59. Dispersion to 37. The Family

Changing lines

1. Line 1

   The first line, magnetic, shows its subject engaged in rescuing from the impending evil and having the assistance of a strong horse. There will be good fortune. Line one, at the commencement of the hexagram, tells us that the evil has not yet made great progress, and that dealing with it will be easy. But the subject of the line is magnetic in a dynamic place. She cannot cope with the evil herself. She must have help, and she finds it in a strong horse, which is understood to symbolize the subject of the dynamic second line. The "natural course” that line one pursues is that required by the circumstances of the time.

2. Line 2

   The second line, dynamic, shows its subject, amid the dispersion, hurrying to his contrivance for security. All occasion for repentance will disappear. Line two is dynamic, but in a magnetic place, and although that place is central, it is in the trigram of Peril. These conditions indicate evil, and action will be dangerous. But line two looks to line one below him, and takes shelter in union with it. Line two desires success in counteracting the prevailing tendency to disunion, and the Confucian commentary suggests that he attains his desire.

3. Line 3

   The third line, magnetic, shows its subject discarding any regard to her own person. There will be no occasion for repentance. Line three is magnetic in a dynamic place. Although we might fear an excessive self-regard which would render her useless in the work of the hexagram, she discards selfishness and will do nothing shameful. There is a change of style in the Chinese text at this point. As Wang Sheng-tzu (Yuan dynasty) says -- "Here and henceforth the scattering is of what should be scattered, that which should not be scattered may be collected."

The present judgment

Expansion intimates that there will be progress and success. The king goes to his ancestral temple. It will be advantageous to cross the great stream. It will be advantageous to be firm and correct.

The later judgment

For the regulation of The Family, what is most advantageous is that the wife be firm and correct.

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