fēngAlso known as “Abundance” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Făng” (Legge)
abundancethe peakfullness
In plain words
Thunder and lightning together: abundance. The king reaches it; no sorrow — be like the sun at noon. But the sun at noon begins to set: fullness is a moment, not a possession.
The attitude it asks for
Use the peak to act and to be generous, and prepare for the natural decline without grief.
Structure
Upper trigram☳震Zhen (the Arousing)雷 · thunder · Wood
Făng intimates progress and development. When a king has reached the point (which the name denotes) there is no occasion to be anxious (through fear of a change). Let him be as the sun at noon.
Făng has the signification of being great. It is made up of the trigrams (representing) intelligence and movement directed by that intelligence. It is thus that it has that signification.
'The king has reached the condition (denoted by Făng):'—he has still to make it greater. 'There is no occasion to be anxious. Let him be as the sun at noon:'—it is for him to cause his light to shine on all under the sky.
When the sun has reached the meridian height, it begins to decline. When the moon has become full, it begins to wane. The (interaction of) heaven and earth is now vigorous and abundant, now dull and scanty, growing and diminishing according to the seasons. How much more must it be so with (the operations of) men! How much more also with the spiritual agency!
The Image
雷電皆至，豐；君子以折獄致刑。
(The trigrams representing) thunder and lightning combine to form Făng. The superior man, in accordance with this, decides cases of litigation, and apportions punishments with exactness.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上六Six at the top
豐其屋，蔀其家，闚其戶，闃其无人，三歲不覿，凶。
The topmost line, divided, shows its subject with his house made large, but only serving as a screen to his household. When he looks at his door, it is still, and there is nobody about it. For three years no one is to be seen. There will be evil.
Its symbolism
豐其屋，天際翔也。闚其戶，闃其无人，自藏也。
'He has made his house large:'—he soars (in his pride) to the heavens. 'He looks at his door, which is still, with no one about it:'—he (only) keeps himself withdrawn from all others.
The fifth line, divided, shows its subject bringing around him the men of brilliant ability. There will be occasion for congratulation and praise. There will be good fortune.
Its symbolism
六五之吉，有慶也。
'The good fortune indicated by the fifth line, divided,' is the congratulation (that is sure to arise).
The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject in a tent so large and thick that at midday he can see from it the constellation of the Bushel. But he meets with the subject of the (first) line, undivided like himself. There will be good fortune.
Its symbolism
豐其蔀，位不當也。日中見斗，幽不明也。遇其夷主，吉；行也。
'He is surrounded by a screen large and thick:'—the position of the line is inappropriate. 'At midday he sees the constellation of the Bushel:'—there is darkness and no light. 'He meets with the subject of the line, undivided like himself. There will be good fortune:'—action may be taken.
The third line, undivided, shows its subject with an (additional) screen of a large and thick banner, through which at midday he can see (the small) Mei star. (In the darkness) he breaks his right arm; but there will be no error.
Its symbolism
豐其沛，不可大事也。折其右肱，終不可用也。
'There is an (additional) screen of a large and thick banner:'—great things should not be attempted (in such circumstances). 'He breaks his right arm:'—in the end he will not be fit to be employed.
The second line, divided, shows its subject surrounded by screens so large and thick that at midday he can see from them the constellation of the Bushel. If he go (and try to enlighten his ruler who is thus emblemed), he will make himself to be viewed with suspicion and dislike. Let him cherish his feeling of sincere devotion that he may thereby move (his ruler's mind), and there will be good fortune.
Its symbolism
有孚發若，信以發志也。
'Let him cherish his feeling of sincere devotion, that it shall appear being put forth:'—it is by sincerity that the mind is affected.
The first line, undivided, shows its subject meeting with his mate. Though they are both of the same character, there will be no error. Advance will call forth approval.
Its symbolism
雖旬无咎，過旬災也。
'Though they are both of the same character, there will be no error:'—if the subject of this line seek to overpass that similarity, there will be calamity.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 55, Plenty, mean?
Thunder and lightning together: abundance. The king reaches it; no sorrow — be like the sun at noon. But the sun at noon begins to set: fullness is a moment, not a possession.
Which trigrams form Plenty?
震 above 離 — thunder over fire. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 大過 Great Excess.
What happens when a line of Plenty changes?
A moving line turns the hexagram into another one; the list above shows all six. With several moving lines, the guide to changing lines explains which text to read.
How do I get Plenty in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern — - - — — - - - - is Plenty. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.