无妄 Wú wàng Honesty (Without Pretense) [hexagram 25]
Heaven over Thunder
Metal element
Lunar month: 9 ; Host (controlling) line : 1
The Descision
Great success if remain steadfast. If intention is deceitful then there will be trouble and no undertaking is advantageous.
Honesty comes from the strength of the outer becoming the controller of the core. Strength in the middle responds to the weak. ‘Great success when remain steadfast’ – this is the will of Heaven. ‘If intention is deceitful then there will be trouble and no undertaking is advantageous’ – when honesty is lost how can progress be made? How can anything be done against the will of Heaven?
咸, 亨, 利贞, 取女吉. Xián, hēng, lì zhēn, qǔ nǚ jí.
彖传: 咸, 感也. 柔上而刚下, 二气感应以相与, 止而说, 男下女, 是以亨利贞, 取女吉也. 天地感而万物化生, 圣人感人心而天下和平, 观其所感, 而天地万物之情可见矣. Tuàn zhuàn: Xián, gǎn yě. róu shàng ér gāng xià, èr qì gǎn yìng yǐ xiāng yǔ, zhǐ ér shuō, nán xià nǚ, shì yǐ hēng lì zhēn, qǔ nǚ jí yě. tiān dì gǎn ér wàn wù huà shēng, shèng rén gǎn rén xīn ér tiān xià hé píng, guān qí suǒ gǎn, ér tiān dì wàn wù zhī qíng kě jiàn yǐ.
The Image
Under the heavens thunder is heard, all things by nature are without falsehood. The ancient rulers gained virtue by harmonizing with the seasons and so nurtured all things.
象传: 山上有泽, 咸, 君子以虚受人. Xiàng zhuàn: Shān shàng yǒu zé, xián, jūn zǐ yǐ xū shòu rén.
Without dishonesty; good progress and good fortune.
‘Without dishonesty’ – make progress towards desired aims.
初六, 咸其拇. Chū liù, xián qí mǔ.
象传: 咸其拇, 志在外也. Xiàng zhuàn: Xián qí mǔ, zhì zài wài yě.
Reaping what you sow, preparing the ground ready for sowing. Any undertaking is advantageous.
‘Reaping what you sow’ – thinking of future rewards.
六二, 咸其腓, 凶, 居吉. Liù èr, xián qí féi, xiōng, jū jí.
象传: 虽凶居吉, 顺不害也. Xiàng zhuàn: Suī xiōng jū jí, shùn bù hài yě.
Misfortune can afflict the innocent, as when a cow is left tethered. A passerby may steal it and the neighbors could be blamed.
‘A passerby may steal it’ – this would bring misfortune to the neighborhood.
九三, 咸其股, 执其随, 往吝. Jiǔ sān, xián qí gǔ, zhí qí suí, wǎng lìn.
象传: 咸其股, 亦不处也. 志在随人, 所执下也. Xiàng zhuàn: Xián qí gǔ, yì bù chù yě. zhì zài suí rén, suǒ zhí xià yě.
If persevere in steadfastness there is no fault.
‘If persevere in steadfastness there is no fault’ – holding fast to principles.
九四, 贞吉, 悔亡, 憧憧往来, 朋从尔思. Jiǔ sì, zhēn jí, huǐ wáng, chōng chōng wǎng lái, péng cóng ěr sī.
象传: 贞吉悔亡, 未感害也. 憧憧往来, 未光大也. Xiàng zhuàn: Zhēn jí huǐ wáng, wèi gǎn hài yě. chōng chōng wǎng lái, wèi guāng dà yě.
Even the sincere can be laid low. No medicine needed then joyful recovery.
Medicine for the sincere? This should not be attempted.
九五, 咸其脢, 无悔. Jiǔ wǔ, xián qí méi, wú huǐ.
象传: 咸其脢, 志末也. Xiàng zhuàn: Xián qí méi, zhì mò yě.
An honest intention can still lead to misfortune. Unfavorable.
‘An honest intention can still lead to misfortune’ – because this may go too far.
上六, 咸其辅颊舌. Shàng liù, xián qí fǔ jiá shé.
象传: 咸其辅颊舌, 滕口说也. Xiàng zhuàn: Xián qí fǔ jiá shé, téng kǒu shuō yě.
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