The Joyous, Lake (Upper trigram) combines with The Abysmal, Water (Lower trigram).
The Judgement
Oppression. Success. Perseverance. The great man brings about good fortune. No blame. When one has something to say, It is not believed.
The Image
There is no water in the lake: The image of Exhaustion. Thus the superior man stakes his life on following his will.
The Lines
These texts apply only for the lines that were marked when the hexagram was cast. Note that the lines are counted from the bottom up.
The bottom line marked means:
One sits oppressed under a bare tree and strays into a gloomy valley. For three years one sees nothing.
The 2nd line marked means:
One is oppressed while at meat and drink. The man with the scarlet knee bands is just coming. It furthers one to offer sacrifice. To set forth brings misfortune. No blame.
The 3rd line marked means:
A man permits himself to be oppressed by stone and leans on thorns and thistles. He enters his house and does not see his wife. Misfortune.
The 4th line marked means:
He comes very quietly, oppressed in a golden carriage. Humiliation, but the end is reached.
The 5th line marked means:
His nose and feet are cut off. Oppression at the hands of the man with the purple knee bands. Joy comes softly. It furthers one to make offerings and libations.
The top line marked means:
He is oppressed by creeping vines. He moves uncertainly and says, "Movement brings remorse." If one feels remorse over this and makes a start, good fortune comes.
The interpretations above and comments below are from Richard Wilhelm's version of the i ching .
Comments on the Hexagram
The lake is above, water below; the lake is empty, dried up. Exhaustion is expressed in yet another way: at the top, a dark line is holding down two light lines; below, a light line is hemmed in between two dark ones. The upper trigram belongs to the principle of darkness, the lower to the principle of light. Thus, everywhere superior men are oppressed and held in restraint by inferior men.
The Judgement
Times of adversity are the reverse of times of success, but they can lead to success if they befall the right man. When a strong man meets with adversity, he remains cheerful despite all danger, and this cheerfulness is the source of later successes. It is that stability which is stronger than fate. He who lets his spirit be broken by exhaustion certainly has no success. But if adversity only bends a man, it creates in him a power to react that is bound in time to manifest itself. No inferior man is capable of this. Only the great man brings about good fortune and remains blameless. It is true that for the time being outward influence is denied him, because his words have no effect. Therefore, in times of adversity, it is important to be strong within and sparing of words.
The Image
When the water has flowed out below, the lake must dry up and become exhausted. That is fate. This symbolizes an adverse fate in human life. In such times, there is nothing a man can do but acquiesce in his fate and remain true to himself. This concerns the deepest stratum of his being, for this alone is superior to all external fate.
The Lines
The bottom line marked: When adversity befalls a man, it is important above all things for him to be strong and to overcome the trouble inwardly. If he is weak, the trouble overwhelms him. Instead of proceeding on his way, he remains sitting under a bare tree and falls ever more deeply into gloom and melancholy. This makes the situation only more and more hopeless. Such an attitude comes from an inner delusion that he must by all means overcome.
The 2nd line from the bottom marked: This pictures a state of inner oppression. Externally, all is well, one has meat and drink. But one is exhausted by the commonplaces of life, and there seems to be no way of escape. Then help comes from a high place. A prince - in ancient China, princes wore scarlet knee bands - is in search of able helpers. But there are still obstructions to be overcome. Therefore, it is important to meet these obstructions in the visible realm by offerings and prayer. To set forth without being prepared would be disastrous, though not morally wrong. Here, a disagreeable situation must be overcome by patience of spirit.
The 3rd line from the bottom marked: This shows a man who is restless and indecisive in times of adversity. At first, he wants to push ahead, then he encounters obstructions that, it is true, mean oppression only when recklessly dealt with. He butts his head against a wall and in consequence feels himself oppressed by the wall. Then he leans on things that have in themselves no stability and that are merely a hazard for him who leans on them. Thereupon, he turns back irresolutely and retires into his house, only to find, as a fresh disappointment, that his wife is not there. Confucius says about this line: If a man permits himself to be oppressed by something that ought not to oppress him, his name will certainly be disgraced. If he leans on things upon which one cannot lean, his life will certainly be endangered. For him who is in disgrace and danger, the hour of death draws near; how can he then still see his wife?
The 4th line from the bottom marked: A well-to-do man sees the need of the lower classes and would like very much to be of help. But instead of proceeding with speed and energy where there is need, he begins in a hesitant and measured way. Then he encounters obstructions. Powerful and wealthy acquaintances draw him into their circle; he has to do as they do and cannot withdraw from them. Hence he finds himself in great embarrassment. But the trouble is transitory. The original strength of his nature offsets the mistake he has made, and the goal is reached.
The 5th line from the bottom marked: An individual who has the good of mankind at heart is oppressed from above and below (this is the meaning of the cutting off of the nose and defeat). He finds no help among the people whose duty it would be to aid in the work of rescue (ministers wore purple knee bands). But little by little, things take a turn for the better. Until that time, he should turn to God, firm in his inner composure, and pray and offer sacrifice for the general well-being.
The top line marked: A man is oppressed by bonds that can easily be broken. The distress is drawing to an end. But he is still irresolute; he is still influenced by the previous condition and fears that he may have cause for regret if he makes a move. But as soon as he grasps the situation, changes his mental attitude, and makes a firm decision, he masters the oppression.
Further Reading
Here, I add some perspectives on this hexagram, as well as other methods to read its meaning, in addition to what Richard Wilhelm derives from it above.
Meaning of the Trigrams Combined
Each hexagram combines two trigrams, making one the upper and the other the lower. The meaning of the hexagram is mainly derived from that combination. Here's what it means for this hexagram:
Lake upon Water
This part of the text is being edited. It will be added shortly.
Compare to the Reversed Trigrams
It's common to compare a hexagram to the one where the lines are the opposite: a full line is broken and a broken line full. But I find it much more interesting to compare hexagrams with the trigrams reversed: the upper trigram becomes the lower, and the lower trigram becomes the upper. That deepens the understanding of the trigrams at work — when they're not identical. Click the image to see what it means for the two trigrams of this hexagram:
The hexagram with the trigrams reversed
Compare to the Reversed Lines
You can also compare this hexagram to its opposite according to the six lines, where each broken line is full, and vice versa. In some cases, it leads to the same hexagram as the one where the trigrams are switched. Here is the hexagram with reversed lines (click it to get to its webpage):
Hexagram with opposite lines
The I Ching Trigrams
Click the header to read more about the eight trigrams that are combined into the 64 hexagrams.
The 64 I Ching Hexagrams
An I Ching hexagram is composed of two trigrams. Each of the 64 hexagrams has its own name, meaning, and divinatory text. Here they all are, in the traditional order. Click on the image of an I Ching hexagram to get to its webpage.
- 1 Creative
- 2 Receptive
- 3 Difficulty
- 4 Folly
- 5 Waiting
- 6 Conflict
- 7 Army
- 8 Union
- 9 Taming
- 10 Treading
- 11 Peace
- 12 Standstill
- 13 Fellowship
- 14 Possession
- 15 Modesty
- 16 Enthusiasm
- 17 Following
- 18 Decay
- 19 Approach
- 20 View
- 21 Biting
- 22 Grace
- 23 Splitting
- 24 Return
- 25 Innocence
- 26 Taming
- 27 Mouth
- 28 Preponderance
- 29 Abysmal
- 30 Clinging
- 31 Influence
- 32 Duration
- 33 Retreat
- 34 Power
- 35 Progress
- 36 Darkening
- 37 Family
- 38 Opposition
- 39 Obstruction
- 40 Deliverance
- 41 Decrease
- 42 Increase
- 43 Resoluteness
- 44 Coming
- 45 Gathering
- 46 Pushing
- 47 Oppression
- 48 Well
- 49 Revolution
- 50 Caldron
- 51 Arousing
- 52 Still
- 53 Development
- 54 Marrying
- 55 Abundance
- 56 Wanderer
- 57 Gentle
- 58 Joyous
- 59 Dispersion
- 60 Limitation
- 61 Truth
- 62 Small
63 After
64 Before
