Reading
Judgment
Following has sublime success.
Perseverance furthers. No blame.
In order to obtain a following, one must first know how to adapt oneself. Only through serving does one come to ruling; for only thus does one obtain the joyful consent of those below, which is necessary for following. Where by cunning or force, conspiracy or partisanship, following is to be compelled, there is always resistance that prevents willing following.
But joyous motion can also lead to evil. Therefore the condition is added: "Perseverance furthers," that is, consistency in the right, and "no blame." Just as only under these conditions should one demand following oneself, so one may also follow others only under these conditions without taking harm.
The thought of following through adaptation to what the time requires is great and important; therefore the accompanying judgment is also so favorable.
Image
Within the lake is thunder: the image of Following.
Thus the noble one, at the time of evening darkness,
turns in to rest and repose.
In autumn the electricity withdraws again into the earth and rests. Thunder within the lake, taken as an image, is not thunder in motion but the thunder of winter rest. Following arises from this image in the sense of adapting to the requirements of the time. The thunder within the lake points to times of darkness and rest. Thus the noble one, after being tirelessly active during the day, grants themself rest and repose at nighttime. Every situation becomes good only when one knows how to adapt to it and does not wear oneself out by false resistance.
Commentary
Above is the Joyous, whose character is joy; below is the Arousing, whose character is motion. Joy in motion leads to following. The Joyous is the youngest daughter, the Arousing the eldest son. An older man places himself beneath a young girl and shows consideration for her. Thereby he moves her to follow.
Changing Lines
Line 1
A nine at the beginning means:
The measure changes. Perseverance brings good fortune.
To go out the door in intercourse creates works.
Commentary
There are exceptional states in which the relation of leader and led changes. It lies in the idea of adaptation and following that, when one wants to lead others, one remains accessible and lets oneself be determined by the views of subordinates. Only one must have firm principles in this, so that one does not become wavering where it is only a matter of the opinions of the day. When one is prepared to listen to the opinions of others, one must not always sit together only with the like-minded and with party comrades; one must go out the door and mix freely with people of every kind, friend or foe. Only thus does one accomplish something.
Line 2
A six in the second place means:
If one clings to the small boy,
one loses the strong man.
Commentary
In friendship and close relations one must be careful in selection. One either makes good or bad company. One cannot have both at the same time. If one throws oneself away on the unworthy, one loses the connection with spiritually significant people who could further one in the good.
Line 3
A six in the third place means:
If one clings to the strong man,
one loses the small boy.
Through following one finds what one seeks.
It is favorable to remain persevering.
Commentary
When one has found the right connection with significant people, a certain loss is naturally bound up with it. One must separate oneself from the low and superficial. But one will feel inwardly satisfied, finding what one seeks and needs for the furtherance of personality. Only one must remain firm. One must know what one wants and must not let oneself be diverted by momentary inclinations.
Line 4
A nine in the fourth place means:
Following creates success. Perseverance brings misfortune.
To walk on the way in truthfulness
brings clarity.
How could this be a blame?
Commentary
It often happens, when one possesses a certain influence, that one finds followers through affability toward those below. But the people who attach themselves in this way do not mean it honestly. They seek their personal advantage and seek by flatteries and submissiveness to make themselves indispensable. If one gets used to such partisans so that one can no longer be without them, this brings misfortune. Only when one is wholly free of the personal ego and with conviction intent only on what is right and objective does one attain the clarity to see through such people, and one becomes free of blame.
Line 5
A nine in the fifth place means:
Truthful in the good. Good fortune!
Commentary
Every person must have something that they follow, that serves them as a guiding star. Whoever follows the beautiful and the good with conviction may find themself strengthened by this word.
Line 6
A six at the top means:
He finds firm attachment
and is even bound to it.
The king introduces him to the Western Mountain.
Commentary
Here is a person who has already left behind the bustle of the world for themself, an elevated sage. But a follower is found who understands them and does not let them go. So they come once more back into the world and help in their work. Thereby a connection of eternal kind arises.
The simile is taken from the Chou dynasty. This dynasty honored meritorious helpers by granting them a place in the ancestral temple of the ruling family on the Western Mountain. Thereby such a person was received into the circle of fate of the ruling house.