Hexagram 55, line 2
六二Line 2 of Plenty
Six in the second place · 豐 fēng
爻辭 The line text
豐其蔀，日中見斗，往得疑疾，有孚發若，吉。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.
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.
In plain words
'The screen is made abundant; at noon one sees the Dipper; to go forward brings suspicion and dislike; with sincerity set forth, auspicious.' Line two is yin, central and correct, the heart of Li's clarity, and it corresponds to the yin ruler at five — but a yin line cannot answer a yin line, and between them the light is blocked. 蔀 is the mat or awning that shades; so thick that stars show at midday. The clear minister cannot reach the darkened ruler by going to him; he would only be suspected. The small Image gives the one way through: 信以發志也, by sincerity the ruler's will is roused. What cannot be done by approach is done by trust.
If this line is changing
The person you need to reach cannot see you clearly right now, and pressing your case will only look like ambition; let your sincerity do the work, steadily and without pushing, until the screen thins.
Where the line stands
- A broken line, yin — written 六 (six), the number of an old yin line that moves when cast.
- It is in its correct place (當位): a yang line in an odd position or a yin line in an even one, which the tradition reads as a line at ease where it stands.
- It is central (中): the middle line of its trigram, the position the commentaries read as balanced and most favourable.
- It belongs to the lower trigram 離 Li (the Clinging) (fire).
- It has no correspondence (無應) with line 5: both lines are yin, so this line must find its support in its neighbours or in itself.
之卦 When this line moves
豐 Plenty becomes ䷡ 34 大壯 Great Vigor
Thunder above heaven: great strength on the move. Favourable to persevere correctly — real power stays within the bounds of propriety; the ram that butts the hedge gets stuck.
What it becomes34 · 大壯 Great Vigordà zhuàngThe six lines of 豐 Plenty
- 初九Nine at the beginningmeeting one's match · equals · ten days
- 六二Six in the second placescreened · stars at noon · sincerity moves
- 九三Nine in the third placebanner-dark · broken arm · not for great things
- 九四Nine in the fourth placescreened again · meeting one's equal · act now
- 六五Six in the fifth placebrilliance comes · blessing and praise · the receptive ruler
- 上六Six at the tophouse too large · no one at the door · three years unseen
Read 豐 Plenty for a question about
Questions about this line
- What does Six in the second place of hexagram 55, Plenty, mean?
- 'The screen is made abundant; at noon one sees the Dipper; to go forward brings suspicion and dislike; with sincerity set forth, auspicious.' Line two is yin, central and correct, the heart of Li's clarity, and it corresponds to the yin ruler at five — but a yin line cannot answer a yin line, and between them the light is blocked. 蔀 is the mat or awning that shades; so thick that stars show at midday. The clear minister cannot reach the darkened ruler by going to him; he would only be suspected. The small Image gives the one way through: 信以發志也, by sincerity the ruler's will is roused. What cannot be done by approach is done by trust.
- What does hexagram 55 become when line 2 changes?
- Plenty becomes hexagram 34, 大壯 Great Vigor: Thunder above heaven: great strength on the move. Favourable to persevere correctly — real power stays within the bounds of propriety; the ram that butts the hedge gets stuck.
- Is line 2 of Plenty in its correct place?
- It is in its correct place (當位): a yang line in an odd position or a yin line in an even one, which the tradition reads as a line at ease where it stands. It is central (中): the middle line of its trigram, the position the commentaries read as balanced and most favourable.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).