 | Stagnation | |
| Upper Trigram: | Ch'ien, Creative Principle, Heaven | |
| Lower Trigram: | K'un, Passive Principle, Earth | |
| Governing Ruler: | Nine in the fifth place | |
| Constitutional Ruler: | Six in the second place | |
The Image
The trigrams of heaven and earth, not in intercommunication: the image of P'i. The superior man, in accordance with this, restrains the manifestations of his virtue, and avoids the calamities that threaten him. There is no opportunity of conferring on him the glory of emolument.
Miscellaneous Signs
While P'i and T'ai their different scopes prefer, Ta Chuang stops here as right; withdraws Tun there.
The Judgement
Stagnation. There is want of good understanding between the different classes of men, and its indication is unfavourable to the firm and correct course of the superior man. We see the great gone and the little come.
Commentary
The 'want of good understanding between the different classes of men', in P'i, and its indication as unfavourable to the correct course of the superior man, with the intimation that the great are gone and the little come: all this springs from the fact that in it heaven and earth are not in mutual communication, and all things in consequence do not have free course; and that the high and the low are not in mutual communication; and that there are no well-regulated states under the sky. The inner trigram shows darkness, the outer light; the inner weakness, the outer strength; the inner the small man, the outer the superior man. Thus the way of the small man appears to be increasing, and that of the superior man decreasing.
The 'want of good understanding between the different classes of men', in P'i, and its indication as unfavourable to the correct course of the superior man, with the intimation that the great are gone and the little come: all this springs from the fact that in it heaven and earth are not in mutual communication, and all things in consequence do not have free course; and that the high and the low are not in mutual communication; and that there are no well-regulated states under the sky. The inner trigram shows darkness, the outer light; the inner weakness, the outer strength; the inner the small man, the outer the superior man. Thus the way of the small man appears to be increasing, and that of the superior man decreasing.
The Lines and commentaries
Bottom six
Suggesting the idea of grass pulled up, and bringing with it other stalks of roots interconnected. With firm correctness there will be good fortune and progress.
The 'good fortune through firm correctness', as suggested by 'the pulling up of the grass', arises from the subject's will being bent on serving the ruler.
Six in the second placeShowing its subject patient and obedient. To the small man there will be good fortune. If the great man adapt to what distress and obstruction require, he will have success.
'The great man adapting to what distress and obstruction require, will have success': he does not allow himself to be disordered by the herd of small men.
Six in the third placeShowing its subject ashamed of the purpose folded in his breast.
That 'his shame is folded in his breast' is owing to the inappropriateness of his position.
Nine in the fourth placeShowing its subject acting in accordance with the ordination of heaven, and committing no error.
'He acts in accordance with the ordination of heaven, and commits no error': the purpose of his mind can be carried into effect.
Nine in the fifth placeWe see him who brings the stagnation to a close, the great man and fortunate! But let him say 'We may perish! We may perish!', so shall the state of things become as if bound to a clump of bushy mulberry trees.
See also: Ta Chuan - Section 2, Chapter V-9.
'The good fortune of the great man' arises from its correct position.
Top-most nineShowing the overthrow and removal of distress and stagnation. Before this there was that condition. Hereafter there will be joy.
'The distress and stagnation having reached its end, it is overthrown and removed': how could it be prolongued?
 1. Ch'ien Creative Principle |  2. K'un Passive Principle |  3. Chun Initial Difficulties |  4. Meng Youthful Inexperience |  5. Hsü Delay |  6. Sung Conflict |  7. Shih The Army |  8. Pi Seeking Unity |  9. Hsiao Ch'u Minor Restraint |  10. Lü Treading carefully |  11. T'ai Peace | 12. P'i Stagnation |  13. T'ung Jen Companionship |  14. Ta Yu Great Possessions |  15. Ch'ien Modesty |  16. Yü Enthusiasm |  17. Sui Allegiance |  18. Ku Arresting Decay |  19. Lin Approaching |  20. Kuan Contemplation |  21. Shih Ho Biting through |  22. Pi Grace |  23. Po Disintegration |  24. Fu The Turning Point |  25. Wu Wang Innocence |  26. Ta Ch'u Restraining Force |  27. I Nourishment |  28. Ta Kuo Excess |  29. K'an The Abyss |  30. Li Clinging Brightness |  31. Hsieh Influence |  32. Heng Endurance |  33. Tun Withdrawal |  34. Ta Chuang Strength of Greatness |  35. Chin Progress |  36. Ming I Sinking Light |  37. Chia Jen The Family |  38. K'uei Opposition |  39. Chien Obstacles |  40. Hsieh Deliverance |  41. Sun Decrease |  42. I Increase |  43. Kuai Resolution |  44. Kou Coming on |  45. Ts'ui Congregation |  46. Sheng Moving upward |  47. K'un Exhaustion |  48. Ching The Well |  49. Ko Revolution |  50. Ting The Cauldron |  51. Chen Thunderclap |  52. Ken Inaction |  53. Chien Gradual Progress |  54. Kuei Mei Marriageable Maiden |  55. Feng Abundance |  56. Lü The Wanderer |  57. Sun Gentle Penetration |  58. Tui Joy |  59. Huan Dispersal |  60. Chien Restraint |  61. Cung Fu Inner Truth |  62. Hsiao Kuo Small Excess |  63. Chi Chi Completion and After |  64. Wei Chi Before Completion |