Text of Confucianism Part 02

SR No.: 007676
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: James Legge
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1882
Total Pages: 2405
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 43 MB

Page 216

SECT. 11.
THE SUN HEXAGRAM.
189
LVII. The Sun HEXAGRAM.
Sun intimates that (under the conditions which it denotes) there will be some little attainment and progress. There will be advantage in movement
to give the idea that is in Lü, see Appendix II. In Appendix I there is an endeavour to explain the Thwan by means of the lines and their relation to one another.
Line 1 is weak, in an odd place, and at the very bottom or commencement of the hexagram, These conditions are supposed to account for the unfavourable symbolism and auspice.
Line 2 is weak, but in its proper place. That place, moreover, is the central. Hence the traveller—and he might here very well be a travelling merchant-is represented in the symbolism as provided with everything he can require ; and though the auspice is not mentioned, we must understand it as being good.
Line 3 is strong, and in an even place. But it occupies the topmost place in the lower trigram; and its strength may be expected to appear as violence. So it does in the symbolism, and extraordinary violence as well. It seems unreasonable to suppose, as in the conclusion, that one so described could be in any way correct. The Khang-hsî editors remark that the subjects of 2 and 3 are represented as having lodging-houses,' and not any of those of the other lines, because these are the only two lines in the places proper to them!
Line 4 is strong, but in an even place. Hence its subject has not 'a lodging-house ;' but has found a situation where he has shelter, though he is exposed to perils. Hence he is represented as having an axe, which may be available for defence. Still he is not at peace in his mind. The Khang-hsî editors observe well that the mention of an axe makes us think of caution as a quality desirable in a traveller.
Line 5, though weak, is in the centre of the upper trigram, which
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