Hexagram 55: Feng

Judgment

亨。王假之，勿憂，宜日中。

Făng intimates progress and development. When a king has reached the point (which the name denotes) there is no occasion to be anxious (through fear of a change). Let him be as the sun at noon.

Success is possible, and only a ruler can bring such abundance to its fullest. There is no need to worry, because the right way to hold it is to be like the sun at noon.

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雷電皆至，豐；君子以折獄致刑。

(The trigrams representing) thunder and lightning combine to form Făng. The superior man, in accordance with this, decides cases of litigation, and apportions punishments with exactness.

Line 1 · 初九

遇其配主，雖旬无咎，往有尚。

The first line, undivided, shows its subject meeting with his mate. Though they are both of the same character, there will be no error. Advance will call forth approval.

You meet a partner just as strong as you are. Two equals could clash, yet here no fault attaches, and moving ahead together earns respect.

Line 2 · 六二

豐其蔀，日中見斗，往得疑疾，有孚發若，吉。

The second line, divided, shows its subject surrounded by screens so large and thick that at midday he can see from them the constellation of the Bushel. If he go (and try to enlighten his ruler who is thus emblemed), he will make himself to be viewed with suspicion and dislike. Let him cherish his feeling of sincere devotion that he may thereby move (his ruler's mind), and there will be good fortune.

A thick screen blocks the light, so even at noon the Big Dipper shows. Pressing your case draws suspicion, while real sincerity can still move the other person and earns a good verdict.

Line 3 · 九三

豐其沛，日中見沬，折其右肱，无咎。

The third line, undivided, shows its subject with an (additional) screen of a large and thick banner, through which at midday he can see (the small) Mei star. (In the darkness) he breaks his right arm; but there will be no error.

A heavy banner shuts out the light, so at noon even tiny stars show. Your right arm is broken and you cannot do much, yet no fault attaches to you.

Line 4 · 九四

豐其蔀，日中見斗，遇其夷主，吉。

The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject in a tent so large and thick that at midday he can see from it the constellation of the Bushel. But he meets with the subject of the (first) line, undivided like himself. There will be good fortune.

The screen is thick and the noon sky shows stars again, but you meet a like-minded partner, an equal, and together you find a way through. That reads as good news.

Line 5 · 六五

來章，有慶譽，吉。

The fifth line, divided, shows its subject bringing around him the men of brilliant ability. There will be occasion for congratulation and praise. There will be good fortune.

You draw in people of real talent, and that brings celebration and praise. It is a good sign for anyone open to other people's abilities.

Line 6 · 上六

豐其屋，蔀其家，窺其戶，闃其无人，三歲不覿，凶。

The topmost line, divided, shows its subject with his house made large, but only serving as a screen to his household. When he looks at his door, it is still, and there is nobody about it. For three years no one is to be seen. There will be evil.

The house is enlarged and the home screened until the door opens on silence and an empty room. Three years pass with no one in sight, and the line closes on misfortune.