Reading
Judgment
Enthusiasm. It is favorable
to appoint helpers and to set armies marching.
The time of Enthusiasm rests on the fact that a significant person is present who is in touch with the soul of the people and acts in agreement with it. Therefore they find general, willing obedience. To awaken enthusiasm, one must direct one's arrangements according to the nature of those being led. On this rule of motion along the line of least resistance rests the inviolability of the laws of nature. They are not something outside things, but the harmony of motion immanent in things. Therefore the heavenly bodies do not deviate from their paths, and all natural events take place with firm regularity.
Things are similar in human society. Here too only those laws will let themselves be carried through that have their root in the people's feeling, while laws that contradict this feeling awaken only bitterness.
Enthusiasm then also makes it possible to appoint helpers for carrying out the work, without needing to fear secret countereffects. It is also enthusiasm that is able to unify mass movements, as in war, so that they attain victory.
Image
Thunder comes resounding forth out of the earth: the image of Enthusiasm.
Thus the ancient kings made music
to honor merit
and presented it gloriously to the highest God,
inviting their ancestors to be present.
When thunder, the electric force, comes rushing forth out of the earth again at the beginning of summer, and the first storm refreshes nature, a long tension is released. Relief and joy take hold. Similarly, music has the power to release the tension in the heart, the violence of dark feelings. The enthusiasm of the heart expresses itself involuntarily in the sound of song, in dance and rhythmic motion of the body. From ancient times the enthusiastic effect of the invisible sound that moves and unites the hearts of people was felt as a mystery. The rulers made use of this natural inclination toward music. They elevated and ordered it. Music was taken to be something serious and holy; it was to purify people's feelings. It was to praise the virtues of heroes and so to form the bridge to the invisible world. In the temple God was approached with music and pantomimes (out of which theater later developed). Religious feelings toward the Creator of the world were united with the holiest human feelings, the feelings of reverence toward the ancestors. They were invited to these services as guests of the Lord of Heaven and representatives of humanity in those higher regions. As the personal past was thus linked with the divine in consecrated moments of religious enthusiasm, the bond between divinity and humanity was closed. The ruler who honored the divine in their ancestors was thereby the Son of Heaven, in whom the heavenly and earthly worlds mystically met. These thoughts are the last and highest summation of Chinese culture. Master Kung himself said of the great sacrifice at which these rites were performed: "Whoever fully understood this sacrifice could rule the world as if it were turning on their hand."
Commentary
The strong line in the fourth place, the place of the leading minister, meets with responsiveness and obedience in all the other weak lines. The upper primary hexagram, Chen, has motion as its attribute; the lower, K'un, obedience and devotion. Thus a movement is begun that meets with devotion and therefore has a stirring, enthusiastic effect. Of great significance furthermore is the law of motion along the line of least resistance, which is expressed in this hexagram as a law for events in nature and in human life.
Changing Lines
Line 1
A six at the beginning means:
Enthusiasm that comes to expression brings misfortune.
Commentary
Someone in a subordinate position has distinguished connections, of which they boast with enthusiasm. Through this presumption they necessarily draw misfortune to themself. Enthusiasm must never be an egoistic feeling; only as a common mood that connects one with others does it have its justification.
Line 2
A six in the second place means:
Firm as a stone. Not a whole day.
Perseverance brings good fortune.
Commentary
Here is depicted someone who does not let themself be dazzled by any illusions. While others let themselves be blinded by enthusiasm, they recognize the first signs of the time with perfect clarity. Thus they are not flattering toward those above, not negligent toward those below. Thus they are firm as stone. As soon as the first sign of discontent appears, they know how to withdraw in good time, without wasting even a day. Perseverance in such conduct brings good fortune.
Confucius says of this: "To know the seeds, that is indeed divine. The noble one in intercourse upward is not flattering, in intercourse downward is not presumptuous. They know the seeds well. The seeds are the first imperceptible beginning of motion, that which first shows itself of good fortune (and misfortune). The noble one sees the seeds and acts at once. They do not wait even a whole day. In the Book of Changes it is said: 'Firm as a stone. Not a whole day. Perseverance brings good fortune.'
'Firm as a stone, why a whole day? The judgment can be known. The noble one knows what is hidden and what is open. They know the weak, they know the strong also: therefore the myriads look up to them.'"
Line 3
A six in the third place means:
Enthusiasm that looks upward creates remorse.
Hesitation brings remorse.
Commentary
Here is the opposite of the previous line; there independence, here upward-looking enthusiasm. If one hesitates too long, this too creates remorse. In approaching, one must seize the right moment; only then does one hit the right thing.
Line 4
A nine in the fourth place means:
The source of Enthusiasm. He attains great things.
Do not doubt!
Friends gather around you
as around a hairpin.
Commentary
Someone who is able to awaken enthusiasm through their own security and freedom from misgivings: by not doubting and being wholly truthful, they draw people to them. By giving them trust, they win them for enthusiastic cooperation and have success. As a hairpin gives hold to hair and unites it, so they unite people through the hold they give them.
Line 5
A six in the fifth place means:
Persistently ill, and yet never dying.
Commentary
Here Enthusiasm is hindered. One finds oneself under lasting pressure that does not allow one to breathe freely. But this pressure has, under certain circumstances, its good. One is thereby saved from exhausting one's strength in empty enthusiasm. Thus the lasting pressure may actually serve to keep one alive.
Line 6
A six at the top means:
Deluded Enthusiasm.
But if after completion one comes to change,
this is no blame.
Commentary
If one lets oneself be blinded by enthusiasm, that is an evil. But if this blinding is already an accomplished fact and one can still change, one becomes free of blame. Disenchantment from false enthusiasm is very well possible and is very favorable.