LIII. (The trigram representing) a mountain and above it that for a tree form Kien. The superior man, in accordance with this, attains to and maintains his extraordinary virtue, and makes the manners of the people good.

1 'The danger of a small officer (as represented in the first line)' is owing to no fault of his in the matter of what is right.

2 'They eat and drink joyfully and at ease:' but not without having earned their food.

3 'A husband goes and does not return:' he separates himself from his comrades. 'A wife is pregnant, but will not nourish her child:' she has failed in her (proper) course. 'It might be advantageous in resisting plunderers:' by acting as here indicated men would preserve one another.

4 'They may light on the flat branches:' there is docility (in the line) going on to flexible penetration.

5 'In the end the natural issue cannot be prevented. There will be good fortune:' (the subject of the line) will get what he desires.

6 'Their feathers can be used as ornaments. There will be good fortune:' (the object and character of the subject of the line) cannot be disturbed.