Huan / Dispersion [Dissolution]
above: Sun The Gentle, Wind
below: K'an The Abysmal, Water
Hwan intimates that (under its conditions) there will be
progress and success. The king goes to his ancestral temple;
and it will be advantageous to cross the great stream. It
will be advantageous to be firm and correct.
Overall Meaning
Dissolution, the symbol of dispersion
Hwan, the name of this hexagram, denotes a state of dissipation or
dispersion. It is descriptive primarily of men's minds alienated from what is
right and good. This alienation is sure to go on to disorder in the
commonwealth; and an attempt is made to show how it should be dealt with and
remedied.
The figure is made up of one of the trigrams for water and over it that
for wind. Wind moving over water seems to disperse it, and awakes naturally
in the beholder the idea of dissipation.
The intimation for progress and success is supposed to be given by the
strong lines occupying the central places. The king goes to the ancestral
temple, there to meet with the spirits of his ancestors. His filial piety
moves them by the sincerity of its manifestation. Those spirits come and are
present. Let filial piety - in our language, let sincere religion - rule in
men's minds, and there will be no alienation in them from what is right and
good or from one another. And if the state of the country demand a great or
hazardous enterprise, let it be undertaken. But whatever is done, must be
done with due attention for what is right, firmly and correctly.