Chapter III

11 'The dragon shows himself and is in the field:' the time requires him still to be unemployed.

12 'All the day active and vigilant:' he now does his proper business.

13 'He is as if he were leaping up, but still is in the deep:' he is making trial of himself.

14 'The dragon is on the wing in the sky:' the subject of the line is on high and ruling.

15 'The dragon exceeds the proper limit, and there will be occasion for repentance:' when things have been carried to extremity, calamity ensues.

16 Undivided lines appear in all these representations of the great and originating power denoted by Khien; and what follows in the lines tells us how all under the sky will have good order.

Chapter IV

17 'The dragon lies hid in the deep; it is not the time for active doing:' the energy denoted by the undivided line is laid up and hid away as in the deep.

18 'The dragon appears in the field:' all under heaven begins to be adorned and brightened.

19 'All the day active and vigilant:' continually, as the time passes and requires, does he act.

20 'He is as if he were leaping up, but still is in the deep:' a change is taking place in the method indicated by this Khien diagram.

21 'The dragon is on the wing in the sky:' this shows that his place is based on his heavenly virtue.

22 'The dragon exceeds the proper limit; there will be occasion for repentance:' the time is come to an end, and so also is his opportunity.

23 Undivided lines appear in all these representations of the great and originating power denoted by Khien; and from what follows in the lines we see the model of action afforded by heaven.

Chapter V

24 The 'greatness' and 'originating' represented by Khien refer to it as the symbol of what gives their beginning to all things, and also secures their growth and development.

25 'The advantageousness and the correctness and firmness' refer to its nature and feelings, as seen in all the resulting things.

26 Khien, thus originating, is able with its admirable benefits to benefit all under the sky. We are not told how its benefits are conferred; but how great is its operation!

27 How great is what is emblemed by Khien! Strong, vigorous, undeflected, correct, and in all these qualities pure, unmixed, exquisite!

28 The six lines, as explained by the duke of Kau, bring forth and display its meaning, and everything about it is thus indirectly exhibited.

29 The great man at the proper time drives with these six dragons through the sky. The clouds move, and the rain is distributed; all under heaven enjoys repose.

Chapter VI

30 In the superior man his conduct is the fruit of his perfected virtue, which might be seen therefore in his daily course; but the force of that phrase, 'lying hid,' requires him to keep retired, and not yet show himself, nor proceed to the full development of his course. While this is the case, the superior man knows that it is not the time for active doing.

31 The superior man learns and accumulates the results of his learning; puts questions, and discriminates among those results; dwells magnanimously and unambitiously in what he has attained to; and carries it into practice with benevolence. What the Yi says, 'The dragon appears in the field: it will be advantageous to meet with the great man,' has reference to the virtuous qualities of a ruler as thus described.

32 In the third line there is a twofold symbol of strength, but the position is not central. Its occupant is not in heaven above, nor is he in the field beneath. Therefore there must be active vigilance and cautious apprehension as the time requires; and though the position be perilous, there will be no mistake.

33 In the fourth line there is the symbol of strength, but the position is not central. Its occupant is not in heaven above, nor is he in the field beneath, nor is he in the place of man intermediate. Hence he is in perplexity; and being so, he has doubts about what should be his movements, and so will give no occasion for blame.

34 The great man is he who is in harmony, in his attributes, with heaven and earth; in his brightness, with the sun and moon; in his orderly procedure, with the four seasons; and in his relation to what is fortunate and what is calamitous, in harmony with the wondrous operations of God's providence. He may act before the time, yet he conforms to what God has decreed; he may follow after, but will act only as God at that time ordains. If he does not oppose what God has decreed, how much less will men oppose him! how much less the angels who carry out God's command!

35 The force of that phrase, 'exceeding the proper limits,' indicates the knowing to advance but not to retire; to maintain but not to let perish; to get but not to lose.

36 He only is the sage who knows to advance and to retire, to maintain and to let perish; and that without ever acting incorrectly. Yes, he only is the sage!