Chia J^ en / The Family [The Clan]
above: Sun The Gentle, Wind
below: Li The Clinging, Flame
The hexagram represents the laws obtaining within the family. The strong line at the top represents the father, the lowest the son. The strong line in the fifth place represents the husband, the yielding second line the wife. On the other hand, the two strong lines in the fifth and the third place represent two brothers, and the two weak lines correlated with them in the fourth and the second place stand for their respective wives. Thus all the connections and relationships within the family find their appropriate expression. Each individual line has the character according with its place. The fact that a strong line occupies the sixth place--where a weak line might be expected--indicates very clearly the strong leadership that must come from the head of the family. The line is to be considered here not in its quality as the sixth but in its quality as the top line. THE FAMILY shows the laws operative within the household that, transferred to outside life, keep the state and the world in order. The influence that goes out from within the family is represented by the symbol of the wind created by fire.
The Judgement
THE FAMILY. The perseverance of the woman furthers.
The foundation of the family is the relationship between husband and
wife. The tie that holds the family together lies in the loyalty and
perseverance of the wife. Her place is within (second line), while that
of the husband is without (fifth line). It is in accord with the great
laws of nature that husband and wife take their proper places. Within
the family a strong authority is needed; this is represented by the
parents. If the father is really a father and the son a son, if the
elder brother fulfills his position, and the younger fulfills his, if
the husband is really a husband and the wife a wife, then the family is
in order. When the family is in order, all the social relationships of
mankind will be in order.
Three of the five social relationships are to be found within the
family--that between father and son, which is the relation of love,
that between the husband and wife, which is the relation of chaste
conduct, and that between elder and younger brother, which is the
relation of correctness. The loving reverence of the son is then
carried over to the prince in the form of faithfulness to duty; the
affection and correctness of behavior existing between the two brothers
are extended to a friend in the form of loyalty, and to a person of
superior rank in the form of deference. The family is society in
embryo; it is the native soil on which performance of moral duty is
made easy through natural affection, so that within a small circle a
basis of moral practice is created, and this is later widened to
include human relationships in general.
The Image
Wind comes forth from fire:
The image of THE FAMILY.
Thus the superior man has substance in his words
And duration in his way of life.
Heat creates energy: this is signified by the wind stirred up by the fire and issuing forth form it. This represents influence working from within outward. The same thing is needed in the regulation of the family. Here too the influence on others must proceed form one's own person. In order to be capable of producing such an influence, one's words must have power, and this they can have only if they are based on something real, just as flame depends on its fuel Words have influence only when they are pertinent and clearly related to definite circumstances. General discourses and admonitions have no effect whatsoever. Furthermore, the words must be supported by one's entire conduct, just as the wind is made effective by its duration. Only firm and consistent conduct will make such an impression on others that they can adapt and conform to it. If words and conduct are not in accord and not consistent, they will have no effect.