54. Improper Advances to 53. Gradual Progress

Changing lines

1. Line 1

   The first line, dynamic, shows the young woman married off in a position ancillary to the real wife. It suggests the idea of a person lame in one leg who yet manages to tramp along. Going forward will be fortunate. A feudal prince was said to marry nine ladies at once. The principal of them was the bride who was to be the proper wife, and she was attended by two others, virgins from her father's harem; a cousin and a half-sister, a daughter of her father by another mother of inferior rank. Under line one the young woman of the hexagram appears in the inferior position of this half-sister. But the line is dynamic, indicative of a female of firm virtue. The mean condition and its duties are to be deplored, and give the auspice of lameness; but notwithstanding, the secondary wife will in a measure discharge her service. There will be good fortune.

2. Line 2

   The second line, dynamic, shows her blind of one eye, and yet able to see. There will be advantage in her maintaining the firm correctness of a solitary widow. Line two is dynamic in a magnetic place, and her correlate is magnetic in a dynamic place. Both, however, are central in their respective trigrams. With a weak correlate, line two can't do much in the discharge of her duties, but if she thinks only of her husband, like the widow who will die rather than marry again, such devotion will have its effect and reward. Though blind in one eye, she still manages to see -- devoted loyalty in an officer will compensate for many disadvantages.

3. Line 3

   The third line, magnetic, shows the young woman who was to be married off in a mean position. She returns and accepts an ancillary position. The third line is magnetic in a dynamic place at the top of the trigram of Frivolity. She is of so mean a character and such a slave of passion that no one will marry her. She returns and accepts the position of a concubine.

4. Line 4

   The fourth line, dynamic, shows the young woman who is to be married off protracting the time. She may be late in being married, but the time will come. Line four is dynamic, where it should be magnetic, but in the case of a female the indication is not bad. The subject of the line, however, is in no haste. She waits, and the good time will come. It is she who puts off the marriage, not the other way around.

5. Line 5

   The fifth line, magnetic, reminds us of the marrying of the younger sister of King Ti-yi, when the sleeves of the princess were not equal to those of the still younger sister who accompanied her in an inferior capacity. The case suggests the thought of the moon almost full. There will be good fortune. The King's sister is here honorably married, suggesting that the adornment she preferred was the "ornament of the hidden man of the heart.” Ch'eng-tzu says: "The moon is not full, but only nearly full. A wife ought not to eclipse her husband.” She is in the place of honor, with a proper correlate in line two.

6. Line 6

   The sixth line, magnetic, shows the young lady bearing the basket, but without anything in it, and the gentleman slaughtering the sheep, but without any blood flowing from it. There will be no advantage in any way. The sixth line is magnetic at the top of the hexagram, and without a proper correlate, hence the unfortunate auspice. The marriage contract is broken, and union does not take place. The parties concerned offer sacrifices in the temple, but the woman's basket is empty and the man's effort is fruitless.

The present judgment

Propriety indicates that action will be evil, and in no wise advantageous.

The later judgment

Gradual Progress shows the good fortune attending the marriage of a young lady. Firm correctness brings advantage.

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