The I Ching Speaks!



     4.   M^eng / Youthful Folly

          ----------
          ---- ----     above     K^en    Keeping Still, Mountain
          ---- ----
          ---- ----
          ----------     below     K'an   The Abysmal, Water
          ---- ----

     The Judgement

          Youthful Folly has success.
          It is not I who seek the young fool;
          The young fool seeks me.
          At the first oracle I inform him.
          If he asks two or three times, it is importunity.
          If he importunes, I give him no information.
          Perseverance furthers.

     The Image

          A spring wells up at the foot of the mountain:
          The image of Youth.
          Thus the superior man fosters his character
          By thoroughness in all that he does.

     The Lines

          Six in the fourth place means:
          Entangled folly brings humiliation.


     64.  Wei Chi / Before Completion

          ----------
          ---- ----     above     Li     The Clinging, Flame
          ----------
          ---- ----
          ----------     below     K'an   The Abysmal, Water
          ---- ----

     The Judgement

          Before Completion. Success.
          But if the little fox, after nearly completing the crossing,
          Gets his tail in the water,
          There is nothing that would further.

     The Image

          Fire over water:
          The image of the condition before transition.
          Thus the superior man is careful
          In the differentiation of things,
          So that each finds its place.