Po / Splitting Apart
above:K^ en Keeping Still, Mountain
below:K'un The Receptive, Earth
The dark lines are about to mount upward and overthrow the last firm,
light line by exerting a disintegrating influence on it. The inferior,
dark forces overcome what is superior and strong, not by direct means,
but by undermining it gradually and imperceptibly, so that it finally
collapses.
The lines of the hexagram present the image of a house, the top line
being the roof, and because the roof is being shattered the house
collapses. The hexagram belongs to the ninth month (October-November).
The yin power pushes up ever more powerfully and is about to supplant
the yang power altogether.
The Judgement
SPLITTING APART. It does not further one
To go anywhere.
This pictures a time when inferior people are pushing forward and are
about to crowd out the few remaining strong and superior men. Under
these circumstances, which are due to the time, it is not favorable for
the superior man to undertake anything.
The right behavior in such adverse times is to be deduced from the
images and their attributes. The lower trigram stands for the earth,
whose attributes are docility and devotion. The upper trigram stands
for the mountain, whose attribute is stillness. This suggests that one
should submit to the bad time and remain quiet. For it is a question
not of man's doing but of time conditions, which, according to the laws
of heaven, show an alternation of increase and decrease, fullness and
emptiness. It is impossible to counteract these conditions of the time.
Hence it is not cowardice but wisdom to submit and avoid action.
The Image
The mountain rests on the earth:
The image of SPLITTING APART.
Thus those above can ensure their position
Only by giving generously to those below.
The mountain rests on the earth. When it is steep and narrow, lacking a broad base, it must topple over. Its position is strong only when it rises out of the earth broad and great, not proud and steep. So likewise those who rule rest on the broad foundation of the people. They too should be generous and benevolent, like the earth that carries all. Then they will make their position as secure as a mountain is in its tranquillity.