Hexagram 12: Standstill
Hexagram
12. Standstill · Pi
Structure of the sign
This hexagram is the exact opposite of the preceding one. Heaven above withdraws farther and farther, earth below sinks farther into the depths. The creative powers are not in relation. It is a time of standstill and decline. The hexagram is coordinated with the seventh month (August-September), when the year has passed its zenith and autumnal withering sets in.
The Judgment
Standstill. Evil people do not further the perseverance of the superior man. The great departs; the small approaches. Heaven and earth are out of communion and all things are benumbed. What is above and what is below have no relation, and on earth confusion and disorder prevail. The dark power is within and the light power is without. Weakness is within and hardness is without; the inferior men are within, and the superior men are without. The way of inferior men is on the increase, the way of superior men is waning. But the superior men do not allow themselves to be turned aside from their principles. If the possibility of exerting influence is no longer open to them, they nevertheless remain true to these principles and withdraw into seclusion.
The Image
Heaven and earth do not unite: the image of Standstill. Thus the superior man falls back upon his inner worth in order to escape the difficulties. He does not permit himself to be honored with revenues. When mutual distrust prevails in public life as a result of the influence of inferior men, fruitful activity is impossible, because the foundation is wrong. Therefore the superior man knows what he has to do under such circumstances. He does not allow himself to be tempted by dazzling offers to participate in public activity, which would only be dangerous for him, since he cannot share in the baseness of others. Therefore he conceals his worth and withdraws into seclusion.
The lines
Line 1
When ribbon grass is pulled up, the sod comes with it. Each according to his kind. Perseverance brings good fortune and success. The text is almost the same as that for the first line of the preceding hexagram, only in the opposite sense. There, one draws the other after him into official life. Here, one draws the other with him into retirement from public life. Therefore it is not said here, 'Undertakings bring good fortune,' but 'Perseverance brings good fortune and success.' Only if one knows how to withdraw in time when possibilities of effective action are no longer present does one spare oneself humiliation and achieve success in a higher sense, by knowing how to preserve the worth of one's personality. ±
Line 2
They bear and endure; this means good fortune for inferior men. Standstill serves the great man for success. Inferior men are ready to flatter their superiors in a fawning way. They would also endure the superior man if he were to help them resolve the confusion. This brings good fortune to them. But the great man calmly bears the consequences of the standstill. He does not mingle with the crowd of the inferior. His place is not there. In this way, though suffering personally, he secures success for his principles.
Line 3
They bear shame. The inferior men who have elevated themselves unlawfully feel unequal to the responsibility they have assumed. They begin—at first without showing it outwardly—to feel inwardly ashamed. This is the beginning of the turn for the better.
Line 4
He who acts at the command of the highest remains without blame. Those of like mind partake of the blessing. The time of standstill is nearing the turning point. Whoever wishes to restore order must be called to do so and must possess the requisite authority. Whoever sought to set himself up as an orderer according to his own judgment might commit errors and suffer failure. But to him who is called, the circumstances of the time are propitious, and his blessing is shared by all of like mind.
Line 5▶ ruling line
Standstill is giving way. Good fortune to the great man! 'What if it should fail, what if it should fail!' In this way he ties it to a cluster of mulberry shoots. The time changes. The right man has arrived who can restore order. Hence good fortune! But precisely in such times of transition, fear and trembling are necessary. Only through utmost apprehension, constantly thinking, 'What if it should fail!', is success made firm. When a mulberry bush is cut down, a number of shoots sprout from the root that are especially tough. Therefore the securing of success is symbolized by the image of tying it to mulberry shoots. Confucius says concerning this: 'Danger arises when a man feels secure in his position. Ruin threatens when a man seeks to preserve his existence. Confusion arises when a man has everything in order. Therefore the superior man, when in security, does not forget danger; when in existence, he does not forget ruin; and when he has order, he does not forget confusion. In this way he personally comes into security, and the realm is preserved.'
Line 6
The standstill comes to an end. First standstill, then good fortune. The standstill does not last forever. To be sure, it does not cease of itself; rather, it requires the right man to put an end to it. This is the difference between peace and standstill. Peace requires constant effort in order to be maintained. Left to itself, it would turn into standstill and decline. The time of decline does not turn of itself into peace and blossoming; rather, it requires effort to be overcome. Herein is marked the creative position of man, which is necessary so that the world may be set in order.
Below ☷ Earth (Kun)
- Direction
- SW
- Element
- Earth
- Attributes
- Receptive · Yielding · Nourishing · Supporting · Dark
- Family
- Mother
Above ☰ Heaven (Kien)
- Direction
- NW
- Element
- Heaven · Metal
- Attributes
- Creative · Strong · Untiring · Luminous
- Family
- Father