Breakthrough

(Resoluteness)

Lake above

Heaven below

Translated from Richard Wilhelm's German (1924)

Introduction

On the one hand, the hexagram means a breakthrough after a long build-up of tension, like a swollen river breaking through its dikes, like a cloudburst. Applied to human affairs, on the other hand, it is the time when petty people are gradually dwindling. Their influence is waning, and through resolute action a change in conditions breaks through. The hexagram is assigned to the third month (April-May).

The Judgment

Breakthrough. Resolutely, at the king's court, one must make the matter known. It must be proclaimed truthfully. Danger. One must inform one's own city. It is not favorable to take up arms. It is favorable to undertake something.

If even a single petty person holds on to a ruling place in a city, that person can oppress the noble ones. If even a single passion still nests in the heart, it can darken reason. Passion and reason cannot coexist, so an unconditional struggle is necessary if one wants the good to rule. But the resolute struggle of the good to do away with evil has definite rules, which must not be disregarded if one wants to succeed. 1. Resoluteness must rest on a union of strength and friendliness. 2. No compromise with what is bad is possible; it must be openly discredited under all circumstances. In the same way, one's own passions and mistakes must not be glossed over. 3. The struggle must not be waged directly by force. Where evil is branded, it turns its thoughts to weapons, and if one does it the favor of fighting it blow for blow, one comes off worse, because in doing so one becomes entangled in hatred and passion oneself. That is why one must begin at one's own house: one must be personally on guard against the mistakes that have been branded. In this way the weapons of evil grow blunt by themselves when they find no opponent. In the same way, one's own mistakes must not be fought directly either. As long as one wrestles with them, they always remain victorious. 4. The best way to fight evil is vigorous progress in the good.

The Image

The lake has climbed into heaven: the image of breakthrough. So the noble one dispenses wealth to those below and shies away from resting on their virtue.

When the water of the lake has climbed into heaven, a cloudburst is to be feared. The noble one takes this as a warning and forestalls a violent collapse in good time. Anyone who wanted to heap up wealth for themselves alone, without thinking of others, would surely live to see their own collapse. For all gathering is followed by a scattering. That is why the noble one scatters even while gathering. In the same way, in forming their character they take care not to stiffen into stubbornness, but to keep themselves open to impressions through constant, strict self-examination.

The Lines

First line, nine

Powerful in the toes that stride forward. If one goes ahead and cannot handle the matter, one makes a mistake.

In times of resolute advance, the very beginning is especially difficult. One feels inspired to advance resolutely. But the resistance is still very strong. Here one must gauge one's own strength and venture only as far as one is sure of success. Charging blindly ahead is harmful, for right at the beginning an unexpected setback can have the most calamitous consequences.

Second line, nine

A cry of alarm. Weapons in the evening and at night. Fear nothing.

Readiness is all. Resoluteness is inseparably bound up with caution. If one is careful and level-headed, one need not take fright or become agitated. If one is watchful at all times, while there is still no danger, one is armed when the danger draws near and need not fear. The noble one is on guard against what cannot yet be seen, and anxious about what cannot yet be heard; that is why they dwell in the midst of difficulties as though there were no difficulties. If one develops one's character, people fall into line of their own accord. When reason prevails, the passions withdraw of their own accord. To be level-headed and not forget one's armor, that is the right way to safety.

Third line, nine

Being powerful in the cheekbones leads to misfortune. The noble one is firmly resolved. They walk alone and get caught in the rain. They are splashed, and there is grumbling against them. No fault.

The situation one is in is ambiguous. While everyone is engaged in a resolute struggle against what is petty, one alone stands in a certain relationship with a petty person. If one were now to show outward strength and turn against this person before conditions are ripe, one would only endanger the whole situation; for the petty person would then resort to countermeasures prematurely. The task of the higher person is exceedingly difficult here. They must be firmly resolved within and, while associating with the petty person, still keep clear of any share in that person's pettiness. Naturally, they are misjudged in this. They are taken to be one of the petty person's party. They are completely alone, because no one understands them. Their dealings with the petty person soil them in the eyes of the crowd, and people turn against them, grumbling. But the higher person bears being misjudged and makes no mistake, since they stay true to themselves.

Fourth line, nine

There is no skin on the thighs, and walking is hard. If one let oneself be led like a sheep, regret would vanish. But when one hears these words, one will not believe them.

One suffers from inner restlessness, so that one cannot remain in one's place. One wants to go forward at all costs and meets insurmountable obstacles in doing so. So one is in inner conflict with one's situation. This comes from the stubbornness with which one wants to get one's own way. If one let go of this stubbornness, everything would turn out well. But this counsel, like so much good advice, will go unheard. For stubbornness means that one has ears but does not hear.

Fifth line, nine

In the face of weeds, firm resolve is needed. Walking in the middle remains free of fault.

Weeds keep growing back and are hard to root out. So the struggle against a highly placed petty person needs firm resolve. One has dealings with this person, and because of this there is reason to fear that one will give up the struggle as hopeless. But that must not happen. One must resolutely go on and must not let oneself be turned from the path. This is the only way to remain free of fault.

Top line, six

No cry. In the end misfortune comes.

Victory seems to have been won. Only a remnant of the evil is left, and it is time to root it out resolutely. Everything looks quite easy. But that is exactly where the danger lies. If one is not on guard, evil manages to escape by concealing itself, and once it has got away, new misfortune springs from the seeds left behind; for evil does not die easily. With the evil in one's own character, too, one must do thorough work. If one were careless enough to leave anything behind, new ills would arise from it.

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