Kuei Mei / The Marrying Maiden
above:Ch^en The Arousing, Thunder
below:Tui The Joyous, Lake
Nine at the beginning means:
The marrying maiden as a concubine.
A lame man who is able to tread.
Undertakings bring good fortune.
The princes of ancient China maintained a fixed order of rank among the
court ladies, who were subordinated to the queen as are younger sisters
to the eldest. Frequently they came from the family of the queen, who
herself led them to her husband.
The meaning is that a girl entering a family with the consent of the
wife will not rank outwardly as the equal of the latter but will
withdraw modestly into the background. However, if she understands how
to fit herself into the pattern of things, her position will be
entirely satisfactory, and she will feel sheltered in the love of the
husband to whom she bears children.
The same meaning is brought out in the relationships between officials.
A man may enjoy the personal friendship of a prince and be taken into
his confidence. Outwardly this man must keep tactfully in the
background behind the official ministers of state, but, although he is
hampered by this status, as if he were lame, he can nevertheless
accomplish something through the kindliness of his nature.