Preponderance of the Small

Thunder above

Mountain below

Translated from Richard Wilhelm's German (1924)

Introduction

While in hexagram 28, Preponderance of the Great, the strong lines have the preponderance and are inside, enclosed between the two lines at the beginning and the end, here the weak lines have the preponderance and are likewise on the outside, while the strong lines are inside. It is precisely on this that the exceptional situation rests. If the strong lines are on the outside, we have hexagram 27, The Corners of the Mouth (Nourishment), and hexagram 61, Inner Truth, neither of which denotes an exceptional situation. When the strong lines have the preponderance inside, they must assert themselves. This creates struggle and exceptional situations in great matters. Here, by contrast, what is weak must of necessity take over the representation to the outside world. When one stands in a decisive place that by one's nature one is not really equal to, extraordinary caution is needed.

The Judgment

Preponderance of the small. Success. Persistence is favorable. One may do small things; one should not do great things. The flying bird brings this message: it is not good to strive upward; it is good to stay below. Great good fortune.

Extraordinary modesty and conscientiousness will surely be rewarded with success; it is important, though, that they do not become empty formality and obsequiousness, but remain joined to proper dignity in one's personal bearing, so that one does not demean oneself. One must understand what the demands of the time are, in order to find the right way to make up for the shortcomings and damage of the time. All the same, one must not count on great successes, since the strength they require is lacking. That is why the message not to strive after high things but to keep to the low ones is so important. That a bird brings this message follows from the shape of the hexagram. In hexagram 28, Preponderance of the Great, the four strong, heavy lines inside, supported only by two weak lines outside, give the image of the weighty ridgepole. Here the light lines that do the carrying are outside and in the majority; this gives the image of the hovering bird. But the bird should not overreach itself and try to fly into the sun; it should come down to the earth, where it has its nest. By doing so, it delivers the message that the hexagram proclaims.

The Image

Thunder rumbles on the mountain: the image of the preponderance of the small. So in their conduct the noble one puts more weight on reverence. In bereavement they put more weight on grief. In their spending they put more weight on thrift.

On the mountain, thunder is not the same as on the plain. Among the mountains it is much nearer, while outside the mountain ranges it is harder to hear than in an ordinary thunderstorm. So the noble one takes from this image the call to keep duty in view more closely and more directly in all things than ordinary people do, although as a result the noble one's conduct, seen from outside, might seem small-minded. They are particularly exact about their actions. In bereavement, inner emotion is far closer to their heart than outward formalities, and so in spending on their own person they are extraordinarily simple and undemanding. All this makes them an exceptional figure beside the mass of people. But the nature of this exception lies in its being, outwardly, on the side of the small and lowly.

The Lines

First line, six

The bird meets with misfortune by flying.

The bird should stay in the nest at first, until it is fledged. If it wants to fly before then, it brings misfortune on itself. Extraordinary measures may be taken only when there is no other way. To begin with, one must fit in with what is customary for as long as possible; otherwise one wears out oneself and one's strength and still achieves nothing.

Second line, six

She passes by her ancestor and meets the ancestress. He fails to reach his prince but meets the official. No fault.

Two exceptional cases are named here: in the ancestral temple, where the generations alternate, grandson and grandfather stand on the same side; that is why the grandson has the closest relationship with him. Here it is the grandson's wife who is depicted; at the sacrifice she passes by the ancestor and turns to the ancestress. But this extraordinary conduct is an expression of her modesty. She is more ready to venture before the ancestress, to whom she feels akin as a woman; so this departure from the rule is no mistake.

Another image shows an official who, as is proper, first seeks an audience with his prince. But if he does not meet him, he does not try to force anything; instead he finds his place by conscientiously doing his duty, joining the ranks of the officials. In exceptional times this extraordinary restraint, too, is no mistake. (It is the rule that every official first has an audience with the prince who appoints him. Here the appointment comes from the minister.)

Third line, nine

If one does not take extraordinary care, someone may come from behind and strike one. Misfortune.

There are times when extraordinary caution is imperative. But it is precisely in such situations that there are strong, upright personalities who, aware that they are in the right, scorn to take precautions because they consider that small-minded. Instead they go proudly on their way, without a care. But this self-confidence deceives them. There are dangers that approach from ambush and that they are not equal to.

Still, it is a danger to which one is not necessarily exposed, but which can be avoided if one understands the times, which demand in an extraordinary way that one turn toward what is small and insignificant.

Fourth line, nine

No fault. Without passing by, they meet it. Going brings danger. One has to be wary. Do not act. Be persistent at all times.

The hardness of one's character is tempered by the softness of one's position, so that one makes no mistake. One is in a situation in which one must hold back to the utmost. One must not undertake anything of one's own accord to reach what one wishes for. And if one wanted to go and reach one's goal by force, one would come into danger. So one has to be wary and not act, but keep one's inner persistence at all times.

Fifth line, six

Dense clouds, but no rain comes from our lands in the west. The prince takes his shot and hits the one in the cave.

Since this is a high place, the image of the flying bird has turned into one of flying clouds. But however dense the clouds may be, they fly on across the sky and give no rain. So in extraordinary times there may well be a born ruler who would be called to set the world in order, but he can accomplish nothing and cannot bestow his blessing on the people, since he stands alone, without a helper.

In such times one must look for helpers with whom one can accomplish the work. But one must look for these helpers modestly, in the seclusion to which they have withdrawn. What matters is not fame and a great name but real achievement.

Through such modesty one finds the right person and is able to complete the extraordinary work in spite of every difficulty.

Top line, six

Without meeting it, they pass it by. The flying bird abandons them. Misfortune. This means disaster and harm.

If one overshoots the mark, one cannot hit it. If the bird will not go into its nest but wants to go ever higher, it finally falls into the hunter's net. Whoever, in extraordinary times, does not know how to stop in small matters, but restlessly wants to go ever further, brings misfortune on themselves from gods and people, because they depart from the order of nature.

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