Hexagram 17: Following
Hexagram
17. Following · Sui
Structure of the sign
Above is the Joyous, whose character is joy; below is the Arousing, whose character is movement. Joy in movement leads to following. The Joyous is the youngest daughter, the Arousing is the eldest son. An older man places himself beneath a young girl and shows consideration for her. Thereby he moves her to follow.
The Judgment
Following has sublime success. Perseverance furthers. No blame. In order to achieve following, one must first know how to adapt oneself. Only through serving does one come to rule; for only thus does one win the joyful assent of those below, which is indispensable for following. Wherever following is to be extorted through cunning or force, conspiracy or faction, resistance always stirs, preventing willing allegiance. Joyful movement, however, can also lead to evil. Therefore, as a condition, it is added: 'Perseverance furthers'—that is, consistency in what is right—and 'without blame.' Just as one should demand following only upon this condition, so too may one follow others only upon this condition without coming to harm. The concept of following through adaptation to what the time demands is great and weighty; hence the accompanying judgment is so favorable.
The Image
Thunder in the midst of the lake: the image of Following. Thus the superior man, at the time of evening darkness, goes within for refreshment and rest. In autumn, electricity withdraws back into the earth and rests. Thunder in the midst of the lake is taken as the image—not thunder in motion, but thunder in winter rest. Following arises from this image in the sense of adaptation to the demands of the time. Thunder in the midst of the lake points to times of darkness and rest. Thus the superior man, after having been untiringly active throughout the day, allows himself refreshment and rest at night. Every situation becomes auspicious only when one knows how to adapt to it and does not wear oneself out through false resistance.
The lines
Line 1▶ ruling line
The standard changes. Perseverance brings good fortune. Going out of the door in association creates achievements. There are exceptional conditions when the relationship between leader and led changes. Inherent in the idea of adaptation and following is that if one wishes to lead others, one remains accessible and allows oneself to be guided by the views of subordinates. Yet one must maintain firm principles, so that one does not waver where mere passing opinions of the day are concerned. Once one is willing to listen to the opinions of others, one must not continually associate only with the like-minded and party comrades, but must step out of the door and interact without prejudice with people of all kinds, whether friend or foe. Only through this does one accomplish something.
Line 2
If one clings to the little boy, one loses the strong man. In friendship and close relationships, one must exercise care in selection. One surrounds oneself either with good company or bad. One cannot possess both simultaneously. If one casts oneself away upon the unworthy, one loses connection with spiritually significant persons who are able to further one in what is good.
Line 3
If one cleaves to the strong man, one loses the little boy. Through following, one finds what one seeks. It furthers one to remain persevering. When one has found the right connection with distinguished persons, a certain loss is naturally bound up with it. One must separate from the low and superficial. Yet one will feel satisfied in the innermost self, finding what one seeks and needs for the cultivation of character. The essential thing is simply to hold firm. One must know what one wants, and not permit oneself to be led astray by momentary inclinations.
Line 4
Following creates success. Perseverance brings misfortune. To walk the path with truthfulness brings clarity. How could this be a blame? It often succeeds, when one possesses a certain influence, that one gains followers through affability toward those below. But the people who attach themselves do not mean it sincerely. They pursue their personal gain and seek to make themselves indispensable through flattery and servility. If one grows accustomed to such partisans so that one can no longer exist without them, it brings misfortune. Only when one is completely free from self-interest and devoted with conviction solely to what is right and objective, does one attain the clarity to see through such individuals, and one becomes free of blame.
Line 5▶ ruling line
Sincere in the good. Good fortune! Every person must have something to follow that serves as a guiding star. Whoever follows the beautiful and the good with conviction may feel fortified by this word.
Line 6
He meets with firm devotion and is bound into the bargain. The king introduces him to the Western Mountain. This refers to a man who has already left the turmoil of the world behind him—a sublime sage. But a follower appears who understands him and will not let him go. Thus he returns once more into the world and assists him in his work. Thereby an alliance of an eternal nature comes into being. The metaphor is derived from the Zhou dynasty. This dynasty honored meritorious helpers by granting them a place in the ancestral temple of the royal family upon the Western Mountain. Thereby such a man was received into the destiny of the ruling house.
Below ☳ Thunder (Dschen)
- Direction
- E
- Element
- Wood · Thunder
- Attributes
- Arousing · Awakening · Impelling · Moving
- Family
- Eldest Son
Above ☱ Lake (Dui)
- Direction
- W
- Element
- Lake · Metal
- Attributes
- Joyous · Cheerful · Open · Contented · Abundant
- Family
- Youngest Daughter