Reading
Judgment
Progress:
the strong prince is honored with horses in great number.
In a single day he is received three times.
As an example is described a time when a strong feudal prince gathers the other princes around the great king in obedience and peace and is richly endowed by the great king and drawn into closest proximity.
A twofold thought lies in this. The actual effect of the progress goes out from a man in a dependent position whom the others regard as their equal, which is why they willingly follow him. This leader possesses enough inner clarity not to misuse the great influence he has, but to use it for the benefit of the lord. The lord for his part is free of any jealousy, endows the great man richly, and continually draws him into his proximity. An enlightened lord and an obedient servant, these are the conditions of great progress.
Image
The sun rises above the earth:
the image of Progress.
Thus the noble one themself makes their clear talents bright.
The light of the sun, which rises above the earth, is of nature clear, but the higher the sun rises, the more it emerges from the turbid mists and shines in ever wider compass in its original purity. So too the true being of the human is originally good, but it is clouded by connection with the earthly and therefore requires purification, so that it may shine in the clarity originally proper to it.
Commentary
The hexagram represents the sun rising above the earth; it is therefore the image of rapid, easy progress, which at the same time signifies ever wider extension and clarity.
Changing Lines
Line 1
A six at the beginning means:
Progressing, but rebuffed.
Perseverance brings good fortune.
If one finds no trust, let one remain calm.
No fault.
Commentary
At a time when everything is pressing toward progress, one finds oneself still in uncertainty as to whether in progressing one might not meet with rebuff. Here it is a matter of simply continuing in the right: that eventually brings good fortune. It may be that one is not met with trust. In this case one should not seek trust at all costs; one must remain calm and cheerful and not let oneself be provoked to anger. Thus one remains without fault.
Line 2
A six in the second place means:
Progressing, but in sorrow:
Perseverance brings good fortune.
One will then obtain great happiness from one's ancestress.
Commentary
Progress is held up; one sees oneself hindered from coming into connection with the person in the leading place to whom one stands in relation. This brings sorrow. But in such a case it is a matter of remaining persevering; then one will experience great happiness from that person in motherly mildness. This happiness comes and is well deserved, because the mutual affection does not rest on egoistic-partisan motives, but on firm and correct principles.
Line 3
A six in the third place means:
All are in agreement. Remorse vanishes.
Commentary
One strives forward, and indeed in community with others, through whose agreement one is lifted up. Thereby the occasion for regret vanishes, which would be found in not possessing the independence to carry through alone against any hostile fate.
Line 4
A nine in the fourth place means:
Progress like a hamster.
Perseverance brings danger.
Commentary
In times of progress it is easy for strong people, when they are in the wrong place, to scrape together much for themselves. But such conduct is shy of the light. And since times of progress are also always times when the sun brings all light-shunning conduct to the day, persisting in such action necessarily brings danger with it.
Line 5
A six in the fifth place means:
Remorse vanishes.
Take not to heart gain and loss.
Undertakings bring good fortune.
Everything is furthering.
Commentary
Here is depicted a situation in which one is in a decisive place in times of progress and is mild and restrained. One might reproach oneself for not having energetically enough made use of the favor of the time and procured all possible advantages for oneself. But this remorse vanishes. One must not take gain and loss to heart. These are subordinate things. More important is that one has in this way secured possibilities for successful and blessed effect.
Line 6
A nine at the top means:
Progressing with the horns one may do only
to chastise one's own territory.
Awareness of danger brings good fortune.
No blame.
Perseverance brings humiliation.
Commentary
To progress with the horns, that is, to proceed aggressively, one should, in such times as are here in question, do only with regard to the faults of one's own people. In doing so, one must remain conscious that such aggressive proceeding is always bound up with danger. Thereby one avoids the faults that otherwise threaten, and what one has intended succeeds. On the other hand, a persevering continuation of this all-too-energetic attitude, particularly toward those further removed, will bring humiliation.