䷈ indicates that under its conditions there will be progress and success. We see dense clouds, but no rain coming from our borders in the west.
The name ䷈ is interpreted as meaning small restraint. The idea of restraint having once been determined on as that to be conveyed by the figure, it is easily made out that the restraint must be small, for its representative is the divided line in the fourth place; and the check given by that to all the undivided lines cannot be great. Even if we suppose, as many critics do, that all the virtue of that upper trigram ☴ is concentrated in its first line, the attribute ascribed to ☴ is that of docile flexibility, which cannot long be successful against the strength emblemed by the lower trigram ☰. The restraint therefore is small, and in the end there will be progress and success.
The second sentence of the judgment contains indications of the place, time, and personality of the writer which it seems possible to ascertain. Rain coming and moistening the ground is the cause of the beauty and luxuriance of the vegetable world, and the emblem of the blessings flowing from good training and good government. Here therefore in the west, the hereditary territory of the house, are blessings which might enrich the whole kingdom; but they are somehow restrained. The dense clouds do not empty their stores.
To declare openly that no rain fell from the heavens long covered with dense clouds over the great tract of country, which stretched from the western border to the court and on to the eastern sea, was nothing else but leaving it to all thoughtful minds to draw the conclusion that the family was as worthy of the supreme seat as that of the tyrant, however ancient, was unworthy of it.
- In ䷈ the weak line occupies its proper position, and the lines above and below respond to it. Hence comes the name of ䷈ (Small Restraint).
- It presents the symbols of strength and flexibility. Strong lines are in the central places, and the will of their subjects will have free course. Thus it indicates that there will be progress and success.
- Dense clouds but no rain indicate the movement of the strong lines still going forward. The Commencing at our western border indicates that the beneficial influence has not yet been widely displayed.
The weak line is said to occupy its proper position, because it is in the fourth, an even place. The responding on the part of all the other lines above and below is their submitting to be restrained by it; and this arises simply from the meaning which king chose to attach to the hexagram. But the restraint can only be small. The attributes of the two parts of the figure do not indicate anything else. The undivided line represents vigour and activity, and such a line is in the middle of each trigram ☰ ☴. There cannot but be progress and success.
Dense clouds ought to give rain. That they exist without doing so, shows the restraining influence of the hexagram to be still at work. But the other and active influence is, according to the general idea of the figure, continuing in operation; there will be rain ere long.
The trigram ☰ representing the sky, and ☴ that representing wind moving above it, form ䷈. The superior man, in accordance with this, adorns the outward manifestation of his virtue.
The suitability of the symbolism here is made all to turn on the wind. Wind is simply the air, without solid substance; it can restrain, but not for long. The wind moves in the sky for a time, and then ceases. The process of thought from the symbol to the lesson is not easily traced. Is it meant to say that virtue manifesting itself outwardly; in the carriage and speech; is, however good, but a small matter, admirable in an officer, or even a feudal lord, but that we look for more in a king, the Head of a nation?
- The first line, undivided, shows its subject returning and pursuing his own course. What mistake should he fall into? There will be good fortune.
He returns and pursues his own path; it is right that there should be good fortune.
Line 1 is undivided, the first line of ☰, occupying its proper place. Its subject, therefore, notwithstanding the check of line 4, resumes his movement, and will act according to his strong nature, and go forward.
- The second line, undivided, shows its subject, by the attraction of the former line, returning to the proper course. There will be good fortune.
By the attraction of the subject of the former line he returns to its own course, and is in the central place; neither will he err in what is due from him.
Line 2 is also strong, and though an even place is not appropriate to it, that place being central, its subject will make common cause with the subject of line 1; and there will be good fortune. It is in the central place, adding that this explains how the subject of the line restrains himself, and does not go beyond what is due from him.
- The third line, undivided, suggests the idea of a carriage, the strap beneath which has been removed, or of a husband and wife looking on each other with averted eyes.
Husband and wife look on each other with averted eyes; the subject of line three is like a husband who cannot maintain correctly his relations with his wife.
Line 3, though strong, and in a proper place, yet not being in the centre, is supposed to be less able to resist the restraint of line 4; and hence it has the ill omens that are given. Only half of the symbolism of line 3 is taken up here. Line 1, it is said, is far from line 4, the mauvais sujet of the hexagram, and little affected by it; line 2 is nearer, but, being in the centre, suffers little; line 3 is close on it, and, not being in the centre, comes under its evil influence; while line 6 gives no help.
- The fourth line, divided, shows its subject possessed of sincerity. The danger of bloodshed is thereby averted, and his ground for apprehension dismissed. There will be no mistake.
He is possessed of sincerity; his ground for apprehension is dismissed; the subjects of the lines above agree in aim with him.
The subject of line 4, one weak line against all the strong lines of the hexagram, might well expect wounds, and feel apprehension in trying to restrain the others; but it is in its proper place; it is the first line also of ☴, whose attribute is docile flexibility. The strong lines are moved to sympathy and help, and there is no mistake. Line 4 is weak, and in an even place, appropriate to it; and hence its subject is said to have sincerity. Being the first line, moreover, of ☴, the two others take their character from it.
- The fifth line, undivided, shows its subject possessed of sincerity, and drawing others to unite with him. Rich in resources, he employs his neighbours in the same cause with himself.
He is possessed of sincerity, and draws others to unite with him; he does not use only his own rich resources.
Line 5 occupies the central place of ☴, and converts, by the sincerity, of its subject, 4 and 6 into its neighbours, who suffer themselves to be used by it, and effect their common object. Line 5, being undivided, and occupying the most important place in the figure, according to the value usually attached to the lines, is said to be rich, or to have rich resources. With these he unites with the subjects of line 4 to effect their common object.
- The topmost line, undivided, shows how the rain has fallen, and the onward progress is stayed; so must we value the full accumulation of the virtue represented by the upper trigram ☴. But a wife exercising restraint, however firm and correct she may be, is in a position of peril, and like the moon approaching to the full. If the superior man prosecute his measures in such circumstances, there will be evil.
The rain has fallen and the onward progress is stayed; the power denoted in the figure has accumulated to the full. If the superior man prosecute his measures, there will be evil; he will find himself obstructed.
In line 6, the idea of the hexagram has run its course. The harmony of nature is restored. The rain falls, and the onward march of the strong lines should now stop. But weakness that has achieved such a result, if it plume itself on it, will be in a position of peril; and like the full moon, which must henceforth wane. Let the superior man, when he has attained his end, remain in quiet. Under line 6 we are told that the restraint is at its height, and the restrained should keep still for a time.