Hexagram 37, Jiā Rén (The Family): Line 6 (top)

家人卦上九 · 风火家人 · 中文版

上九:有孚威如,终吉。

The line (Legge)

The topmost NINE, undivided, shows its subject possessed of sincerity and arrayed in majesty. In the end there will be good fortune.

Small Image commentary

'The good fortune connected with the display of majesty' describes (the result of) the recovery of the true character.

象曰:威如之吉,反身之谓也。

In plain words

With sincerity and dignity: good fortune in the end. The top line is the end of the family hexagram: in the end a household is held together by good faith and dignity. The Small Image says the good fortune of dignity means looking at oneself.

Applying it to your situation

If you want to carry weight at home or at work, this line suggests dignity comes from what you ask of yourself. On what point should you be strictest with yourself?

Position

A solid (yang) line in the top place, which is a yin (even) place, so it is not in its proper place. Its partner is line 3; both are yang, so they do not respond.

If this line moves

With this line moving alone, Jiā Rén changes into Hexagram 63 Jì Jì (After Completion). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·家人之既济.

The hexagram

Hexagram 37 Jiā Rén (The Family). The Judgment: For (the realisation of what is taught in) Jia Ren, (or for the regulation of the family), what is most advantageous is that the wife be firm and correct.

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English text: James Legge, The Yi King (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882), public domain, as transcribed by the Chinese Text Project. Chinese: the received text. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction. Plain-English readings and position notes by this site.

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