APPENDIX 6
The Orderly Sequence of the Hexagrams
[Legge] The few sentences on this Appendix in [Introduction, Chapter 3, Section 9], are sufficient. It shows the importance of the meaning of the name in an attempt to explain the lineal figures, and prepares us to expect on each one a brief enigmatical essay, which, it has been seen, is the nature of the Text. But the writer, whoever he was, is by no means careful always to follow that Text in the significance of the characters, as will appear in the few instances to which attention is called in the following notices. The treatise is too slight to require, or to justify, an exhibition of all its inaccuracies.
SECTION 1
1-3. When there were heaven and earth, then afterwards all things were produced. What fills up (the space) between heaven and earth are (those) all things. Hence (Khien and Khwan) are followed by Kun1. Kun denotes filling up.
[Legge] 1 But Kun does not denote filling up. It is the symbol of being in a state of distress and difficulty. The writer is thinking of the result of the interaction of heaven and earth as being to fill all between them with the various forms of living beings; and to represent that he gives the result of Kun, and not its meaning. He makes a blunder which might have been easily avoided, for he adds immediately that the character is descriptive of things on their first production.
3-6. Kun is descriptive of things on their first production. When so produced, they are sure to be in an undeveloped condition. Hence Kun is followed by Mang. Mang is descriptive of what is undeveloped,—the young of creatures and things. These in that state require to be nourished. Hence Mang is followed by Hsu. Hsu is descriptive of the way in which meat and drink (come to be supplied)2. Over meat and drink there are sure to be contentions2. Hence Hsu is followed by Sung.
[Legge] 2 It is difficult to follow the writer here. Hsu in the Text is the symbol of the idea of waiting. Does he mean that a provision of food and drink can only be made gradually? There is nothing in the character Hsu to awaken in the mind the idea of nourishment, Then the genesis of contention which is given is strange. The writer probably had in his mind the lines of the Shih, II, i, ode 5. 3:—
'The loss of kindly feeling oft
From slightest things shall grow.
Where all the fare is dry and spare,
Resentments fierce may glow.'
But what is allowable, good even, in poetry, is out of place in this treatise.
6-8. Sung is sure to cause the rising up of the multitudes 3; and hence it is followed by Sze. Sze has the signification of multitudes3, and between multitudes there must be some bond of union. Hence it is followed by Pi, which denotes being attached to.
[Legge] 3 Contention on a great scale will put all the population of a state in excitement and motion, and military measures of repression will be necessary. But the idea of the multitudes in Sze would seem to be simply that of number, and not that of a numerous host. In a feudal kingdom, however, all the able-bodied people might be required to join the army.
8-11. (Multitudes in) union must be subjected to some restraint. Hence Pi is followed by Hsiao Khu. When things axe subjected to restraint, there come to be rites of ceremony, and hence Hsiao Khu is followed by Li4. The treading (on what is proper) leads to Thai, which issues in a state of freedom and repose, and hence Li is followed by Thai.
[Legge] 4 Li, the name of the 10th hexagram, is the symbol for a shoe, and the act of treading or walking. It seems here to be derived from the homophonous li, the symbol of acts of ceremony. The identity of sound or name must be considered as accidental. A measured step would be one of the first ways in which the inward sense of propriety would manifest itself.
11-16. Thai denotes things having free course. They cannot have that for ever, and hence it is followed by Phi (denoting being shut up and restricted). Things cannot for ever be shut up, and hence Phi is followed by Thung Zan. To him who cultivates union with men, things must come to belong, and hence Thung Zan is followed by Ta Yu. Those who, have what is great should not allow in themselves the feeling of being full, and hence Ta Yu is followed by Khien. When great possessions are associated with humility, there is sure to be pleasure and satisfaction; and hence Khien is followed by Yu.
16-19. Where such complacency is awakened, (he who causes it) is sure to have followers5. They who follow another are sure to have services (to perform), and hence Sui is followed by Ku 6. Ku means (the performance of) services. He who performs such services may afterwards become great, and hence Ku is followed by Lin. Lin means great6.
[Legge] 5 By the subject of Ta Yu and Khien we must understand the possessor of the kingdom—the great man who in his greatness is yet distinguished by humility. He attracts followers.
[Legge] 6 For the true meaning of Ku and Lin, the names of hexagrams 18, 19, see what is said in the notes on the Text of them.
19-23. What is great draws forth contemplation, and hence Lin is followed by Kwan. He who attracts contemplation will then bring about the union of others with himself, and hence Kwan is followed by Shih Ho. Shih Ho means union. But things should not be united in a reckless or irregular way, and hence Shih Ho is followed by Pi. Pi denotes adorning. When ornamentation has been carried to the utmost, its progress comes to an end; and hence Pi is followed by Po. Po denotes decay and overthrow.
23-26. Things cannot be done away for ever. When decadence and overthrow have completed their work at one end, reintegration commences at the other; and hence Po is followed by Fu. When the return (thus indicated) has taken place, we have not any rash disorder, and Fu. is followed by Wu Wang. Given the freedom from disorder and insincerity (which this name denotes), there may be the accumulation (of virtue), and Wu Wang is followed by Ta Khu.
26-30. Such accumulation having taken place, there will follow the nourishment of it; and hence Ta Khu is followed by I. I denotes nourishing. Without nourishment there could be no movement, and hence I is followed by Ta Kwo. Things cannot for ever be in a state of extraordinary (progress); and hence Ta Kwo is followed by Khan. Khan denotes falling into peril. When one falls into peril, he is sure to attach himself to some person or thing; and hence Khan is followed by Li. Li denotes being attached, or adhering, to.
SECTION 2
31, 32. Heaven and earth existing, all (material) things then got their existence. All (material) things having existence, afterwards there came male and female. From the existence of male and female there came afterwards husband and wife. From husband and wife there came father and son. From father and son there came ruler and minister. From ruler and minister there came high and low. When (the distinction of) high and low had existence, afterwards came the arrangements of propriety and righteousness.
The rule for the relation of husband and wife is that it should be long-enduring. Hence Hsien is followed by Hang. Hang denotes long enduring7.
[Legge] 7 The same reference [as was made in footnote 6] should be made to the notes on the Text of Hsien and many of the other hexagrams that follow.
32-37. Things cannot long abide in the same place; and hence Hang is followed by Thun. Thun denotes withdrawing. Things cannot be for ever withdrawn; and hence Thun is succeeded by Ta Kwang. Things cannot remain forever (simply) in the state of vigour; and hence Ta Kwang is succeeded by Zin. Zin denotes advancing. (But) advancing is sure to lead to being wounded; and hence Zin is succeeded by Ming I. I denotes being wounded. He who is wounded abroad will return to his home; and hence Ming I is followed by Kia Zan.
37-40. When the right administration of the family is at an end, misunderstanding and division will ensue; and hence Kia Zan is followed by Khwei. Khwei denotes misunderstanding and division; and such a state is sure to give rise to difficulties and complications. Khwei therefore is followed by Kien. Kien denotes difficulties; but things cannot remain for ever in such a state. Kien therefore is followed by Kieh, which denotes relaxation and ease.
40-44. In a state of relaxation and ease there are sure to be losses; and hence Kieh is followed by Sun. But when Sun (or diminution) is going on without end, increase is sure to come. Sun therefore is followed by Yi. When increase goes on without end, there is sure to come a dispersing of it, and hence Yi is followed by Kwai. Kwai denotes dispersion. But dispersion must be succeeded by a meeting (again). Hence Kwai is followed by Kau, which denotes such meeting.
44-48. When things meet together, a collection is then formed. Hence Kau is followed by Zhui, which name denotes, being collected. When (good men) are collected and mount to the highest places, there results what we call an upward advance; and hence Zhui is followed by Shang. When such advance continues without stopping, there is sure to come distress; and hence Shang is followed by Khwan. When distress is felt in the height (that has been gained), there is sure to be a return to the ground beneath; and hence Khwan is followed by Zing.
48, 49. What happens under Zing requires to be changed, and hence it is followed by Ko (denoting change).
49-55. For changing the substance of things there is nothing equal to the caldron; and hence Kö is followed by Ting. For presiding over (that and all other) vessels, no one is equal to the eldest son, and hence Ting is followed by Kan. Kan conveys the idea of putting in motion. But things cannot be kept in motion forever. The motion is stopped; and hence Kan is followed by Kan, which gives the idea of arresting or stopping. Things cannot be kept for ever in a state of repression, and hence Kan is followed by Kien, which gives the idea of (gradually) advancing. With advance there must be a certain point that is arrived at, and hence Kien is succeeded by Kwei Mei. When things thus find the proper point to which to come, they are sure to become great. Hence Kwei Mei is succeeded by Fang, which conveys the idea of being great.
55-57. He whose greatness reaches the utmost possibility, is sure to lose his dwelling; and hence Fang is succeeded by Lu (denoting travellers or strangers). We have in it the idea of strangers who have no place to receive them, and hence Lu is followed by Sun, which gives the idea of (penetrating and) entering.
57-59. One enters (on the pursuit of his object), and afterwards has pleasure in it; hence Sun is followed by Tui. Tui denotes pleasure and satisfaction. This pleasure and satisfaction (begins) afterwards to be dissipated, and hence Tui is followed by Hwan, which denotes separation and division.
59-62. A state of division cannot continue for ever, and therefore Hwan is followed by Zieh. Zieh (or the system of regulations) having been established, men believe in it, and hence it is followed by Kung Fu. When men have the belief which Kung Fu implies, they are sure to carry it into practice; and hence it is succeeded by Hsiao Kwo.
62-64. He that surpasses others is sure to remedy (evils that exist), and therefore Hsiao Kwo is succeeded by Ki Zi. But the succession of events cannot come to an end, and therefore Ki Zi is succeeded by Wei Zi, with which (the hexagrams) come to a close.
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