Hexagram 32 of 64
恆 Héng · Duration
上 震 Thunder (Zhèn) over 下 巽 Wind (Xùn)
In repetition lies the answer.
Judgment
Zhouyi, hexagram 32, judgment. English translation in preparation.
Image
In short: thunder and wind together.
Zhouyi, hexagram 32, Great Image. Short gloss by Koyonari; full translation in preparation.
Commentary
Héng shows thunder and wind paired together; both are constantly in motion, yet together they forge an enduring constancy. Héng speaks of repetition itself being the answer: doing the same deed for the tenth time is fundamentally different from doing it the first time, a subtle difference known only to the one who has lived it. Carrying on as usual today is precisely what today asks of you.
Koyonari commentary.
The Six Lines
“Seeking constancy too deeply; steadfastness brings misfortune, nothing is favorable.” From the outset, one seeks lasting constancy deeply, impatient to reach enduring stability. Jùn means seeking deeply. Steadfastness here is read as stubbornly persisting: persisting in this approach brings misfortune, meaning an unfavorable outcome. The statement that nothing is favorable means there is no advantage to be gained.
Zhouyi, hexagram 32, line 1. Koyonari translation.
“Delving constancy brings misfortune: seeking depth initially.” Seeking constancy deeply causes misfortune because one demands too much depth from the start.
Zhouyi, hexagram 32, line 2. Koyonari translation.
“Remorse disappears.” Regret disappearing means that remorse ends. The second yang line occupies a yin position, so its placement is inherently imperfect. Yet it is central and can keep to the middle way over time, allowing it to avoid regret. The emphasis is on maintaining that central course for the long term.
Zhouyi, hexagram 32, line 3. Koyonari translation.
“Remorse disappears: abiding long in the center.” Second's remorse vanishes because it can long preserve the central path.
Zhouyi, hexagram 32, line 4. Koyonari translation.
“Not making constancy one's virtue, one may meet with disgrace; steadfastness brings distress.” Failing to sustain one's moral conduct brings disgrace. Héng means lasting stability, and dé means moral conduct and integrity. Steadfastness bringing humiliation is read as persisting in this approach, which leaves shame and regret. What this line censures is inconsistency in moral conduct.
Zhouyi, hexagram 32, line 5. Koyonari translation.
“Not keeping one’s virtue constant: there is nowhere to be taken in.” Failing to maintain virtuous conduct constantly leaves no place that will tolerate such a person.
Zhouyi, hexagram 32, line 6. Koyonari translation.
“No game in the field.” Hunting yields no animals. Tián here means hunting, and qín refers to game in general. The fourth yang line is improperly placed. Its image of prolonged hunting without a catch shows that even sustained persistence brings little gain when the position one holds is unsuitable.
Zhouyi, hexagram 32, line 7. Koyonari translation.
“Long out of place: how to catch game?” Staying long in an improper place, how could one capture any game?
Zhouyi, hexagram 32, line 8. Koyonari translation.
“Making constancy in virtue steadfast; for a woman good fortune, for a husband misfortune.” A yielding moral character is maintained over time; steadfastness means persisting without change. For a woman, the judgment is good fortune, a favorable outcome; for a man, referred to as fūzǐ, it is misfortune, an unfavorable outcome. Ancient commentaries explain this through women's obedience and men's duty to judge affairs: someone in charge cannot merely follow others. This reflects ancient ideas about gender roles.
Zhouyi, hexagram 32, line 9. Koyonari translation.
“Wife’s fidelity is auspicious: following one. The husband governs; following a wife brings misfortune.” A woman who keeps to what is right gains fortune, staying with one to the end. A husband judges affairs; submitting to a wife brings misfortune.
Zhouyi, hexagram 32, line 10. Koyonari translation.
“Restless, trembling constancy; misfortune.” Restless agitation prevents lasting stability. Zhèn means shaking or restlessness. The top yin line stands at the end of Héng (Constancy), yet still cannot settle down and persist. It is therefore judged as misfortune, meaning an unfavorable outcome. The point here is the difficulty of reconciling restlessness with constancy.
Zhouyi, hexagram 32, line 11. Koyonari translation.
“Agitated constancy above: greatly without merit.” Restless and inconstant at the top position, there is utterly no efficacy or merit.
Zhouyi, hexagram 32, line 12. Koyonari translation.