I Ching Hexagram 37 - Family
Description and interpretations of I Ching (Yijing) hexagram 37 "Family"
家人 - Jiā Rén
Phong Hỏa Gia Nhân
Family
Upper (Outer) Trigram: ☴ Xun, Wind
Lower (Inner) Trigram: ☲ Li, Fire
Other Titles: Family Life, Clan, Home, Linkage, Dwelling People, The Psyche, "May indicate a situation where the family can and should help."
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Wilhelm/Baynes: The Family. The perseverance of the woman furthers.
Legge: For the regulation of The Family, what is most advantageous is that the wife be firm and correct.
Blofeld: The Family. Women's persistence brings reward.
Liu: The Family. A woman's perseverance benefits.
Shaughnessy: Family members: Beneficial for the maiden to determine.
Cleary: For people in the home it is beneficial that the woman be chaste. [In the human body, the vitality, spirit, soul, psyche, and intent all belong to yin and all take orders from the human mentality … When you refine away the human mind, the mind of tao spontaneously becomes manifest.]
Wu: The Family indicates that it is advantageous for a woman to be persevering. [This is a hexagram with its emphasis on women. Both constituent trigrams are feminine … Hence those who endeavor to be firm and correct will have advantages.]
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: Wind comes forth from fire: The image of The Family. Thus the superior man has substance in his words and duration in his way of life.
Legge: Wind rising out of fire -- the image of The Family. The superior man speaks the truth and is consistent in his behavior.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes wind rising from fire. The Superior Man's speech is full of substance and he behaves with constancy.
Liu: The wind coming out of the fire symbolizes The Family. The speech of the superior man should have substance, and his conduct be enduring.
Cleary (1): Wind emerges from fire, members of a family. Thus is there factuality in the speech of superior people, consistency in their deeds.
Cleary (2): … Developed people are factual in speech, consistent in action.
Wu: Wind comes forth from fire; this is The Family. Thus the jun zi speaks with facts and acts with perseverance.
Line 1
初九: 閑有家, 悔亡．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Firm seclusion within the family. Remorse disappears.
Legge: The first line, dynamic, shows its subject establishing restrictive regulations in his household. Occasion for repentance will disappear.
Blofeld: The family dwelling stands within an enclosure -- regret vanishes.
Liu: He sets up a rule for his family. Remorse disappears. [People can expect success in their plans.]
Shaughnessy: The gate has a family; regret is gone.
Cleary: Guarding the home, regret vanishes.
Wu: A family lives by the principle. There will be no regret.
Line 2
六二: 无攸遂, 在中饋, 貞吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: She should not follow her whims. She must attend within to the food. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Legge: The second line, magnetic, shows its subject taking nothing on herself, but in her central place attending to the preparation of the food. Through her firm correctness there will be good fortune.
Blofeld: This is a time when nothing can be brought to completion; however, within the household, righteous persistence brings good fortune.
Liu: Her duties are to keep the household and prepare the food; she should not pursue her fancies. Persistence leads to good fortune.
Shaughnessy: There is no place to follow, in the middle of the food; determination is auspicious.
Cleary (1): Not concentrating on anything, being chaste in the kitchen is auspicious.
Cleary (2): Not concentrating on anything but household duties, it bodes well to be chaste.
Wu: There is nothing suitable to do outside of the family. There will be good fortune to prepare meals inside.
Line 3
九三: 家人嗃嗃, 悔厲, 吉．婦子嘻嘻, 終吝．
Wilhelm/Baynes: When tempers flare up in the family, too great a severity brings remorse. Good fortune nonetheless. When women and children dally and laugh, it leads in the end to humiliation.
Legge: The third line, dynamic, shows its subject treating the members of the household with stern severity. There will be occasion for repentance, there will be peril, but there will also be good fortune. If the wife and children were to be smirking and chattering, in the end there would be occasion for regret.
Blofeld: When members of the family speak sharply to one another, the mutual regret and the serious situation which follow may lead to good fortune; but if the women and children take to tittering, misfortune is assured. [An occasional scolding may not do much harm, but constant mockery of parents or husband will cause irreparable damage to family accord. The former, if followed by regret and by the threat of an unwanted quarrel or separation, may bring people to their senses and make them mutually more considerate than hitherto.]
Liu: If the members of the family are severe toward each other, there will be seriousness but good fortune. When women and children are silly, there will be regret in the end.
Shaughnessy: The family members so excited; regret; danger; auspicious. The wife and children are so introspective; in the end distress.
Cleary: People in the home are strict. Conscientious sternness bodes well. If the women and children are too frivolous, it will end in humiliation.
Wu: Family members complain about stern discipline. Though regrettable and disturbing, it is auspicious. When women and children are frivolous, there is cause for humiliation.
Line 4
六四: 富家, 大吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: She is the treasure of the house. Great good fortune.
Legge: The fourth line, magnetic, shows its subject enriching the family. There will be great good fortune.
Blofeld: A well-to-do household -- great good fortune!
Liu: One makes the family prosperous. Great good fortune.
Shaughnessy: A wealthy family; greatly auspicious.
Cleary: A rich home is very fortunate.
Wu: This is a wealthy family with great auspiciousness.
Line 5
九五: 王假有家, 勿恤, 吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: As a king he approaches his family. Fear not. Good fortune.
Legge: The fifth line, dynamic, shows the influence of the king extending to his family. There need be no anxiety -- there will be good fortune.
Blofeld: The King draws near to his family (i.e. the nation) -- no cause for worry; good fortune!
Liu: The King extends his love to the family (country) without worry. Good fortune.
Shaughnessy: The king approaches his family; do not pity; going is auspicious.
Cleary (1): The king comes to have a home; no worry – it is fortunate.
Cleary (2): The king has a great home. Do not worry; it is auspicious.
Wu: The king succeeds in making the nation like a family. It is auspicious, without worries.
Line 6
上九: 有孚, 威如, 終吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: His work commands respect. In the end good fortune comes.
Legge: The sixth line, dynamic, shows its subject possessed of sincerity and arrayed in majesty. In the end there will be good fortune.
Blofeld: His sincerity (and/or confidence) is such as to make him appear awe-inspiring -- good fortune in the end!
Liu: Sincerity and dignity bring good fortune.
Shaughnessy: There is a return stooped-like; in the end auspicious.
Cleary (1): There is trustworthiness, dignified; it turns out well.
Cleary (2): There is truthfulness, which is impressive. The end is auspicious.
Wu: He is confident in his dignity and will have good fortune in the end.
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 37. Relationships depend on the understanding of the different qualities of those involved and the recognition of their complimentary roles.
This hexagram exhibits the function of husband and wife—both adhering to their roles and performing their duties by following a set pattern and rules.
Great respect is shown to those who are familiar with creating a strong foundation. Remember that words without matching deeds have no effect.
