XXI. (The trigrams representing) thunder and lightning form Shih Ho. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, framed their penalties with intelligence, and promulgated their laws.

1 'His feet are in the stocks, and he is deprived of his toes:'—there is no walking (to do evil).

2 'He bites through the soft flesh, and (goes on) to bite off the nose:'—(the subject of the line) is mounted on the strong (first line).

3 'He meets with what is disagreeable and hurtful:'—his position is not the proper one for him.

4 'It will be advantageous to him to realise the difficulty of his task and be firm, in which case there will be good fortune:'—his light has not yet been sufficiently displayed.

5 'Let him be firm and correct, realising the peril (of his position), and there will be no error:'—he will possess every quality appropriate (to his position and task).

6 'He wears the cangue and is deprived of his ears:'—he hears, but will not understand.

XXII. (The trigram representing) a mountain and that for fire under it form Pi. The superior man, in accordance with this, throws a brilliancy around his various processes of government, but does not dare (in a similar way) to decide cases of criminal litigation.

1 'He can discard a carriage and walk on foot:'—righteousness requires that he should not ride.

2 'He adorns his beard:'—he rouses himself to action (only) along with the (subject of the) line above.

3 'The good fortune consequent on his ever maintaining firm correctness' is due to this,—that to the end no one will insult him.

4 'The place occupied by the fourth line, divided,' affords ground for doubt (as to its subject); but '(as the subject of the third pursues) not as a robber, but as intent on a matrimonial alliance,' he will in the end have no grudge against him.

5 'The good fortune falling to the fifth line, divided,' affords occasion for joy.

6 'The freedom from error attached to (the subject of) the topmost line, with no ornament but the (simple white),' shows how he has attained his aim.

XXIII. (The trigrams representing) the earth, and (above it) that for a mountain, which adheres to the earth, form Po. Superiors, in accordance with this, seek to strengthen those below them, to secure the peace and stability of their own position.

1 'He overthrows the couch by injuring its legs:'—thus (he commences) his work of ruin with what is lowest (in the superior man).

2 'He destroys the couch by injuring its frame:'—(the superior man) has as yet no associates.

3 That 'there will be no error on the part of this one among the overthrowers' arises from the difference between him and the others above and below.

4 'He has overthrown the couch, and (proceeds to injure) the skin (of him who lies on it):'—calamity is very near at hand.

5 'He obtains for them the favour that lights on the inmates of the palace:'—in the end there will be no grudge against him.

6 'The superior man finds himself in a carriage;'—he is carried along by the people. 'The small men (by their course) overthrow their own dwellings:'—they can never again be of use to them.

XXIV. (The trigram representing) the earth and that for thunder in the midst of it form Fu. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, on the day of the (winter) solstice, shut the gates of the passes (from one state to another), so that the travelling merchants could not (then) pursue their journeys, nor the princes go on with the inspection of their states.

1 'Returning (from an error) of no great extent' is the prelude to the cultivation of the person.

2 'The good fortune attendant on the admirable return (of the subject of the second line)' is due to his condescension to the virtuous (subject of the line) below.

3 Notwithstanding 'the perilous position of him who has made many returns,' there will be no error through (his aiming after righteousness).

4 'He moves right in the centre (among those represented by the other divided lines), and yet returns alone:'—his object is to pursue the (proper) path.

5 'The noble return, giving no ground for regret,' is due to (the subject of the line) striving to perfect himself in accordance with his central position.

6 'The evil consequent on being all astray on the subject of returning' is because the course pursued is contrary to the proper course for a ruler.

XXV. The thunder rolls all under the sky, and to (every)thing there is given (its nature), free from all insincerity. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, (made their regulations) in complete accordance with the seasons, thereby nourishing all things.

1 When 'he who is free from insincerity makes any movement, he will get what he desires.

2 'He reaps without having ploughed:'—(the thought of) riches to be got had not risen (in his mind).

3 'The passer-by gets the ox:'—this proves a calamity to the people of the neighbourhood.

4 'If he can remain firm and correct there will be no error:'—he firmly holds fast (his correctness).

5 'Medicine in the case of one who is free from insincerity!'—it should not be tried (at all).

6 'The action (in this case) of one who is free from insincerity' will occasion the calamity arising from action (when the time for it is) exhausted.

XXVI. (The trigram representing) a mountain, and in the midst of it that (representing) heaven, form Ta Khu. The superior man, in accordance with this, stores largely in his memory the words and deeds of former men, to subserve the accumulation of his virtue.

1 'He is in a position of peril; it will be advantageous for him to stop his advance:'—he should not rashly expose himself to calamity.

2 '(He is as) a carriage from which the strap under it has been removed:'—being in the central position, he will incur no blame.

3 'There will be advantage in whatever direction he may advance:'—(the subject of) the topmost line is of the same mind with him.

4 'The great good fortune indicated by the fourth line, divided,' shows that there is occasion for joy.

5 'The good fortune indicated by the fifth line, divided,' shows that there is occasion for congratulation.

6 'In command of the firmament of heaven:'—the way is grandly open for movement.

XXVII. (The trigram representing) a mountain and under it that for thunder form I. The superior man, in accordance with this, (enjoins) watchfulness over our words, and the temperate regulation of our eating and drinking.

1 'You look at me till your (lower) jaw hangs down:'—(the subject of the line) is thus shown unfit to be thought noble.

2 'The evil of advance by the subject of the second line, divided,' is owing to his leaving in his movements his proper associates.

3 'For ten years let him not take any action:'—his course is greatly opposed (to what is right).

4 'The good fortune attached to looking downwards for (the power to) nourish,' shows how brilliant will be the diffusion (of that power) from (the subject of the line's) superior position.

5 'The good fortune from abiding in firmness' is due to the docility (of the subject of the line) in following (the subject of the line) above.

6 'The good fortune, notwithstanding the peril of his position, of him from whom comes the nourishing, affords great cause for congratulation.

XXVIII. (The trigram representing) trees hidden beneath that for the waters of a marsh forms Ta Kwo. The superior man, in accordance with this, stands up alone and has no fear, and keeps retired from the world without regret.

1 'He places mats of the white mao grass under things set on the ground:'—he feels his weakness and his being in the lowest place, (and uses extraordinary care).

2 'An old husband and a young wife:'—such association is extraordinary.

3 'The evil connected with the beam that is weak' arises from this, that no help can be given (to the condition thus represented).

4 'The good fortune connected with the beam curving upwards' arises from this, that it does not bend towards what is below.

5 'A decayed willow produces flowers:'—but how can this secure its long continuance? 'An old wife and a young husband:'—this also is a thing to be ashamed of.

6 'Evil follows wading with (extraordinary) boldness (through the stream):'—but (the act) affords no ground for blame.

XXIX. (The representation of) water flowing on continuously forms the repeated Khan. The superior man, in accordance with this, maintains constantly the virtue (of his heart) and (the integrity of) his conduct, and practises the business of instruction.

1 'In the double defile, he enters a cavern within it:'—he has missed his (proper) way, and there will be evil.

2 'He will get a little (of the deliverance) that he seeks:'—he will not yet escape from his environed position.

3 'Whether he comes or goes, he is confronted by a defile:'—he will never (in such circumstances) achieve any success.

4 '(Nothing but) a bottle of drink and a subsidiary basket of rice:' (these describe) the meeting at this point of (those who are represented by) the strong and weak lines.

5 'The water in the defile is not full (so as to flow away):'—(the virtue indicated by) the central situation is not yet (sufficiently) great.

6 'The sixth line, divided, shows its subject missing his (proper) course:'—'there will be evil for three years.'

XXX. (The trigram for) brightness, repeated, forms Li. The great man, in accordance with this, cultivates more and more his brilliant (virtue), and diffuses its brightness over the four quarters (of the land).

1 'The reverent attention directed to his confused steps' is the way by which error is avoided.

2 'The great good fortune (from the subject of the second line) occupying his place in yellow' is owing to his holding the course of the due mean.

3 'A position like that of the declining sun:'—how can it continue long?

4 'How abrupt is the manner of his coming!'—none can bear with him.

5 'The good fortune attached to the fifth line, divided,' is due to its occupying the place of a king or a prince.

6 'The king employs him in his punitive expeditions:'—the object is to bring the regions to a correct state.

Section II.

XXXI. (The trigram representing) a mountain and above it that for (the waters of) a marsh form Hsien. The superior man, in accordance with this, keeps his mind free from pre-occupation, and open to receive (the influences of) others.

1 'He moves his great toe:'—his mind is set on what is beyond (himself).

2 Though 'there would be evil; yet, if he abide (quiet) in his place, there will be good fortune;'—through compliance (with the circumstances of his condition and place) there will be no injury.

3 'He moves his thighs:'—he still does not (want to) rest in his place. His will is set on following others:—what he holds in his grasp is low.

4 'Firm correctness will lead to good fortune, and prevent all occasion for regret:'—there has not yet been any harm from (a selfish wish to) influence. 'He is unsettled in his movements:'—(his power to influence) is not yet either brilliant or great.

5 'He (tries to) move the flesh along the spine above the heart:'—his aim is trivial.

6 'He moves his jaws and tongue:'—he (only) talks with loquacious mouth.

XXXII. (The trigram representing) thunder and that for wind form Hang. The superior man, in accordance with this, stands firm, and does not change his method (of operation).

1 'The evil attached to the deep desire for long continuance (in the subject of the first line)' arises from the deep seeking for it at the commencement (of things).

2 'All occasion for regret on the part of the subject of the second line, undivided, disappears:'—he can abide long in the due mean.

3 'He does not continuously maintain his virtue:'—nowhere will he be borne with.

4 (Going) for long to what is not his proper place, how can he get game?

5 'Such firm correctness in a wife will be fortunate:'—it is hers to the end of life to follow with an unchanged mind. The husband must decide what is right, and lay down the rule accordingly:—for him to follow (like) a wife is evil.

6 'The subject of the topmost line is exciting himself to long continuance:'—far will he be from achieving merit.

XXXIII. (The trigram representing) the sky and below it that for a mountain form Thun. The superior man, in accordance with this, keeps small men at a distance, not by showing that he hates them, but by his own dignified gravity.

1 There is 'the perilousness of the position shown by the retiring tail:'—but if 'no movement' be made, what disaster can there be?

2 'He holds it as by (a thong from the hide of) a yellow ox:'—his purpose is firm.

3 'The peril connected with the case of one retiring, though bound,' is due to the (consequent) distress and exhaustion. 'If he were (to deal as in) nourishing a servant or concubine, it would be fortunate for him:'—but a great affair cannot be dealt with in this way.

4 'A superior man retires notwithstanding his likings; a small man cannot attain to this.'

5 'He retires in an admirable way, and with firm correctness there will be good fortune:'—this is due to the rectitude of his purpose.

6 'He retires in a noble way, and his doing so will be advantageous in every respect:'—he who does so has no doubts about his course.

XXXIV. (The trigram representing) heaven and above it that for thunder form Ta Khwang. The superior man, in accordance with this, does not take a step which is not according to propriety.

1 'He manifests his vigour in his toes:'—this will certainly lead to exhaustion.

2 'The second line, undivided, shows that with firm correctness there will be good fortune:'—this is due to its being in the centre, (and its subject exemplifying the due mean).

3 'The small man uses all his strength; in the case of the superior man it is his rule not to do so.'

4 'The fence is opened and the horns are not entangled:'—(the subject of the line) still advances.

5 'He loses his ram and hardly perceives it:'—he is not in his appropriate place.

6 'He is unable either to retreat or to advance:'—this is owing to his want of care: 'If he realise the difficulty (of his position), there will be good fortune:'—his error will not be prolonged.

XXXV. (The trigram representing) the earth and that for the bright (sun) coming forth above it form Zin. The superior man, according to this, gives himself to make more brilliant his bright virtue.

1 'He appears wishing to advance, but (at the same time) being kept back:'—all alone he pursues the correct course. 'Let him maintain a large and generous mind, and there will be no error:'—he has not yet received an official charge.

2 'He will receive this great blessing:'—for he is in the central place and the correct position for him.

3 'All (around) trust him:'—their (common) aim is to move upwards and act.

4 '(He advances like) a marmot. However firm and correct he may be, his position is one of peril:'—his place is not that appropriate for him.

5 'Let him not concern himself whether he fails or succeeds:'—his movement in advance will afford ground for congratulation.

6 'He uses his horns only to punish (the rebellious people of) his city:'—his course of procedure is not yet brilliant.

XXXVI. (The trigram representing) the earth and that for the bright (sun) entering within it form Ming I. The superior man, in accordance with this, conducts his management of men;—he shows his intelligence by keeping it obscured.

1 'The superior man (is revolving his) going away:'—(in such a case) he feels it right not to eat.

2 'The good fortune of (the subject of) the second line, divided,' is due to the proper fashion of his acting according to his circumstances.

3 With the aim represented by 'hunting in the south' a great achievement is accomplished.

4 'He has (just) entered into the left side of the belly (of the dark land):'—he is still able to carry out the idea in his (inner) mind.

5 'With the firm correctness of the count of Ai, his brightness could not be (quite) extinguished.

6 'He had at first ascended to (the top of) the sky:'—he might have enlightened the four quarters of the kingdom. 'His future shall be to go into the earth:'—he has failed to fulfil the model (of a ruler).

XXXVII. (The trigram representing) fire, and that for wind coming forth from it, form Kia Zan. The superior man, in accordance with this, orders his words according to (the truth of) things, and his conduct so that it is uniformly consistent.

1 'He establishes restrictive regulations in his household:'—(he does so), before any change has taken place in their wills.

2 'The good fortune attached to the second line, divided,' is due to the docility (of its subject), operating with humility.

3 When 'the members of the household are treated with stern severity, there has been no (great) failure (in the regulation of the family). When 'wife and children are smirking and chattering,' the (proper) economy of the family has been lost.

4 'The family is enriched, and there is great good fortune:'—this is due to the docility (belonging to the subject of the line), and its being in its correct place.

5 'The influence of the king extends to his family:'—the intercourse between them is that of mutual love.

6 'The good fortune connected with the display of majesty' describes (the result of) the recovery of the true character.