41. Sacrifice to 39. Obstruction - Halt

Changing lines

1. Line 1

   The first line, dynamic, shows its subject suspending his own affairs, and hurrying away to help the subject of the fourth line. He will commit no error, but let him consider how far he should contribute of what is his for the other. Line one is dynamic and his correlate in line four is magnetic. He wants to help her, but won't leave anything of his own undone in doing so. Nor will he diminish anything of his own for her without due deliberation.

2. Line 2

   The second line, dynamic, shows that it will be advantageous for its subject to maintain firm correctness, and that action on his part will be evil. He can give increase to his correlate without taking from himself. Line two is dynamic and in the central place. But he is in the place of a magnetic line, and should maintain his position without moving to help his fifth line correlate. Maintaining his own firm correctness is the best way to give assistance. " His aim" is to abide where he is and help the fifth line by the exhibition of firm correctness.

3. Line 3

   The third line, magnetic, shows how of three men walking together, the number is diminished by one; and how one, walking, finds his friend. Chu Hsi says that the lower trigram was originally three yang lines, like "three men" walking together, and that the third line was removed and made into the topmost line of the upper trigram which was originally three yin lines. This exchange of places between lines three and six maintains their proper correlation and suggests the proper pairing of affinities. The K'ang-hsi editors observe that this line is true not only of three men, but of many repetitions of thought or action.

4. Line 5

   The fifth line, magnetic, shows parties adding to the stores of its subject ten pairs of tortoise shells, and accepting no refusal. There will be great good fortune. Line five is the seat of the ruler, who is here humble, and welcomes the assistance of her correlate in line two. She is a ruler whom all her subjects of ability will rejoice to serve in every possible way, and the result will be great good fortune.

5. Line 6

   The sixth line, dynamic, shows its subject giving increase to others without taking from himself. There will be no error. With firm correctness there will be good fortune. There will be advantage in every movement that shall be made. He will find ministers more than can be counted by their clans. Line six has been changed from a magnetic to a dynamic line from line three. He has received the greatest increase and will carry out the idea of the hexagram in the highest degree and style. He can increase others without diminishing his own resources, and the benefit will be incalculable. Ministers will come to serve him, and not one from each clan only, but many. Ch'eng-tzu says on line six: "Dwelling on high and taking nothing from those below him, but on the contrary giving more to them, the superior man accomplishes his aim on a grand scale. The aim of the superior man is simply to be increasing what others have -- that and nothing else.”

The present judgment

Compensating Sacrifice means that sincerely maintained rectitude brings great success. Action is appropriate if one's sacrifice is sincere, even two baskets of grain, though there be nothing else, may be offered.

The later judgment

During an Impasse advantage is found in the southwest, disadvantage in the northeast. See the great man. Firm correctness brings good fortune.

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