May The Sixth

HEXAGRAM 53 - Chien Gradual Progress
Component trigrams:
Below: KEN, a mountain, hard, obstinate, perverse.
Above: SUN, wind, wood, bland, mild

Text: Gradual Process. The marriage of a maiden brings good fortune. Persistence in a righteous course brings reward.

Commentary on the text: This hexagram signifies a gradual advance and good fortune for maidens who marry now. Progress made now leads to a commanding position, hence this advance achieves concrete results. By making progress in righteousness, a man becomes capable of ruling the country. Such a man is symbolized by the ruling fifth line which is firm and central (to the upper trigram). From the conjoining of stubbornness and gentleness inexhaustible activity arises.

Symbol: This hexagram symbolizes a tree upon a mountain. The Superior Man, abiding in holiness and virtue, inclines the people toward goodness.

The Lines: 6 for the bottom place. The wild goose moves gradually toward the river bank. The younger son is in trouble. There is talk, but no error. Commentary: "The younger son is in trouble" is just a way of saying that there is trouble for which we are not to blame.

6 for the second place. The wild goose moves gradually towards the rock. Eating and drinking happily - good fortune! Commentary: Good fortune in the form of delicate and plentiful food.

9 for the third place. The wild goose moves gradually toward the dry land. The husband goes forth and does not return. The wife is pregnant, but the child's birth is delayed - misfortune! This is an auspicious time for chastizing evil-doers. Commentary: The husband's failure to return symbolizes separation from our normal companions. The delayed childbirth symbolizes our going astray. The final sentence indciates willingness to take precaustions for mutual protection.

6 for the fourth place. The wild goose moves gradually towards a tree and may find a suitable branch (on which to perch) - no error! Commentary: Its finding a suitable branch augurs willing acceptance and gentleness.

9 for the fifth place. The wild goose moves gradually toward the hillock. In the end, the results will be incomparable - good fortune! Commentary: Good fortune in the form of complete fulfillment of our desires.

9 for the top place. The wild goose moves gradually toward the mainland. Its feathers can be used for ritual purposes - good fortune! Commentary: The sentence about the feathers indicates that now disorder cannot prevail.

I CHING - THE BOOK OF CHANGE