I Ching: CONTEXTS.. CONTEXT1.TXT ********************************************************************** I have been 'playing around' to refine the contextuals information into as compact a form as possible without loosing track( although perhaps loosing some depth?). I would appreciate comments, flames, suggestions on the 440 lines below (better than the 'large' files of previous posts). The idea is to create a summary sheet which is usable and serves as a prompt, with fuller hexagram descriptions in a different section (or I could put all of the possible links to each hexagram in one section but I think I may end up drowning people). What do you think? As previously claimed: (a) any hexagram serves as a symbol of refinement, moving from the gross nature of the bottom line to the refined completeness of the top line. (b) since the 64 hexagrams are supposed to manifest 'all that is', we can assume that any change manifest in a hexagram demonstrates the influence of another hexagram; a contextual influence. (c) Every line in a hexagram is influenced by another hexagram in that it acts as the overall context for that line. (d) due to the refinement process, the context of line 6 (top line) is infact the hexagram itself; the position is a position of 'purity', text and context are 'one'. Here is a simple method that helps generate the *overall* contextual hexagram that influences a specific line within a hexagram (a more refined model for all line change combinations is possible but too complex to consider at this stage): (1) Take any hexagram and change it's top line. This is because the top line in a hexagram is within the hexgram's context; the hexagram is in it's own context. This changing of the top line 'allows' the line change hexagrams to emerge; it acts as a sort of key that locks/unlocks the derivation of patterns. (2) For a specific line, change the line. The resulting hexagram is the overall contextual hexagram influencing the line of the hexagram under study. e.g. Studying hexagram 30: hex 30 ------ becomes -- -- this now serves as the template for line changes. -- -- -- -- ------ ------ ------ ------ -- -- -- -- ------ ------ Change line 1 to get line 1 context: -- -- becomes -- -- -- -- -- -- ------ ------ ------ ------ -- -- -- -- ------ -- -- --> 62. Line 1 of hex 30 is 'ruled' by 62. Change line 2 to get line 2 context: -- -- becomes -- -- -- -- -- -- ------ ------ ------ ------ -- -- ------ --> 34 ------ ------ Change line 3 top get line 3 context: -- -- becomes -- -- -- -- -- -- ------ ------ ------ -- -- --> 51 -- -- -- -- ------ ------ Change line 4 to get line 4 context: -- -- becomes -- -- -- -- -- -- ------ -- -- --> 36 ------ ------ -- -- -- -- ------ ------ Change line 5 to get line 5 context: -- -- becomes -- -- -- -- ------ --> 49 ------ ------ ------ ------ -- -- -- -- ------ ------ Change line 6 to get line 6 context: -- -- becomes ------ --> 30 (back to where we started) -- -- -- -- ------ ------ ------ ------ -- -- -- -- ------ ------ Thus the development of hexagram 30 follows a specific path that is described by the contextual hexagrams. 62->34->51->36->49->30 portraying->inspiring->enlightening->uncompromising->unmasking->guidance This sequence is the contextual development of a hexagram, from gross foundations (62) to the refined product (30). The line 5 hexagram (i.e. 49) thus serves as a good indicator of the last step before completion. Here, for example, 49 is skinning, cut off, cut away, unmask, revolt. 30 is a refinement in that we use light to reveal. Abstracted from this is the concept of ideology and a sense of direction (and thus a seed for revolt) (summary of line 5 hexagrams for all hexagrams are given below). Consideration of this pattern leads us to ask the question "what role, other than a template for change, does hexagram 55 play in this? (hex we get when we change line 6 of hex 30)" It seems to be the overall *descriptor* of change; the generic *process* of any hexagram/line changing in/into 30 is described by 55. Thus, although we can come from different directions, we eventually get on the path that leads to 30. 55 describes that path. This leads to the question "but what about the hexagram that is changing? Doesnt it's character influence the process?". Sure, but only in the context of the specific line changes that lead into 30 (The instructions in the I Ching itself are to NOT read the details for the hexagram as a whole but to only read the comments associated with the changing line(s)). Due to the nature of yin/yang, what the above implies is that 59, the opposite of 55, describes the changing out of 30. We thus have two points of view for hexagram changes - exit bias, and entry bias: entry hex exit 55 30 59 (out of guidence comes clearing away,dispel illusion) 59 29 55 (out of containment comes fullness) 30 55 29 (out of fullness comes containment) 29 59 30 (out of clearing away comes guidence) etc. These 'in' and 'out' paths are detailed at the end. In the binary sequence, the 'entry' template hexagram is, of course, next to the hexagram under change. Here is a listing of the single line contextual hexagrams, as well as the entry template hexagram, for all of the hexagrams (the hexagram number is given under line 6). I have also added abbreviated terms for the line 5 hex and the line 6 hex to show the refinement aspects (5 refines into 6). |--------lines------| 1 2 3 4 5 6 template line 5 line 6 28 49 58 05 34 01 (43) inspiration(34) --> creativity(too full) 27 04 52 35 20 02 (23) contemplation(20) --> receptivity(too empty) 20 61 37 25 27 03 (42) hungering --> difficult beginnings 19 02 46 40 29 04 (07) containment --> socialization(masking) 57 37 61 01 26 05 (09) holding firm --> serving/waiting 58 45 28 29 40 06 (47) releasing tension --> compromising ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 41 23 18 64 59 07 (04) dissolve resisting--> uniforming 42 59 53 12 23 08 (20) pruning(cut back)--> uniting(attract in) 48 63 60 43 11 09 (05) balancing --> small gaining 47 17 43 60 54 10 (58) immature(loyalty)--> treading (loyalty) 18 22 41 14 09 11 (26) small gaining --> balancing 17 47 31 08 16 12 (45) forseeing --> neutralizing ====================================================================== 31 43 17 63 55 13 (49) filling/abound --> associating,grouping 32 55 54 11 43 14 (34) resolute/spreading--> directing 22 18 23 56 53 15 (52) maturing --> modesty(levelling,loyal) 21 64 56 23 12 16 (35) neutralizing --> forseeing 12 10 13 42 21 17 (25) rules --> believing/following 11 15 07 32 48 18 (46) inner source --> correcting ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 04 27 26 38 61 19 (41) yielding --> defering 03 29 39 45 02 20 (08) receptivity --> contemplating 16 54 55 24 17 21 (51) following/believe -> rules 15 11 24 55 63 22 (36) completing --> fascading 24 07 15 16 08 23 (02) uniting --> pruning 23 41 22 21 42 24 (27) augmenting --> return (to path) ==================================================================== 45 17 49 03 51 25 (17) enlightening --> innocense/involve 46 36 19 34 05 26 (11) serving/waiting --> holding firm 02 19 36 51 03 27 (24) difficult begins --> hungering 01 33 60 57 50 28 (44) transforming --> exceeding 61 20 57 60 04 29 (59) socializing --> containing 62 34 51 36 49 30 (55) unmasking --> guiding --------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 44 12 53 56 31 (33) restrainjourneying--> restrained joining 14 56 64 18 44 32 (50) seducing --> commiting 49 28 45 39 62 33 (31) portraying --> withdraw/tricking 50 30 38 26 01 34 (14) creating --> inspiring 51 40 62 02 45 35 (16) gathering --> progressing 52 26 27 30 37 36 (22)equalizing/placing --> uncompromising ===================================================================== 39 05 03 49 36 37 (63) uncompromising --> equalizing/placing 40 51 34 19 58 38 (54) reflecting --> mirroring(opposition) 37 57 20 33 52 39 (52) restraining --> by-passing/obstructing 38 35 50 04 06 40 (64) compromising --> releasing 07 24 11 54 60 41 (19) limiting --> concentrating 08 60 63 17 24 42 (03) returning --> augmenting --------------------------------------------------------------------- 44 13 10 09 14 43 (01) directing --> spreading/resoluteness 43 31 47 48 32 44 (28) commiting --> seducing/persuading 25 06 33 20 35 45 (12) progressing --> gathering 26 52 04 50 57 46 (18) cultivating --> pushing upwards 10 12 44 59 64 47 (06) not completing --> exhausting 09 53 59 44 18 48 (57) correcting --> inner source ===================================================================== 33 01 25 37 30 49 (13) guiding --> unmasking 34 62 40 46 28 50 (32) exceeding --> transforming 35 38 30 27 25 51 (21) innocense --> enlightening 36 46 02 62 39 52 (15) obstructing --> restraining 63 48 08 31 15 53 (39) modesty(levelling)--> developing(maturing) 64 21 14 41 10 54 (38) treading --> wasting(immaturing) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 56 14 21 22 13 55 (30) associating --> abounding 55 32 16 15 31 56(*)(62)restrain.joining --> restrained journeying 05 39 29 28 46 57 (48) push upwards --> cultivating 06 25 01 61 38 58 (10) mirroring --> self-reflecting 60 08 48 47 07 59 (29) uniforming --> dissolve resisting 59 42 09 10 41 60 (61) concentrating --> limiting ===================================================================== 29 03 05 58 19 61 (60) defering --> yielding 30 50 35 52 33 62 (56) tricking/retreat --> portraying 53 09 42 13 22 63 (37) fascading --> compleating 54 16 32 07 47 64 (40) exhausting --> not compleating NOTES ----- (*) 56 was originally "the wanderer" but the 'meaning' of the ideogram is more than this. There is an emphasis on belonging to something although seperated from it. (thus the ease of the abstraction into a person travelling in a different land and thus an emphasis on control/limitation) The immediate contextual link (line 5) is with 31 where we find a similar concept in the form of two pieces of pottery that when joined become a whole (and thus can serve as a form of identification and thus the ease in the abstraction to joining/linking/wooing etc) Both hexagrams summarize the concept of a tie to something - 56 is the expansive form and 31 the contractive form but I cannot find the right words. There are a few cases like this and thus a degree of 'name-fishing'. The strong contextually dependent character of the hexagrams makes it difficult to get an overall title that does each hexagram justice. Wilhelm's names are singular and thus lack the subtle degrees of flexability inherant in the hexagrams. The degree of semantic connectedness that can be achieved here is of deep interest. E.g. 31 to 56 and 56 to 60 and 60 to 41 and 41 to 31. Then we add 19 to 41 and 33 to 31 and then they link to their contexts etc and we endup with a semantic whole composed of the hexagram links. At the same time I must point out that these links are functional within *any* dichotomously derived typology; the I Ching is just more refined in it's degree of descriptivness. Overall, the above methodology to derive the hexagram 'rulers' of lines is 'simpler' than the original in that it requires little processing to get the result. However, it also lacks some of the detail that is necessary to understand the method fully. But if you find the above 'of value' then there is no need to dig out the details. Thus, the level of finer detail is not included here but one needs to be aware of it's existance. Due to the duality inherant in the I Ching, a changing line is influenced by hex A, implying that it's non-changing format is influenced by A's opposite. Analysis of these pairs show that they are infact the pairs belonging to the line 6 of the overall influencial line hexagram. For example, in the above example using hexagram 30, the line 6 pair is 48-21. 'Out' paths: ------------ hex out 01 23 out of perseverence comes pruning(cutting back) 02 43 out of devotion comes spreading(resolutness) 03 32 out of difficult beginnings comes commitment 04 08 out of masking(socialization) comes alliences 05 16 out of waiting/serving comes forsight/planning 06 22 out of compromising comes fascading(gloss over) 07 49 out of uniforming comes unmasking 08 34 out of alliences comes inspiriation 09 35 out of small gains comes progress 10 52 out of treading comes self-restraint 11 45 out of balancing/harmony comes massing for action 12 26 out of neutralizing comes holding firm 13 04 out of associating comes masking 14 20 out of directing comes structuring/contemplating 15 58 out of modesty comes self-reflection/intensity 16 05 out of foresight/planning comes waiting 17 46 out of believing comes pushing upwards 18 25 out of correcting comes disentanglement 19 31 out of approaching/defering comes contact/joining 20 14 out of structuring/contemplating comes directing 21 57 out of rule-making/problem solving comes cultivation/influence 22 06 out of fascading(gloss over) comes compromising 23 01 out of cutting back comes perseverence/confidence 24 28 out of returning comes exceeding 25 18 out of disentangling comes correcting 26 12 out of holding firm comes neutralizing 27 44 out of hungering comes seeding/seducing 28 24 out of exceeding comes returning 29 55 out of containing comes fullness 30 59 out of guidence comes dispelling illusions 31 19 out of contact/joining comes approach/defering 32 03 out of commitment comes difficult beginnings 33 41 out of withdrawl/tricking comes decrease/concentrating 34 08 out of inspiring comes attracting 35 09 out of progress comes small gains 36 47 out of uncompromising comes exhausting 37 64 out of correct placing comes non-completing/mis-sequencing 38 53 out of mirroring comes developing 39 58 out of obstructing/bypassing comes reflection/intensity 40 63 out of release (relaxed placing) comes completing/sequencing 41 33 out of concentrating/decreasing comes withdrawl/tricking 42 50 out of augmenting comes transforming 43 02 out of spreading comes devoting/trust/receptivity 44 27 out of seducing/persuading comes hungering 45 11 out of massing comes balancing/harmonizing 46 17 out of pushing upwards comes believing/following 47 36 out of exhaustion/forced waiting comes uncompromising 48 51 out of the well comes enlightenment/awareness 49 07 out of unmasking comes uniforming 50 42 out of transforming comes augmenting 51 48 out of enlightenment comes the well/inner source 52 10 out of self-restraint comes conduct/treading 53 38 out of development comes mirroring/opposition 54 39 out of immaturing comes obstructions/bypassing 55 29 out of fullness comes containment 56 61 out of restrained journeying comes yielding 57 21 out of cultivation/influence comes rulings 58 15 out of self-reflection/intensity comes modesty 59 30 out of dissolving illusions comes guidence 60 62 out of limitations comes portraying 61 56 out of yielding comes restrained journeying 62 60 out of portraying comes limiting 63 40 out of completing/sequencing comes release (relaxed placing) 64 37 out of non-completing/mis-sequencing comes correct placing 'In' paths: ----------- hex in 01 43 into perseverence goes resoluteness 02 23 into devotion goes cutting back 03 42 into difficult beginnings goes augmenting 04 14 into masking(socialization) goes directing 05 09 into waiting/serving goes small gains 06 47 into compromising goes forced waiting/exhausting 07 04 into uniforming goes masking(socialization) 08 20 into alliences goes contemplating/structuring 09 05 into making small gains goes waiting/serving 10 58 into treading goes self-reflection/intensity 11 26 into balancing/harmony goes holding firm 12 45 into neutralizing goes gathering/massing 13 49 into associating goes unmasking 14 34 into directing goes inspiring 15 52 into modesty goes self-restraint 16 35 into foresight/planning goes progressing 17 25 into believing goes disentangling 18 46 into correcting goes pushing upwards 19 41 into approaching/defering goes concentrating/decreasing 20 08 into structuring/contemplating comes attracting/uniting 21 51 into rule-making/problem-solving goes enlightenment/awareness 22 36 into fascading(gloss over) goes uncompromising 23 02 into cutting back goes devotion/trust/receptivity 24 27 into returning goes hungering 25 17 into disentangling goes believing/following 26 11 into holding firm goes balancing/harmonizing 27 24 into hungering goes returning 28 44 into exceeding goes seducing/persuading 29 59 into containing goes dispelling illusions 30 55 into guidence goes abundance 31 33 into contact/joining goes withdrawl/tricking 32 50 into commitment goes transforming 33 31 into withdrawl/tricking comes contact/joining 34 14 into inspiring goes directing 35 16 into progress goes foresight/planning 36 22 into uncompromising goes fascading(gloss over) 37 63 into correct placing goes completing/sequencing 38 54 into mirroring goes immaturing 39 52 into obstructing/bypassing goes self-restraint 40 64 into release (relaxed placing) goes not completing / mis-sequencing 41 19 into concentrating/decreasing goes approaching/defering 42 03 into augmenting goes difficult beginnings 43 01 into spreading goes perseverence/confidence 44 28 into seducing/persuading goes exceeding 45 12 into massing goes neutralizing 46 18 into pushing upwards goes correcting 47 06 into exhaustion/forced waiting goes compromising 48 57 into the well goes cultivation/influence 49 13 into unmasking goes associating 50 32 into transforming goes commiting 51 21 into enlightenment goes rulings 52 15 into self-restraint goes modesty 53 39 into maturing/development goes obstructions/bypassing 54 38 into immaturing goes mirroring/oppositions 55 30 into abundance goes guidence/direction 56 62 into restrained journeying goes portraying 57 22 into cultivation/influence goes fascading(gloss over) 58 10 into self-reflection/intensity goes conduct/treading 59 29 into dissolving illusions goes containment 60 61 into limitations goes yielding 61 60 into yielding goes limiting 62 56 into portraying goes restrained journeying 63 37 into completing/sequencing goes correct placing 64 40 into non-completing/mis-sequencing goes relaxed placing Chris Lofting