of old sacrificed to the Lord and built temples.
Image Commentary
In the autumn and winter, water begins to freeze into ice. When the warm breezes of spring come, the rigidity is dissolved, and the elements that have been dispersed in ice floes are reunited. It is the same with the minds of the people. Through hardness and selfishness the heart grows rigid, and this rigidity leads to separation from all others. Egotism and cupidity isolate men. Therefore the hearts of men must be seized by a devout emotion. They must be shaken by a religious awe in face of eternity-stirred with an intuition of the One Creator of all living beings, and united through the strong feeling of fellowship experienced in the ritual of divine worship.
The Lines
Six at the beginning means: He brings help with the strength of a horse. Good fortune.
Changing only this line creates Hexagram 61 Chung Fu / Inner Truth. Help is coming. Do not be ashamed or embarrassed by this. Legge's says this line "...cannot cope with the evil himself. He must have help, and he finds that..." This help is what brings about the good outcome. The resultant hexagram 61, Inner Truth, indicates that we will probably be successful in our endeavour if we rely on intelligence and good sense to convince others of the merits of our case.
Nine in the second place means: At the dissolution he hurries to that which supports him. Remorse disappears.
Changing only this line creates Hexagram 20 - Kuan / Contemplation (View). Friends are needed to support one in disturbed times and this line knows that and acts accordingly. Legge's view is slightly less clear "...amid the dispersion, hurrying to his contrivance for security." Presumably this contrivance refers, in some way, to those things that support ones interests. Are ones friends and colleagues a contrivance? The outcome hexagram is 20, Contemplation (View) suggests that we are still on the fence about something and need to start acting on our beliefs not merely thinking or talking about them.
Six in the third place means: He dissolves his self. No remorse.
Changing only this line creates Hexagram 57 Sun / The Gentle (The Penetrating, Wind). The situation is so grave that this line concentrates all its efforts on it to the exclusion of any self-interest. Legge has this line taking the view that "...a regard for himself that would unfit its subject for contributing any service to the work of the hexagram might be feared; but he discards that regard." The resultant hexagram 57, The Gentle (The Penetrating, Wind) means that we can achieve success through "...influence that never lapses" and by this means achieve enduring results. Don't give up if results take a while to show.
Six in the fourth place means: He dissolves his bond with his group. Supreme good fortune. Dispersion leads in turn to accumulation. This is something that ordinary men do not think of.
Changing only this line creates Hexagram 6 - Sung / Conflict. No insider trading for this line. The only thing that matters is furthering the tasks assigned to him in the best possible way. This high moral standard is what brings success and good fortune. Legge says this line will "...will fitly represent the minister, to whom it belongs to do a great part in remedying the evil of dispersion." The resultant hexagram 6, Conflict is telling us that a single minded drive to eliminate the influence of evil will generate a response from it. This response is conflict and this line will have to face up to this. In fact the augury is "A cautious halt halfway brings good fortune. Going through to the end brings misfortune." So perhaps being in the right does not guarantee success here.
Nine in the fifth place means: His loud cries are as dissolving as sweat. Dissolution! A king abides without blame.
Changing only this line creates Hexagram 4 - Meng / Youthful Folly. Without ideas leadership founders. This line needs, and perhaps has, those ideas. All that remains is to make them known. Legge shows "...shows its subject amidst the dispersion issuing his great announcements." The resultant hexagram 4, Youthful Folly. "Stopping in perplexity on the brink of a dangerous abyss is a symbol of the folly of youth" this line must proceed onwards to escape the danger. If experience is lacking good advice must be sought out and listened to or failure is probable..
Nine at the top means: He dissolves his blood. Departing, keeping at a distance, going out, is without blame.
Changing only this line creates Hexagram 29 - K'an / The Abysmal (Water). Avoiding imminent danger by fleeing is fine if we take care to help those dependent upon us as flee as well. Run run run away fight fight another day. Legge's version of this line is not so easy to understand "...disposing of what may be called its bloody wounds, and going and separating himself from its anxious fears" has the same tenor as Wilhelm without the explicit concern for those dependent upon he who is running away. The resultant hexagram 29, The Abysmal or danger repeated shows that even running away might not be enough here.
See the Hexagram 59 - Huan / Dispersion (Dissolution) translation of this hexagram.