Reading
Judgment
Grace has success.
In small matters it is favorable to undertake something.
Grace brings success. But it is not the essential, the foundation, but only the adornment. Therefore it may be applied only sparingly, in small matters. In the lower hexagram, fire, a soft line steps between two strong lines and makes them beautiful; the strong ones, however, are the substance; the weak line is the beautifying form. In the upper hexagram, mountain, the strong line steps decisively to the top, so that here too it comes into consideration as decisive. In nature one sees in the sky the strong light of the sun. On this rests the life of the world. But this strong, essential thing is transformed and finds graceful variation through moon and stars. In human life the beautiful form consists in this: that there are, like mountains, firmly standing, strong orders that are made pleasing through clear beauty. The contemplation of forms in the sky bestows the capacity to understand the time and its changing demands. The contemplation of forms in human life bestows the possibility to shape the world.
Remark: The hexagram shows beauty at rest: within clarity, without stillness. That is the calm of pure contemplation. When desire falls silent, when the will comes to rest, then the world appears as presentation. And as such it is beautiful and withdrawn from the struggle of existence. That is the world of art. But through mere contemplation the will is not finally brought to rest. It will awaken again, and all the beautiful was then only a passing moment of elevation. Therefore this is not yet the true path to redemption. Confucius therefore also felt very uneasy when, on the occasion of consulting the oracle, he received the hexagram Grace.
Image
At the foot of the mountain is fire: the image of Grace.
Thus the noble one proceeds in the clarification
of current affairs,
but they do not venture on that basis to decide great questions in dispute.
The fire, whose glow illuminates the mountain and makes it graceful, does not shine far. Thus graceful form suffices to brighten and illuminate smaller affairs, but important questions cannot be decided in this way. They require greater seriousness.
Commentary
The hexagram shows a fire that breaks forth from the secret depths of the earth and, flaring upward, illuminates and beautifies the mountain, the heavenly height. Grace, beautiful form, is needed in every union, so that it becomes orderly and pleasing, and not chaotic and disordered.
Changing Lines
Line 1
A nine at the beginning means:
He lends grace to his toes, leaves the wagon, and walks.
Commentary
The position at the beginning and in a subordinate place brings it about that one must take the trouble of moving forward onto oneself. One would have opportunity to obtain, under the hand, an easing, represented under the image of the wagon. But a self-contained person scorns such easings obtained in questionable ways. They find it more graceful to go on foot than to ride unlawfully in the wagon.
Line 2
A six in the second place means:
He lends grace to his beard on the chin.
Commentary
The beard is nothing independent. It can only be moved together with the chin. The image therefore means that form comes into consideration only as a train and accompaniment of substance. The beard is a superfluous ornament. Its independent care, without regard for the inner substance it is meant to adorn, would therefore be a sign of a certain vanity.
Line 3
A nine in the third place means:
Graceful and moist.
Lasting perseverance brings good fortune.
Commentary
It is a most graceful situation in life in which one finds oneself. Grace and moisture-transfigured radiance surround one. This grace can adorn, but it can also cause one to sink. Hence the warning not to sink into moist ease, but to remain lastingly persevering. On this rests good fortune.
Line 4
A six in the fourth place means:
Grace or simplicity?
A white horse comes as if in flight:
He is no robber; he would woo in due time.
Commentary
One is in a situation in which doubts arise as to whether one should continue to seek the grace of outer splendor or whether it is not better to return to simplicity. In this doubt the answer already lies. From outside an encouragement approaches. It comes as a white winged horse. The white color points to simplicity. And even if at the first moment it could be disappointing that one must do without the comforts one could obtain in other ways, in the faithful union with the friend and suitor one finds reassurance. The flying horse is the image of thoughts, which fly over all barriers of space and time.
Line 5
A six in the fifth place means:
Grace in hills and gardens.
The bundle of silk is meager and small.
Humiliation, but in the end good fortune.
Commentary
One withdraws from intercourse with the people of the depths, who seek only splendor and luxury, into the solitude of the heights. There one finds a person to whom one looks up and whom one would like to make one's friend. But the guest gifts one has to offer are only meager and scant, so that one is ashamed. Yet it is not the outer gift that matters, but the true disposition; therefore in the end all goes well.
Line 6
A nine at the top means:
Plain grace.
No blame.
Commentary
Here at the highest stage all ornament is laid aside. Form no longer conceals substance, but lets it come to full effect. The highest grace consists not in outer decoration of the material, but in its plain, fitting shaping.