I Ching Hexagram 16 - Enthusiasm
Description and interpretations of I Ching (Yijing) hexagram 16 "Enthusiasm"
豫 - Yù
Lôi Địa Dự
Enthusiasm
Upper (Outer) Trigram: ☳ Zhen, Thunder
Lower (Inner) Trigram: ☷ Kun, Earth
Other Titles: The Symbol of Harmonious Joy, Repose, Happiness, Providing-for/Provision, Merriment, Self-confidence, Contentment, Harmonize, Excitement, Intemperance, Self-deception.
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Wilhelm/Baynes: Enthusiasm. It furthers one to install helpers and to set armies marching.
Legge: Enthusiasm indicates that feudal princes may be set up and the army advantageously mobilized.
Blofeld: Repose profits those engaged in building up the country and sending forth armies. [This means that perfect certainty as to the rightness of our cause is of great value under the conditions mentioned. The usual meaning of this character is "beforehand" or "happiness." In the English translation of Wilhelm's version, it appears as "enthusiasm." "Repose" was suggested by the Chinese experts who kindly vetted this manuscript. At first I felt hesitant about adopting it, until I realized that, where it is used favorably, it must be understood as the kind of mental repose which follows absolute confidence that the action now being taken is the right one. In lines one, three and six, however, it clearly means failure to act when action is essential; in line five, failure to act owing to incapacity.]
Liu: Happiness. It is of benefit to build up the country (or business), and send the army forth. [Receivers of this hexagram should be wary of exhibiting excessive enthusiasm when beginning a new undertaking. If they are not, there will be misfortune. The hexagram also advises that everything necessary for advancement should be made ready. Then if an opportunity presents itself, it should be seized immediately, without hesitation.]
Shaughnessy: Excess: Beneficial to establish a lord and to move troops.
Cleary: Joy. It is advantageous to set up a ruler and mobilize the army.
Wu: Merriment indicates the advantage of establishing principalities and taking military actions.
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: Thunder comes resounding out of the earth: the image of Enthusiasm. Thus the ancient kings made music in order to honor merit, and offered it with splendor to the Supreme Deity, inviting their ancestors to be present.
Legge: Thunder exploding out of the Earth -- the image of Enthusiasm. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, composed their music and honored virtue, offering it especially to God when they worshipped him at the service of their ancestors.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes thunder over the earth. The ancient rulers venerated heaven's gifts with solemn music and they sacrificed abundantly to the Supreme Lord of Heaven in order to be worthy of their ancestors.
Liu: Thunder arising from the earth symbolizes Happiness. The ancient kings composed music to honor virtue, offering it to God and the spirits of their ancestors.
Cleary: When thunder emerges the earth stirs: Thus did the kings of yore make music to honor virtue, offering it in abundance to God, thereby to share it with their ancestors.
Wu: Thunder breaks out above the earth with a boom; this is Merriment. Thus the ancient kings used music to praise virtuous accomplishments and made grand offerings to the Supreme Being to be accompanied by their ancestors.
Line 1
初六: 鳴豫, 凶．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Enthusiasm that expresses itself brings misfortune.
Legge: The first line, magnetic, shows its subject proclaiming her pleasure and satisfaction. There will be evil.
Blofeld: The crowing of the cock bespeaks repose -- an evil omen! [A sleepy cockcrow is not likely to bring men leaping from their beds, yet the traditional role of the cock is to sound the call to renewed action.]
Liu: Happiness that shows itself off brings misfortune.
Shaughnessy: Calling out in excess; inauspicious.
Cleary: Trumpeting joy is inauspicious.
Wu: Crowing over merriment will be foreboding.
Line 2
六二: 介于石, 不終日, 貞吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Firm as a rock. Not a whole day. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Legge: The second line, magnetic, shows one who is firm as a rock. She sees a thing without waiting till it has come to pass; with her firm correctness there will be good fortune.
Blofeld: Unmoved as a rock; before the end of day, righteous persistence will bring good fortune. [Unmoved as a rock because of the repose which results from absolute confidence in a decision already taken.]
Liu: Firm and stable like a rock. Do not wait a whole day. Continuing brings good fortune.
Shaughnessy: Scratched on a rock; not to the end of the day; determination is auspicious.
Cleary: Firm as a rock, not procrastinating, rectitude is good.
Wu: He is upright like a rock. In less time than the passing of the day, he discriminates the good from the bad. To be persevering is auspicious.
Line 3
六三: 盱豫, 悔遲, 有悔．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Enthusiasm that looks upward creates remorse. Hesitation brings remorse.
Legge: The third line, magnetic, shows one looking up for favors, while she indulges the feeling of pleasure and satisfaction. If she would understand! If she be late in doing so, there will indeed be occasion for repentance.
Blofeld: To gaze reposefully brings regret; tardy action brings regret. [This suggests inactivity prolonged beyond reasonable measure.]
Liu: Looking upward leads to remorse. Delay brings regret.
Shaughnessy: A bowl's excess; regret; being slow there is regret.
Cleary (1): Looking up to joy, if repentance is tardy, there will be regret.
Cleary (2): Looking up in joy, repent. If too late, there is regret.
Wu: Gazing at merriment will bring regret. Loitering about will bring regret.
Line 4
九四: 由豫, 大有得; 勿疑, 朋盍簪．
Wilhelm/Baynes: The source of enthusiasm. He achieves great things. Doubt not. You gather friends around you as a hair clasp gathers the hair.
Legge: The fourth line, dynamic, shows him from whom the harmony and satisfaction come. Great is the success which he obtains. Let him not allow suspicions to enter his mind, and thus friends will gather around him.
Blofeld: From repose, great results accrue. Harbor no doubts. Why should it be harmful to befriend this official? [The meaning of this terse question is not obvious; but the enquirer may find it apt in the context either of his question or of subsequent events.]
Liu: The source of happiness. One receives great gain without hesitation. Your friends are already successful.
Shaughnessy: Really excess; if one greatly has gain, do not doubt; cowries and shells slander.
Cleary: Being the source of joy, there is great gain. Do not doubt. Companions gather.
Wu: Let merriment have its way. There is much to gain. No doubt about it. Friends will unite their hairpins.
Line 5
六五: 貞疾, 恆, 不死.
Wilhelm/Baynes: Persistently ill, and still does not die.
Legge: The fifth line, magnetic, shows one with a chronic complaint, but who lives on without dying.
Blofeld: Illness is presaged, but it will not last long or cause death.
Liu: Long illness, but still living.
Shaughnessy: Determination is illness; if constant you will not die.
Cleary (1): There is a persistent illness, but one never dies.
Cleary (2): Chaste in illness, one never dies.
Wu: It is like having a persistent illness, but not fatal.
Line 6
上六: 冥豫,成有渝, 无咎．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Deluded enthusiasm. But if after completion one changes, there is no blame.
Legge: The sixth line, magnetic, shows its subject with darkened mind devoted to the pleasure and satisfaction of the time. But if she changes her course even when it may be considered as completed, there will be no error.
Blofeld: Madcap repose. Fortunately a change takes place, so no blame is involved. [Madcap repose implies being tardy to the point of extreme rashness in the face of approaching danger or of a need to act.]
Liu: Deluded happiness. Change after completion. No blame.
Shaughnessy: Dark excess; if complete perhaps you will be informed; there is no trouble.
Cleary (1): Oblivious in joy. What comes about has change; there is no blame.
Cleary (2): … What has come about changes, etc.
Wu: Merriment is obscured. There may be success, but changes are pending. There will be no error.
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 16 tells you the times are in tune with your undertakings. The confidence you display attracts supporters. Make sure your words and actions stay appropriate to their concerns in order to avoid resentment.
It also suggests a time for new ventures, change of jobs, or travelling. But you must make careful preparations in advance and proceed with caution. Good fortune can be maintained.
