Chieh / Limitation
above: K'an The Abysmal, Water
below: Tui The Joyous, Lake
Kieh intimates that (under its conditions) there will be
progress and attainment. (But) if the regulations (which it
prescribes) be severe and difficult, they cannot be permanent.
Overall Meaning
Regulation, limitation, the symbol of regulated restriction
The primary application of the character Kieh was to denote the joints of
the bamboo; it is used also for the joints of the human frame; and for the
solar and other terms of the year. Whatever makes regular division may be
denominated a Kieh; there enter into it the ideas of regulating and
restraining; and the subject of this hexagram is the regulations of
government enacted for the guidance and control of the people. How the
constituent trigrams are supposed to suggest or indicate this meaning will be
seen in Appendix II.
Ku Hsi anticipates that symbolism in trying to account for the statement
that the figure gives the promise of success and attainment; but the ground
of this is generally made out by referring to the equal division of the
divided and undivided lines and our having in 2 and 5, the central places,
two undivided lines. An important point concerning 'regulations' is brought
out in the conclusion of the Thwan, - that they must be adapted to
circumstances, and not made too strict and severe.