Hexagram 61 of 64
中孚 Zhōng Fú · Inner Truth
上 巽 Wind (Xùn) over 下 兌 Lake (Duì)
Speak true, beginning with small things.
Judgment
Zhouyi, hexagram 61, judgment. English translation in preparation.
Image
In short: wind over the lake.
Zhouyi, hexagram 61, Great Image. Short gloss by Koyonari; full translation in preparation.
Commentary
Zhōng Fú is wind over the lake: wind stirring upon water, open at the center to respond. Zhōng Fú speaks of speaking the truth, starting with one small matter: sincerity is conveyed through particulars; sweeping declarations all sound alike, whereas one concrete word truly reaches the heart.
Koyonari commentary.
The Six Lines
“Careful assessment brings good fortune. If there are other intentions, no peace.” First assess whether the object of trust is trustworthy, then trust it wholeheartedly: only then can there be good fortune, meaning a good outcome. If other intentions arise and trust is no longer single-minded, peace becomes difficult. Here, yú means to assess carefully, while yàn means peace and tranquility.
Zhouyi, hexagram 61, line 1. Koyonari translation.
“Nine at the beginning: consideration brings good fortune, for the will has not yet changed.” The Lesser Image Commentary explains the line text of Nine at the beginning: "consideration brings good fortune" means that Nine at the beginning first deliberates on whom to trust before following them, which brings good fortune (another explanation glosses yú as undivided devotion); this is because the person's will has not changed and has not yet turned to follow anyone else.
Zhouyi, hexagram 61, line 2. Koyonari translation.
“A crane calls in the shade, its young singing in response. I have a fine rank, and I will share it with you.” A crane calls from a secluded place, and its young answers; the speaker has an honored rank and wishes to share it. Ancient commentary reads this as not keeping power and rank for oneself, sharing only with the virtuous. Zhū Xī instead takes the honored rank as an image of virtue that holds to the center. Both images show sincerity eliciting a response: heartfelt sincerity can reach those who resonate with it, even from seclusion.
Zhouyi, hexagram 61, line 3. Koyonari translation.
“Its young responds to it: this is the sincere desire of the heart.” The Lesser Image Commentary explains the line text of Nine in the Second Place: a crane calls in the shade and its fledgling chimes in harmony because their minds are connected, and their mutual resonance arises entirely from the genuine desires of their hearts.
Zhouyi, hexagram 61, line 4. Koyonari translation.
“Finding a counterpart: now beating the drum, now ceasing; now weeping, now singing.” On meeting an opponent, one alternately drums to advance, stops in exhaustion and retreats, weeps, or sings; actions and emotions fluctuate. Zhū Xī identifies the opponent as the corresponding top Nine, while Wáng Bì identifies it as the adjacent Six in the fourth place. Six in the third place is yin and yielding, neither central nor correctly placed: it lacks self-direction, and its sincerity cannot settle either.
Zhouyi, hexagram 61, line 5. Koyonari translation.
“Now beating the drum, now stopping: the position is inappropriate.” The Lesser Image Commentary explains the line text of Six in the Third Place: now beating the drum to advance, now desisting and retreating (the original text reads "kě gǔ huò bà," while the received text reads "huò gǔ huò bà," with kě generally regarded as an error for huò), because Six in the Third Place is a yin line dwelling in a yang place, and thus its position is inappropriate.
Zhouyi, hexagram 61, line 6. Koyonari translation.
“The moon is almost full; the horse loses its mate: no blame.” The moon is nearly full, while a horse loses its paired companion; there can still be no blame, meaning no fault. The nearly full moon represents the flourishing position of Six in the fourth place. Losing the paired horse represents giving up former ties and focusing wholeheartedly on maintaining trust toward those above.
Zhouyi, hexagram 61, line 7. Koyonari translation.
“The team of horses is lost: it cuts off its kind and ascends.” The Lesser Image Commentary explains Six in the Fourth Place: "the team of horses is lost" means Six in the Fourth Place severs ties with its kind and ascends to follow Nine in the Fifth Place. As for the "kind" severed, one view points to corresponding Nine at the beginning, another to yin Six in the Third Place.
Zhouyi, hexagram 61, line 8. Koyonari translation.
“There is sincerity binding tightly: no blame.” Fú means a sincere and trustworthy heart. People are closely connected, as though tied together; luán rú describes this state of being bound to one another. Nine in the fifth place connects people's hearts through sincerity and trust, achieving no blame: having no fault and inviting no reproach.
Zhouyi, hexagram 61, line 9. Koyonari translation.
“Possessing sincerity, securely bound: the position is correct.” The Lesser Image Commentary explains Nine in the Fifth Place: "possessing sincerity, securely bound" denotes mutual trust tightly knit, because Nine in the Fifth Place is yang in the fifth position, its place being correct.
Zhouyi, hexagram 61, line 10. Koyonari translation.
“Crowing rooster's cry ascends to heaven: perseverance brings misfortune.” Hàn yīn was an ancient name for a chicken. Here, its cry rises to the sky: its reputation is lofty, but it lacks substance to match. When sincerity has become mere reputation, continuing to cling to that state brings misfortune through steadfastness, meaning that persistence will have an unfavorable outcome.
Zhouyi, hexagram 61, line 11. Koyonari translation.
“Cockcrow mounts to heaven: how could this endure for long?” The Lesser Image Commentary explains the line text of Nine at the top: the empty sound of cockcrow soaring high into the sky refers to possessing vain, superficial clamor without solid, genuine virtue; how could such hollow fame divorced from reality possibly endure for long?
Zhouyi, hexagram 61, line 12. Koyonari translation.