Home › I Ching · 64 hexagrams › Hexagram 11
James Legge, 1899 (public domain)
In Thai (we see) the little gone and the great come. (It indicates that) there will be good fortune, with progress and success.
Thai is the hour of free course: the little gone, the great come, good fortune with progress and success. The hour is not fixed. Advance, and grass pulled up brings its connected stalks with it. Cross the river without a boat; forget nothing distant; keep no selfish friendships. The third line says it: no peace but it is liable to be disturbed, no departure of evil men but they return — realise the distresses and commit no error. Flutter down to call your neighbours in sincerity. Marry the king's sister: happiness, great good fortune. When the city wall slides back into the moat, there is no time for the army; the ruler who misreads the season has cause for regret.
Line 1
The first line, undivided, suggests the idea of grass pulled up, and bringing with it other stalks with whose roots it is connected. Advance (on the part of its subject) will be fortunate.
Line 2
The second line, undivided, shows one who can bear with the uncultivated, will cross the Ho without a boat, does not forget the distant, and has no (selfish) friendships. Thus does he prove himself acting in accordance with the course of the due Mean.
Line 3
The third line, undivided, shows that, while there is no state of peace that is not liable to be disturbed, and no departure (of evil men) so that they shall not return, yet when one is firm and correct, as he realises the distresses that may arise, he will commit no error. There is no occasion for sadness at the certainty (of such recurring changes); and in this mood the happiness (of the present) may be (long) enjoyed.
Line 4
The fourth line, divided, shows its subject fluttering (down);—not relying on his own rich resources, but calling in his neighbours. (They all come) not as having received warning, but in the sincerity (of their hearts).
Line 5
The fifth line, divided, reminds us of (king) Tî-yî's (rule about the) marriage of his younger sister. By such a course there is happiness and there will be great good fortune.
Line 6
The sixth line, divided, shows us the city wall returned into the moat. It is not the time to use the army. (The subject of the line) may, indeed, announce his orders to the people of his own city; but however correct and firm he may be, he will have cause for regret.