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HEX. 48.
APPENDIX II.
327
XLVIII. (The trigram representing) wood and above it that for water form Zing. The superior man, in accordance with this, comforts the people, and stimulates them to mutual helpfulness.
1. 'A well so muddy that men will not drink of it:'- this is indicated by the low position (of the line).
'An old well to which the birds do not come:'it has been forsaken in the course of time.
2. 'A well from which by a hole the water escapes, and flows away to the shrimps :'-(the subject of this second line has) none co-operating with him (above).
3. The well has been cleared out, but is not used :'-(even) passers-by would be sorry for this.
A prayer is made 'that the king were intelligent :'— for then blessing would be received.
4. 'A well the lining of which is well laid. There will be no error:'-the well has been put in good repair.
5. 'The waters from the cold spring are (freely) drunk :'- this is indicated by the central and correct position (of the line).
6. The great good fortune' at the topmost place
So stupid is the subject of line i that by his own act he increases his dintress.
The Khang-hsf editors say that the ground for congratulation in paragraph 2 is the banqueting and sacrificing.' I rather think it is the measure of help, which it is intimated the subject will give in removing the straitness and distress of the time.
See the extract from the Khang-hsî editors on the symbolism of the third line of the Text.
The difficulties attending the symbolism of the Text of lines 4, 5, and 6 are not lightened by what we find in this Appendix.
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| SR No. | 007676 |
| Book Title | Text of Confucianism Part 02 |
| 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 |