When people achieve initial success, should they be proud of their achievements and rest on their laurels, or should they sum up their experience in a timely manner and be prepared for danger in times of peace, so as to prevent trouble before it happens?
Analysis of the structure of the hexagram
1. The structure of the hexagram indicates success, and the hexagram warns of prosperity and decline
The hexagram "Jiji" is the 63rd hexagram in the 64 hexagrams of the Book of Changes, "both", which means that things have been successful. The structure of this hexagram is that different hexagrams are superimposed, the lower hexagram is separated, and the upper hexagram is the kan. Kan is water, separation is fire, indicating that water and fire intersect, water is on fire, water potential overwhelms fire, and the task of firefighting is completed. However, this hexagram reminds that after success, something will eventually happen.
Hexagram "Jiji: Heng, Xiao Lizhen, the beginning of the auspicious end of chaos." The interpretation is "both Ji hexagram: prosperous." This is the auspicious chadity of Komi. Auspicious at first, eventually, things will change. "It gives people an early warning: after the initial success, we should have a far-sighted vision, consider all kinds of evils that may arise in the future, take precautions, take preventive measures, and be vigilant against the phenomenon of prosperity and decline that may occur.
In the natural world, water and fire seem to be opposing and contradictory existences, but in the hexagram of Jiji, they have reached a harmonious unity. Water represents suppleness, tolerance, and change, while fire represents strength, radicalness, and passion. When water and fire meet, they merge and complement each other, forming a relationship that is both opposing and unified. This kind of relationship is precisely the essence of "both economy".
Both hexagrams
Among the 64 hexagrams of the Book of Changes, the hexagram "Jiji" is the only hexagram that all six lines are in place, and all of them have corresponding hexagrams, from the structure of the hexagram, this is a perfect hexagram, indicating that the cause has achieved perfect initial results. However, things are always changing, and this perfect situation can only be short-lived, so the hexagram warns us to pay attention to the future development, "the beginning of auspiciousness and the end of chaos".
2. How to prevent problems before they happen?
The hexagram of the "Jiji" uses the parable of a little fox pulling a cart across a river that is about to dry up as a metaphor, and specifically reveals how to prevent trouble before it happens after initial success.
"The ninth day of the first month: drag its wheel, wet its tail, no blame. The meaning of the phrase is: to drag the wheels of the car and slow it down. The little fox got his tail wet when he crossed the river, and he couldn't swim fast, so there was no disaster. This reminder: After the success of the matter, we must be cautious and take precautions so that there will be no disaster. At this time, it is not advisable to act rashly by resting and consolidating the guard, so that there will be no disaster and no difficulty.
"Sixty-two: If a woman loses her hair, don't chase it, but get it in seven days. That is, the lady has lost the curtain that covers her chariot, and she has no need to look for it, but she will be found in seven days. This admonition: to obey nature, "do not chase".
Water and fire are both hexagrams and hexagrams
When you want to do something, if you are always hindered for various reasons, just like a noble lady who loses the curtain of her car and cannot move forward, you should still stick to the right path, wait for the opportunity, and believe that what is yours is yours, and you will get what belongs to you.
"Ninety-three, Gaozong's ghost recipe, three years of grams; The meaning is: Yin Gaozong Wuding conquered the Guifang country in the northwest, and won the victory after three years of continuous fighting; the victory was not easy to come by, and it was not possible to appoint the villain who was greedy for merit and recklessness in governance, otherwise it would cause civil strife because of the loss of labor and money.
Ben Yao tells you to be cautious with people, "don't use villains". That is, we must cherish the hard-won success, do not rush for quick success, and in further governance, we must not appoint people who are greedy for merit and rash progress.
"June Fourth: Wear clothes and abstain all day long. The translation is: When there is a leak in the ship, hold on to the ship that is plugged with the leakage, and be on guard all day long. Ben Yao reminds us to be cautious and "abstain all day long". Specifically, nothing is permanently static.
Overview of the Jiji hexagram
This is just as even the best clothes wear out, so it is necessary to repair this damage to the stillness in the same way as sewing patches on clothes. The purpose of the "end-of-day vows" is still to maintain balance, to prolong the state of balance for a longer period of time. "Doubtful" means that in this perfect state, there must be doubts and a sense of crisis.
"Ninety-five: The eastern neighbor kills the cow, which is not as good as the sacrifice in the western suburbs, and it is really blessed. This means that the eastern neighbors slaughter cattle and sheep for a grand sacrifice, rather than the western neighbors to hold a small ritual, so that they can enjoy the blessings given by God. What this saying is: after success, we must pay more attention to practical results and "be blessed".
That is to say, "the eastern neighbor slaughters cattle and sheep for a grand sacrifice" is not as good as the pious and simple sacrifice of the western neighbor, and the western neighbor "enjoys the blessings of God" indicates that this is the right place and auspicious blessings will continue to come. The implication is that in the unit, you advocate doing things with great fanfare and momentum, but the result is not as good as doing things quietly to make more profits and get more benefits.
Schematic diagram of the position of the hexagram
"Upper six: Wet its head, powerful. The meaning of this phrase is: the little fox got his head wet when crossing the river, and it was dangerous. This warning people: pay attention not to be satisfied with the status quo, remember the truth of "full of losses", success and perfection cannot last long, you must prepare in advance. Because Shangliu is at the top of the hexagram, there is an image of water not overheading.
Here is to tell people: the extreme perfection is the beginning of defects. The hexagram "Jiji" is the most perfect, so each hexagram contains the meaning of maintaining this perfection and delaying this perfection. But when it comes to the sixth year, it doesn't mean that way. Why? Because the law of change of all things is not subject to man's will, man can delay the premature aging of perfection, but he cannot prevent perfection from decaying.
3. Enlightenment after interpretation
To sum up: the I Ching's "Jiji" hexagram is about what to do after initial success, so as to prevent problems before they occur. That is, after the initial success, we should take a long-term view, and at the same time, fully consider the various drawbacks that may arise in the future, and take preventive measures to prevent problems before they occur, and be alert to the phenomena that will occur.
Abstract painting
The hexagram of "Jiji" also specifically describes the practice of preventing problems before they happen: such as not being blindly impulsive, conforming to nature, using people prudently, handling things prudently, and paying more attention to practical results. The ultimate goal is to prevent the phenomenon of boom and bust and let the cause continue to achieve greater success.
In short, the I Ching's Hexagram "Jiji" tells us that the difficulties and challenges in life are not terrible, as long as we have wisdom and courage, we can extinguish them like water. At the same time, we must also learn to find opportunities in difficulties and challenges, because only in difficulties and challenges can we truly grow and improve.
Therefore, we should always keep in mind the admonition of the hexagram "Jiji", and when the initial success of the career is achieved, we should constantly reflect on our own behavior and attitude, and constantly improve ourselves, so as to go further and more stable on the road in the future. At the same time, we should also pass on these ideas to the people around us, so that more people can benefit and create a better future together.
Concept art of both fire and water
This article was originally written by "Ruri Zhongtian 54", welcome to pay attention, learn together, and make progress together!