Hexagram 59 of 64
渙 Huàn · Dispersion
上 巽 Wind (Xùn) over 下 坎 Water (Kǎn)
Scatter what blocks the way.
Judgment
Zhouyi, hexagram 59, judgment. English translation in preparation.
Image
In short: wind over water.
Zhouyi, hexagram 59, Great Image. Short gloss by Koyonari; full translation in preparation.
Commentary
Huàn is wind blowing over water, dissolving the cluster gathered upon it. Huàn speaks of scattering what blocks the way: impasses are often dispersed by breezes rather than forcibly untied. Today, do not attack the knot head-on; change the setting, turn to another task—once the air begins to move, the knot loosens on its own.
Koyonari commentary.
The Six Lines
“Rescued with the strength of a horse: good fortune.” Using strong horses to carry out a rescue brings good fortune. Huàn means dispersal. Its first yin line stands at the very beginning of dispersal, using strong horses as an image of powerful assistance. It describes timely help for a situation in which separation has not yet spread.
Zhouyi, hexagram 59, line 1. Koyonari translation.
“Good fortune of initial six: it complies.” It is auspicious because it complies with the firm line above.
Zhouyi, hexagram 59, line 2. Koyonari translation.
“In dispersion, hastening to his bench: remorse disappears.” In a time of dispersal, hurry toward a small table that offers support. Jī means a low table used to lean on, serving as a metaphor for dependable support. With something to rely on for security, regret disappears: earlier regret can be resolved.
Zhouyi, hexagram 59, line 3. Koyonari translation.
“Dispersing, rushing to one’s leaning table: obtaining one’s wish.” Hastening toward a table to lean on amid dispersal means that one’s wish is fulfilled.
Zhouyi, hexagram 59, line 4. Koyonari translation.
“Dispersing oneself: no remorse.” Huàn qí gōng means letting go of selfish concern for oneself and devoting one's efforts to relieving a situation of dispersal. No regret means having nothing to regret. The third yin line concerns not putting personal gains and losses first.
Zhouyi, hexagram 59, line 5. Koyonari translation.
“Dispersing one’s own person: the will is directed outside.” Dispersing oneself without holding fast to the self happens because one’s aspirations are set on the outside, not tied to oneself (ancient commentaries explain this as the mind responding to the top nine of the outer trigram).
Zhouyi, hexagram 59, line 6. Koyonari translation.
“Dispersing his group: supreme good fortune. Dispersing toward the mound: beyond ordinary thought.” Breaking up narrow factions brings yuán jí, great good fortune. Although the small groups disperse, they can unite into a larger group, like a hill. This approach of achieving unity through dispersal lies beyond what ordinary people would think of.
Zhouyi, hexagram 59, line 7. Koyonari translation.
“Dispersing the crowd brings supreme good fortune: glorious and great.” Dispersing factions brings supreme good fortune because this line’s deeds are glorious and great.
Zhouyi, hexagram 59, line 8. Koyonari translation.
“Sweating profusely in great proclamation; dispersing the royal storehouse: no blame.” The ruler spreads major commands widely, like sweat leaving the body: once issued, they are not withdrawn. Ancient commentaries read huàn wáng jū either as distributing the ruler's accumulated wealth or as the ruler occupying the proper position to remedy dispersal. No blame means no fault. The fifth yang line concerns using commands to restore calm to people's scattered hearts.
Zhouyi, hexagram 59, line 9. Koyonari translation.
“The king abides without blame: the position is correct.” The king incurs no blame because he occupies a rightful and correct station.
Zhouyi, hexagram 59, line 10. Koyonari translation.
“Dispersing bloodshed, departing far away: no blame.” Huàn qí xuè means dispelling harm. Tì means far, and qù tì chū means going far away and escaping. Hence no blame: there is no fault. Another reading holds that the tì meaning far should be read as a different character, also pronounced tì, meaning fear. At the hexagram's end, the top yang line stands outside, far from harm.
Zhouyi, hexagram 59, line 11. Koyonari translation.
“Dispersing one’s blood: keeping far from harm.” Dispersing injuries and anxieties means keeping oneself far away from calamities.
Zhouyi, hexagram 59, line 12. Koyonari translation.