Kuai / Break-through (Resoluteness)
above:Tui The Joyous, Lake
below:Ch'ien The Creative, Heaven
This hexagram signifies on the one hand a break-through after a long accumulation of tension, as a swollen river breaks through its dikes, or in the manner of a cloudburst. On the other hand, applied to human conditions, it refers to the time when inferior people gradually begin to disappear. Their influence is on the wane; as a result of resolute action, a change in conditions occurs, a break-through. The hexagram is linked with the third month [April-May].
The Judgement
BREAK-THROUGH. One must resolutely make the matter known
At the court of the king.
It must be announced truthfully. Danger.
It is necessary to notify one's own city.
It does not further to resort to arms.
It furthers one to undertake something.
Even if only one inferior man is occupying a ruling position in a city,
he is able to oppress superior men. Even a single passion still lurking
in the heart has power to obscure reason. Passion and reason cannot
exist side by side--therefore fight without quarter is necessary if the
good is to prevail.
In a resolute struggle of the good against evil, there are, however,
definite rules that must not be disregarded, if it is to succeed.
First, resolution must be based on a union of strength and
friendliness. Second, a compromise with evil is not possible; evil must
under all circumstances be openly discredited. Nor must our own
passions and shortcomings be glossed over. Third, the struggle must not
be carried on directly by force. If evil is branded, it thinks of
weapons, and if we do it the favor of fighting against it blow for
blow, we lose in the end because thus we ourselves get entangled in
hatred and passion. Therefore it is important to begin at home, to be
on guard in our own persons against the faults we have branded. In this
way, finding no opponent, the sharp edges of the weapons of evil
becomes dulled. For the same reasons we should not combat our own
faults directly. As long as we wrestle with them, they continue
victorious. Finally, the best way to fight evil is to make energetic
progress in the good.
The Image
The lake has risen up to heaven:
The image of BREAK-THROUGH.
Thus the superior man
Dispenses riches downward
And refrains from resting on his virtue.
When the water of a lake has risen up to heaven, there is reason to fear a cloudburst. Taking this as a warning, the superior man forestalls a violent collapse. If a man were to pile up riches for himself alone, without considering others, he would certainly experience a collapse. If a man were to pile up riches for himself alone, without considering others, he would certainly experience a collapse. For all gathering is followed by dispersion. Therefore the superior man begins to distribute while he is accumulating. In the same way, in developing his character he takes care not to become hardened in obstinacy but to remain receptive to impressions by help of strict and continuous self-examination.