Kou / Coming to Meet
above:Ch'ien The Creative, Heaven
below:Sun The Gentle, Wind
This hexagram indicates a situation in which the principle of darkness,
after having been eliminated, furtively and unexpectedly obtrudes again
from within and below. Of its own accord the female principle comes to
meet the male. It is an unfavorable and dangerous situation, and we
must understand and promptly prevent the possible consequences.
The hexagram is linked with the fifth month [June-July], because at the
summer solstice the principle of darkness gradually becomes ascendant
again.
The Judgement
COMING TO MEET. The maiden is powerful.
One should not marry such a maiden.
The rise of the inferior element is pictured here in the image of a
bold girl who lightly surrenders herself and thus seizes power. This
would not be possible if the strong and light-giving element had not in
turn come halfway. The inferior thing seems so harmless and inviting
that a man delights in it; it looks so small and weak that he imagines
he may dally with it and come to no harm.
The inferior man rises only because the superior man does not regard
him as dangerous and so lends him power. If he were resisted from the
first, he could never gain influence.
The time of COMING TO MEET is important in still another way. Although
as a general rule the weak should not come to meet the strong, there
are times when this has great significance. When heaven and earth come
to meet each other, all creatures prosper; when a prince and his
official come to meet each other, the world is put in order. It is
necessary for elements predestined to be joined and mutually dependent
to come to meet one another halfway. But the coming together must be
free of dishonest ulterior motives, otherwise harm will result.
The Image
Under heaven, wind:
The image of COMING TO MEET.
Thus does the prince act when disseminating his commands
And proclaiming them to the four quarters of heaven.
The situation here resembles that in hexagram 20, Kuan, CONTEMPLATION (VIEW). In the latter the wind blows over the earth, here it blows under heaven; in both cases it goes everywhere. There the wind is on the earth and symbolizes the ruler taking note of the conditions in his kingdom; here the wind blows from above and symbolizes the influence exercised by the ruler through his commands. Heaven is far from the things of earth, but it sets them in motion by means of the wind. The ruler is far form his people, but he sets them in motion by means of his commands and decrees.