Hexagram 58 of 64
兌 Duì · The Joyous
上 兌 Lake (Duì) over 下 兌 Lake (Duì)
A day for talk and laughter.
Judgment
Zhouyi, hexagram 58, judgment. English translation in preparation.
Image
In short: lake joined to lake.
Zhouyi, hexagram 58, Great Image. Short gloss by Koyonari; full translation in preparation.
Commentary
Duì is lake joined to lake, waters flowing into one another: laughter and conversation arise naturally. Duì speaks of a day for easy talk and shared laughter—speak what you wish to say; exchange is itself nourishment. Not every word needs to be purposeful; even casual banter carries news of one another's well-being and feelings.
Koyonari commentary.
The Six Lines
“Harmonious joy: good fortune.” Duì means joy. Meeting others with a peaceful heart allows mutual harmony and delight, bringing good fortune. The first yang line describes joy that is naturally harmonious, without trying to win affection by catering to others.
Zhouyi, hexagram 58, line 1. Koyonari translation.
“The good fortune of harmonious joy: conduct is not yet doubted.” Harmonious joy brings good fortune because one’s conduct arouses no doubt or suspicion.
Zhouyi, hexagram 58, line 2. Koyonari translation.
“Sincere joy: good fortune, remorse disappears.” Fú means sincerity and trustworthiness within the heart. Sincere dealings with others bring mutual joy and good fortune, and earlier regret disappears. The harmony and delight of the second yang line rest on sincerity, rather than merely outward smiles and pleasing words.
Zhouyi, hexagram 58, line 3. Koyonari translation.
“Good fortune of sincere joy: the will is trustworthy.” Rejoicing with sincerity brings good fortune because the intent is truly trustworthy.
Zhouyi, hexagram 58, line 4. Koyonari translation.
“Enticing joy: misfortune.” Lái duì means coming forward to seek delight on one's own initiative. The third yin line is neither central nor correctly placed. It seeks others' affection by catering to and pleasing them. Hence misfortune, indicating that this way of seeking delight is not auspicious.
Zhouyi, hexagram 58, line 5. Koyonari translation.
“Misfortune of coming joy: the position is improper.” Coming forward to seek joy brings misfortune because six in the third place holds an improper position.
Zhouyi, hexagram 58, line 6. Koyonari translation.
“Deliberating joy, not yet at peace. Guarding against illness brings gladness.” Shāng duì means considering how to achieve harmony and delight, while the heart remains unsettled. Drawing clear boundaries and rejecting improper attempts to please can bring a welcome result. For the fourth yang line, faced with different ways of seeking delight, the key lies in making a choice consistent with what is right.
Zhouyi, hexagram 58, line 7. Koyonari translation.
“Joy of nine in the fourth place: there is celebration.” The joy of this line means having an outcome to celebrate.
Zhouyi, hexagram 58, line 8. Koyonari translation.
“Sincere trust placed in what erodes: danger.” Placing trust in someone who erodes firm integrity brings danger. Bō here means a force that wears away such integrity. The fifth yang line cautions that even someone in an honored position can suffer harm by readily trusting those who seek to please them.
Zhouyi, hexagram 58, line 9. Koyonari translation.
“Trusting in what peels away: the position is correct and proper.” Placed in trust toward that which erodes yang (traditional notes point to the top six), the Xiang Commentary deliberately highlights that nine in the fifth place occupies a correct and proper position as a reproach: holding a rightful station, one ought not to trust such an influence.
Zhouyi, hexagram 58, line 10. Koyonari translation.
“Leading joy along.” Yǐn duì means drawing others into seeking delight together. At the end of Duì, the top yin line draws those below into shared delight through a yielding manner that pleases others. This line focuses on the state of drawing people along by pleasing them.
Zhouyi, hexagram 58, line 11. Koyonari translation.
“Top six entices joy: not yet glorious.” Enticing others to seek joy means its way is not yet great or bright.
Zhouyi, hexagram 58, line 12. Koyonari translation.