Hsiao Ch'u / The Taming Power of the Small
above: Sun The Gentle, Wind
below: Ch'ien The Creative, Heaven
Nine in the third place means:
The spokes burst out of the wagon wheels.
Man and wife roll their eyes.
Here an attempt is made to press forward forcibly, in the consciousness
that the obstructing power is slight. But since, under the
circumstances, power actually lies with the weak, this sudden offensive
is doomed to failure. External conditions hinder the advance, just as
loss of the wheel spokes stops the progress of a wagon. We do not yet
heed this hint form fate, hence there are annoying arguments like those
of a married couple. Naturally this is not a favorable state of things,
for though the situation may enable the weaker side to hold its ground,
the difficulties are too numerous to permit of a happy result. In
consequence even the strong man cannot so use his power as to exert the
right influence on those around him. He experiences a rebuff where he
expected an easy victory, and he thus compromises his dignity.