"Contextual Hexagrams" CONTHEXA.TXT *********************************************************************** Hi All. The following is derived using the same methodology as that used in may "Descriptive Hexagrams" post (and is also in part IX of my summary which I am trying to make 'readable'). This post deals with hexagrams as symbols of context (background) rather than text (foreground). This *not* the same as the line template context in each hexagram symbolized by hexagram 63. The model here shown deals with the contextual meaning of whole hexagrams. Again I present the results only. Every hexagram of the I Ching serves as the context for another specific hexagram within the I Ching. For example, hexagram 28, exceeding, serves as the context for hexagram 1, and visa versa. The emphasis is too much yang. For hexagram 2, the context is set by hexagram 27, Hungering. The emphasis is on too little yang. I have used Wilhelm's names for the text and my preferred names for the context hexagram. These are in gerund form (ing) as suggested by the ERANOS translation of the I Ching in that this emphasises process rather than just form. I have used the traditional sequence as it brings-out a pairing pattern in the context column that is linked to the traditional sequence. This pattern reflects the 'fact' that the traditional sequence is in mirrored line patterns. The pattern brought-out is that to determine the context of a hexagram just reverse the nature of lines 1 and 6 (yin to yang and yang to yin) (As I pointed out in a recent post, the line associations seem more 1&6, 2&5, 3&4 rather than the 'traditional' 1&3, 2&5, 4&6). This, however, was not the methodology used to discover this pattern. NUMBER Text (traditional name) Context (my preferred name) 1 The Creative 28 Exceeding 2 The Receptive 27 Hungering 3 Difficulty at the Beginning 20 Structuring, Contemplating 4 Youthful Folly 19 Approaching, Defering 5 Waiting (Nourishment) 57 Influencing, Cultivating 6 Conflict 58 Reflecting, Intenseness 7 The Army 41 Concentrating 8 Holding Together (Union) 42 Augmenting 9 The Taming Power of the Small 48 Founding 10 Treading (Conduct) 47 Confining, Enforced waiting 11 Peace 18 Correcting, Corrupting 12 Standstill (Stagnation) 17 Following, Believing 13 Fellowship with Men 31 Influencing, Wooing 14 Possession in Great Measure 32 Commiting 15 Modesty 22 Fascading 16 Enthusiasm 21 Ruling (make laws) 17 Following 12 Neutralizing 18 Work on what has been spoilt 11 Balancing 19 Approach 04 Masking (social) 20 Contemplation (View) 03 Beginnings (difficult) 21 Biting Through 16 Providing, Foresight 22 Grace 15 Levelling, Evening-out 23 Splitting Apart 24 Reversing,Reverting,Disuading 24 Return (The Turning Point) 23 Pruning 25 Innocence (The Unexpected) 45 Honouring 26 The Taming Power of the Great 46 Retaining (holding firm) 27 The Corners of the Mouth 02 Receiving, Devoting, Trusting 28 Preponderance of the Great 01 Forcing, Powering, Persevering 29 The Abysmal, Water 61 Sympathizing, Softening, Yield 30 The Clinging, Fire 62 Portraying, Acting 31 Influence (Wooing) 13 Grouping, Associating 32 Duration 14 Directing 33 Retreat 49 Unmasking (Structured) 34 The Power of the Great 50 Transforming, Preparing 35 Progress 51 Arousing, enlightening 36 Darkening of the Light 52 Restraining 37 The Family (Clan) 39 Obstructing, Bypassing 38 Opposition 40 Delivering, (Releasing Tense.) 39 Obstruction 37 Communicating, Tense Release. 40 Deliverance 38 Mirroring 41 Decrease 07 Uniforming 42 Increase 08 Uniting, Merging 43 Break-through (Resoluteness) 44 Seeding, Persuading 44 Coming to Meet 43 (distributing) Cuttings 45 Gathering Together (Massing) 25 Unexpecting, non-involving 46 Pushing Upward 26 Retaining (Hold firm) 47 Oppression (Exhaustion) 10 Treading 48 The Well 09 Small Gaining 49 Revolution (Molting) 33 Retreating (Structured) 50 The Caldron 34 Inspiring (Structured) 51 The Arousing (Shock, Thunder) 35 Progressing 52 Keeping Still, Mountain 36 Uncompromising 53 Development(Gradual Progress) 63 Transforming, sequencing 54 The Marrying Maiden 64 Mis-transforming, Diff. Ending 55 Abundance (Fullness) 56 Seeking, Journeying 56 The Wanderer 55 Overflowing 57 The Gentle(Penetrating,Wind) 05 Calculated waiting, serving 58 The Joyous, Lake 06 Compromising 59 Dispersion (Dissolution) 60 Limiting 60 Limitation 59 Dissolving 61 Inner Truth 29 Securing, Containing 62 Preponderance of the Small 30 Guiding 63 After Completion 53 Maturing 64 Before Completion 54 Wasting, Immaturing All comments appreciated. All names require 'work' but I believe that the 'traditional' names (Wilhelm) have been outgrown. Take care, Chris Lofting. As a PS to the "descriptive hexagrams" post, the descriptive hexagrams are used to encapsulate the 'bahaviour' of the pairs. Thus, we can treat it as describing the journey from one element of the pair to the other or as the description of the behaviour as one stimulates and the other responds. The latter was not really emphasised in the post. In that context, using hexagram 1 as an example, it describes the behaviour of 10 in response to 15. The modesty of 15 is met with an outpouring of energy but in a controlled manner ensuring the maintenance of balance despite one's inner desires.