I Ching Hexagram 55 - Abundance
Description and interpretations of I Ching (Yijing) hexagram 55 "Abundance"
豐 - Fēng
Lôi Hỏa Phong
Abundance
Upper (Outer) Trigram: ☳ Zhen, Thunder
Lower (Inner) Trigram: ☲ Li, Fire
Other Titles: Abundance, Fullness, Expansion of Awareness, The Symbol of Prosperity, Greatness, Abounding, Richness, Prolific, Fruitful, Luxuriant, Zenith, Affluence, Correct Action
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Wilhelm/Baynes: Abundance has success. The king attains abundance. Be not sad. Be like the sun at midday.
Legge: Expansion of Awareness means progress and development. When the king is enlightened there is no need to fear a change. Let him be as the sun at noon.
Blofeld: Abundance -- success! The King inspires them. Do not be sad; it is fitting to be like the sun at its zenith. [Abundance in itself is often good; but it is generally followed by the waning of what was abundant; moreover, as we shall see, there can be abundance of darkness, or anything else unpleasant. (The Judgment itself) may be taken as an auspicious omen.]
Liu: Greatness. Success. The king attains greatness, without sadness; he should be like the sun at midday.
Shaughnessy: Abundance: Receipt; the king approaches it; do not be sad. It is proper for the middle of the day.
Cleary (1): Richness is developmental. Freedom from worry when the king is great is suited to midday.
Cleary (2): Richness is success; a king attains this. Do not worry. Take advantage of the sun at noon.
Wu: A sage king will attain abundance. There is no need to worry, for he knows the expedience of observing the midday sun.
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: Both thunder and lightning come: the image of Abundance. Thus the superior man decides lawsuits and carries out punishments.
Legge: The superior man, in accordance with this, decides cases of litigation, and apportions punishments with exactness.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes thunder and lightning occurring simultaneously. The Superior Man decides law suits and inflicts the necessary penalties.
Liu: Thunder and lightning coming together symbolize Greatness. The superior man judges lawsuits and imposes punishments.
Cleary (1): Thunder and lightning both arrive, abundant. Thus do superior people pass judgment and execute punishment.
Cleary (2): Thunder and lightning both come in richness. Thus do leaders pass judgments and execute punishments.
Wu: Thunder and lightning come together; this is Abundance. Thus the jun zi decides the verdicts and exacts the punishments.
Line 1
初九: 遇其配主, 雖旬, 无咎, 往有尚．
Wilhelm/Baynes: When a man meets his destined ruler, they can be together ten days, and it is not a mistake. Going meets with recognition.
Legge: The first line, dynamic, shows its subject meeting with his mate. Though they are both of the same character, there will be no error. Advance will call forth approval.
Blofeld: On meeting a prince of equal rank, though he accepts his hospitality for ten days, he is not at fault -- progress is made in winning respect!
Liu: When a man meets a deputy ruler, there will be harmony between them for ten days. No blame. Setting forth will lead to progress.
Shaughnessy: Meeting his consort's ruler; it is only the ten-day week; there is no trouble; in going there will be elevation.
Cleary (1): Meeting your director, even as equals there is no blame. If you go on, there will be exaltation.
Cleary (2): Meeting your partner, etc.
Wu: He meets with his matched partner. Although they are of the same kind, there will be no error. The meeting is favorable.
Line 2
六二: 豐其蔀, 日中見斗．往, 得疑疾, 有孚發若, 吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: The curtain is of such fullness that the polestars can be seen at noon. Through going one meets with mistrust and hate. If one rouses him through truth, good fortune comes.
Legge: The second line, magnetic, shows its subject surrounded by screens so large and thick that at midday she can see from them the constellation of the Bushel. If she goes and tries to enlighten her ruler who is thus emblemed, she will make herself to be viewed with suspicion and dislike. Let her cherish her feeling of sincere devotion that she may thereby move her ruler's mind, and there will be good fortune.
Blofeld: So great is the obstruction that the midday sun appears to him as a tiny star. To advance now would be to invite mistrust and various ills. However, confidence seems to be on the increase -- good fortune!
Liu: The shield is so great that you can see the polestar at noon. Undertakings will lead to suspicion and harm. Only truth can win the confidence of the ruler. Good fortune.
Shaughnessy: Making abundant his curtain; in the middle of the day one sees the Dipper; in going one gets a suspicious illness; there is a return leaking-like.
Cleary (1): Increasing the shade, seeing stars at midday. If you go on this way you will have doubt and affliction. But if there is sincerity and it is acted on, it will bring good fortune.
Cleary (2): With abundant shade, you see stars at midday. If you go, you will be afflicted by doubt. If sincerity is expressed, there will be good fortune.
Wu: He makes abundance of curtains. His house is so dimmed as if he could see the Dipper with the sun at noon. If he goes to meet with his correlate, he may be suspected. But if he lets his sincerity prevail, it will be auspicious.
Line 3
九三: 豐其沛, 日中見沬．折其右肱, 无咎．
Wilhelm/Baynes: The underbrush is of such abundance that the small stars can be seen at noon. He breaks his right arm. No blame.
Legge: The third line, dynamic, shows its subject with an additional screen of a large and thick banner, through which at midday he can see the small Mei star. In the darkness he breaks his right arm; but there will be no error.
Blofeld: So copious is the rain that, even at midday, there is obscurity. He breaks his right forearm -- no error!
Liu: Heavy clouds -- a fine drizzle can be seen. He hurts his right arm. No blame.
Shaughnessy: Making abundant his screen; in the middle of the day one sees small stars; breaking his right bow, there is no trouble.
Cleary (1): Increasing shade, seeing glimmering stardust at midday. One breaks one’s right arm. No one is to blame.
Cleary (2): With abundant rain, you see the drops in the sunlight. You break your right arm but are not to blame.
Wu: He makes abundance of heavy curtains. His house is so dimmed as if he could see small stars with the sun at noon. He breaks his right forearm. No error.
Line 4
九四: 豐其蔀, 日中見斗, 遇其夷主, 吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: The curtain is of such fullness that the polestars can be seen at noon. He meets his ruler, who is of like kind. Good fortune.
Legge: The fourth line, dynamic, shows its subject in a tent so large and thick that at midday he can see from it the constellation of the Bushel. But he meets with the subject of the first line, undivided like himself. There will be good fortune.
Blofeld: So great is the obstruction that the midday sun appears to him as a tiny star. Meeting a prince of equal rank -- good fortune!
Liu: The shield is so great that you can see the polestar at noon. One meets an ignorant ruler. Good fortune.
Shaughnessy: Making abundant his curtain; in the middle of the day one sees the Dipper; meeting his placid ruler; auspicious.
Cleary: Increasing shade, seeing stars at midday. Meeting the hidden master is auspicious.
Wu: He makes abundance of curtains. His house is so dimmed as if he could see the Dipper with the sun at noon. He meets with his equal partner. Auspicious.
Line 5
六五: 來章, 有慶, 譽, 吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Lines are coming, blessing and fame draw near. Good fortune.
Legge: The fifth line, magnetic, shows its subject bringing around her the men of brilliant ability. There will be occasion for congratulation and praise. There will be good fortune.
Blofeld: The variegated beauty of the sky after a storm now appears. Blessings [Unexpected or seemingly unmerited good fortune] and fame are won -- good fortune!
Liu: Glory will come, causing prosperity and recognition. Good fortune.
Shaughnessy: There comes a pattern, celebratory and uplifting; auspicious.
Cleary (1): Bringing beatification, there is glory; this is auspicious.
Cleary (2): Bringing brilliance, there is celebration and praise, etc.
Wu: If he could welcome his notable partner, there would be something to celebrate and praise. Auspicious.
Line 6
上六: 豐其屋, 蔀其家, 闚其戶．闃其无人,三歲不覿, 凶．
Wilhelm/Baynes: His house is in a state of abundance. He screens off his family. He peers through the gate and no longer perceives anyone. For three years he sees nothing. Misfortune.
Legge: The sixth line, magnetic, shows its subject with her house made large, but only serving as a screen to her household. When she looks at her door, it is still, and there is nobody about it. For three years no one is to be seen. There will be evil.
Blofeld: There is abundance in his dwelling and a wall around his house; yet, peering through the gate, he sees no one. For three years, he sees nobody -- misfortune!
Liu: One's house is big and luxurious; later it will be overgrown. Someone looks in at the gate and does not see anyone. For three years he sees nothing. Misfortune.
Shaughnessy: Making abundant his room, screening his house, and arching his window; he is alarmed at his having no people; for three years he does not follow; inauspicious.
Cleary (1): Embellishing the room, shading the house; peeking in the door, it is quiet, with no one there, unseen for three years. Inauspicious.
Cleary (2): Making the house rich, shading the home. A peek in the door finds quiet, etc.
Wu: He has his house richly decorated. He uses curtains to shield his home. Peeping through its door, one sees not a single soul. For three years, nobody has been seen therein. Foreboding.
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 55 represents supreme achievement, prosperity, and abundance. Share your abundance with others as they will be uplifted by your personality. This cannot last forever, but enjoy the moment rather than be anxious about the future.
Any problems in your life can be settled now, but beware: Everything declines after reaching the prosperity peak. Therefore it is necessary to guard against being over-confident. Success comes fast, but it can also vanish quickly.
