Previous / Contents / HEX TABLE / Next31. Hsien [Mutual Influence]
Thwan, or Overall Judgment (Attributed to King Wan)Hsien indicates that, (on the fulfilment of the conditions implied in it), there will be free course and success. Its advantageousness will depend on the being firm and correct, (as) in marrying a young lady. There will be good fortune. [Whincup] Movement. [Christensen] 31 - 咸 Completing [Pearson] (xián) Reciprocity, Respect [Redmond] 31. 咸 Xian Sensation [Legge] With the 31st hexagram commences the Second Section of the Text. It is difficult to say why any division of the hexagrams should be made here, for the student tries in vain to discover any continuity in the thoughts of the author that is now broken. The First Section does not contain a class of subjects different from those which we find in the Second. That the division was made, however, at a very early time, appears from the sixth Appendix on the Sequence of the Hexagrams, where the writer sets forth an analogy between the first and second figures, representing heaven and earth, as the originators of all things, and this figure and the next, representing (each of them) husband and wife, as the originators of all the social relations. This, however, is far from carrying conviction to my mind. The division of the Text of the Yi into two sections is a fact of which I am unable to give a satisfactory account. Hsien, as explained in the treatise on the Thwan, has here the meaning of mutual influence, and the duke of Kau, on the various lines, always uses Kan for it in the sense of 'moving' or 'influencing to movement or action.' This is to my mind the subject of the hexagram considered as an essay,—'Influence; the different ways of bringing it to bear, and their issues.' The Chinese character called hsien is With regard to the idea of husband and wife being in the teaching of the hexagram, it is derived from the more recent symbolism of the eight trigrams ascribed to king Wan, and exhibited [in Introduction, Chapter 3, Par. 4.6] and plate 3. The more ancient usage of them is given in the paragraph on the [Great Symbolism, below]. The figure consists of Kan ( Coming now to the figure, and its lines, the subject is that of mutual influence; and the author teaches that that influence, correct in itself, and for correct ends, is sure to be effective. He gives an instance,—the case of a man marrying a young lady, the regulations for which have been laid down in China from the earliest times with great strictness and particularity. Such influence will be effective and fortunate. Comments on the Thwan1. Hsien is here used in the sense of Kan, meaning (mutually) influencing. 2. The weak (trigram) above, and the strong one below; their two influences moving and responding to each other, and thereby forming a union; the repression (of the one) and the satisfaction (of the other); (with their relative position), where the male is placed below the female:—all these things convey the notion of 'a free and successful course (on the fulfilment of the conditions), while the advantage will depend on being firm and correct, as in marrying a young lady, and there will be good fortune.' 3. Heaven and earth exert their influences, and there ensue the transformation and production of all things. The sages influence the minds of men, and the result is harmony and peace all under the sky. If we look at (the method and issues) of those influences, the true character of heaven and earth and of all things can be seen. [Legge] Paragraph 2. Tui, the upper trigram, is weak and yin; and Kan, the lower, is strong and yang; see [Appendix 3, Section 2, Par. 4, and Appendix 5, Par. 14]. Kan is below Tui; whereas the subject of the lower trigram should always take the initiative in these figures. Great Symbolism(The trigram representing) a mountain and above it that for (the waters of) a marsh form Hsien. The superior man, in accordance with this, keeps his mind free from pre-occupation, and open to receive (the influences of) others. [Legge] In various ways the waters of a marsh, placed high above the adjacent land, will descend to water and fertilise them. This symbolism agrees sufficiently well with the idea of influence passing between a superior and inferior party in relation with each other. There is nothing in the representation, however, to suggest particularly the relation between husband and wife; and the more I think of it, the more doubtful it becomes to me that king Wan intended by the trigrams of this figure to give the idea of man and wife. The application of the symbolism is sufficiently appropriate. The commentators see in it especially the lesson of humility—emptiness of self, or poverty of spirit—in order that the influences to which we are subjected may have free course. Line Statements (Attributed to the Duke of Kau)1. The first SIX, divided, shows one moving his great toes. Matching Line in Adjacent Hexagram: 32.1 [Whincup] [Christensen] 初 六﹕ 咸 其 拇 Beginning 6: Heal the big toe. [Pearson] Six in the first place: Respecting your big toe. [Redmond] 31.1 Sensation in one’s big toe. 初六咸其拇. [Smaller Symbolism] 1. 'He moves his great toe:'—his mind is set on what is beyond (himself). [Legge] Line 1 is weak, and at the bottom of the hexagram. Though 4 be a proper correlate, yet the influence indicated by it must be ineffective. However much a man's great toes may be moved, that will not enable him to walk. [Legge: Smaller Symbolism] Paragraph 1. What is beyond one's self is represented by line 4, a proper correlate of 1. There is the desire to influence; but it is ineffectively exhibited. 2. The second SIX, divided, shows one moving the calves of his leg. There will be evil. If he abide (quiet in his place), there will be good fortune. Matching Line in Adjacent Hexagram: 32.2 [Whincup] [Christensen] 六 二﹕ 咸 其 腓 凶 居 吉 Second 6: Heal the calves. If it [feels] bad, then stay until it is good. [Pearson] Six in the second place: Respecting the calf of your leg: misfortune. But staying is fortunate. [Redmond] 31.2 Sensation in one’s calf, ominous. For a home, auspicious. 六二咸其腓, 凶. 居吉. [Smaller Symbolism] 2. Though 'there would be evil; yet, if he abide (quiet) in his place, there will be good fortune:'—through compliance (with the circumstances of his condition and place) there will be no injury. [Legge] The calves cannot move of themselves. They follow the moving of the feet. The moving of them indicates too much anxiety to move. Line 2, moreover, is weak. But it is also the central line, and if its subject abide quiet, till he is acted on from above, there will be good fortune. [Legge: Smaller Symbolism] Paragraph 2. 'Compliance (with the circumstances of his condition and place)' is merely another way of 'being firm and correct.' 3. The third NINE, undivided, shows one moving his thighs, and keeping close hold of those whom he follows. Going forward (in this way) will cause regret. Matching Line in Adjacent Hexagram: 32.3 [Whincup] [Christensen] 九 三﹕ 咸 其 股 執 其 隨 往 吝 Third 9: Heal the thighs. Hold what follows. If you let go you will regret. [Pearson] Nine in the third place: Respecting your thigh. Compelled to follow along. Going brings distress. [Redmond] 31.3 Sensation in one’s thigh. Grasping it while following. Going, regretted. 九三咸其股. 執其隨. 往吝. [Smaller Symbolism] 3. 'He moves his thighs:'—he still does not (want to) rest in his place. His will is set on 'following others:'—what he holds in his grasp is low. [Legge] Neither can the thighs move of themselves. The attempt to move them is inauspicious. Its subject, however, the line being strong, and in an odd place, will wish to move, and follows the subject of 4, which is understood to be the seat of the mind. He exercises his influence therefore with a mind and purpose, which is not good. [Legge: Smaller Symbolism] Paragraph 3. The language, 'What he holds in his grasp is low,' makes Ku Hsi and the older commentators generally understand low of lines 1 and 2, and their weak subjects. But 'following' leads the mind to the lines above, as the Khang-hsi editors point out. 'Low' is to be understood in the sense of 'mean.' 4. The fourth NINE, undivided, shows that firm correctness which will lead to good fortune, and prevent all occasion for repentance. If its subject be unsettled in his movements, (only) his friends will follow his purpose. Matching Line in Adjacent Hexagram: 32.4 [Whincup] [Christensen] 九 四﹕ 貞 吉 悔 亡 憧 憧 往 來 朋 從 爾 思 Fourth 9: Correct things to be good and worries will go away. You go back and forth hesitating, but your friends will comply with what you have in mind. [Pearson] Nine in the fourth place: Persistence is fortunate. Remorse disappears. You go back and forth. A friend follows your thoughts. [Redmond] 31.4 Divination auspicious. Regret passes away. Coming and going, back and forth. Friends follow in your longing. 九四貞吉. 悔亡. 憧憧往來. 朋從爾思. [Smaller Symbolism] 4. 'Firm correctness will lead to good fortune, and prevent all occasion for repentance:'—there has not yet been any harm from (a selfish wish to) influence. 'He is unsettled in his movements:'(his power to influence) is not yet either brilliant or great. [Legge] Line 4 is strong, but in an even place. It is the seat of the mind. Its subject therefore is warned to be firm and correct in order to a good issue. If he be wavering and uncertain, his influence will not extend beyond the circle of his friends. [Legge: Smaller Symbolism] Paragraph 4. The 'being firm and correct' appears here as equivalent to the want of 'a selfish wish to influence.' 5. The fifth NINE, undivided, shows one moving the flesh along the spine above the heart. There will be no occasion for repentance. Matching Line in Adjacent Hexagram: 32.5 [Whincup] [Christensen] 九 五﹕ 咸 其 脢 无 悔 Fifth 9: Heal the back so there are no feelings of regret. [Pearson] Nine in the fifth place: Respecting your spine: no remorse. [Redmond] 31.5 Sensation in one’s back. There will be no regret. 九五咸其脢. 无悔. [Smaller Symbolism] 5. 'He (tries to) move the flesh along the spine above the heart:'—his aim is trivial. [Legge] The symbolism of line 5 refers to a part of the body behind the heart, and is supposed therefore to indicate an influence, ineffective indeed, but free from selfish motive, and not needing to be repented of. [Legge: Smaller Symbolism] Paragraph 5. The triviality of the aim explains the ineffectiveness of the movement, but not its giving no occasion for repentance. That the mei which are moved are behind and above the region of the heart seems too mechanical and trivial an explanation. 6. The sixth SIX, divided, shows one moving his jaws and tongue. Matching Line in Adjacent Hexagram: 32.6 [Whincup] [Christensen] 上 六﹕ 咸 其 輔 頰 舌 Top 6: Heal the jaw, jowl and tongue. [Pearson] Six at the top: Respect in your cheeks, tongue, and jowls. [Redmond] 31.6 Sensations in one’s jaws, cheeks, tongue. 上六咸其輔, 頰, 舌. [Smaller Symbolism] 6. 'He moves his jaws and tongue:'—he (only) talks with loquacious mouth. [Legge] Line 6 is weak, and in an even place. It is the topmost line also of the trigram of satisfaction. Its influence by means of speech will only be that of loquacity and flattery, the evil of which needs not to be pointed out. Previous / Contents / HEX TABLE / Next |
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, the graphic symbol for 'all, together, jointly.' Kan, the symbol for 'influencing,' has hsien in it as its phonetic constituent (though the changes in pronunciation make it hard for an English reader to appreciate this), with the addition of hsin, the symbol for the heart.' Thus 
kan, 'to affect or influence,' = 
; and it may have been that while the name or word was used with the significance of 'influencing,' the 
) 'the youngest son,' and over it Tui ( 
), 'the youngest daughter.' These are in 'happy union.' No influence, it is said, is so powerful and constant as that between husband and wife; and where these are young, it is especially active. Hence it is that Hsien is made up of Kan and Tui. All this is to me very doubtful. I can dimly apprehend why the whole line ( 
) was assumed as the symbol of strength and authority, and the broken line as that of weakness and submission. Beyond this I cannot follow Fu-hsi in his formation of the trigrams; and still less can I assent to the more recent symbolism of them ascribed to king Wan.
