Hexagram 8 of 64
比 Bì · Holding Together
上 坎 Water (Kǎn) over 下 坤 Earth (Kūn)
Draw near to those you would be near.
Judgment
Zhouyi, hexagram 8, judgment. English translation in preparation.
Image
In short: water upon the earth.
Zhouyi, hexagram 8, Great Image. Short gloss by Koyonari; full translation in preparation.
Commentary
Bì is water resting upon the earth, clinging closely to the ground; intimacy unfolds naturally without force or contrivance. Bì speaks of drawing near to those you wish to be close to, without straining to fit into the crowd. Let closeness in relationships align with your true feelings; forced intimacy takes more toll to maintain than solitude ever does.
Koyonari commentary.
The Six Lines
“Holding sincere trust, joining together, no blame. Sincerity fills the earthen vessel; unexpected good fortune arrives in the end.” Joining with others in sincerity and trust brings no blame, meaning no fault. Fú means sincerity and trust, and fǒu is an earthenware jar. Sincerity is full and substantial, like a filled jar. Other people will eventually come to join as well, bringing good fortune. Plain yet substantial sincerity forms the basis for the attachment described in this line.
Zhouyi, hexagram 8, line 1. Koyonari translation.
“Initial Six of Bǐ: there is other good fortune.” Initial Six in Bǐ attaches itself with sincere trust, ultimately gaining good fortune through an arrival from elsewhere. Kong Yingda's sub-commentary explains “other” as other people also coming to attach themselves; another view takes it as unexpected good fortune.
Zhouyi, hexagram 8, line 2. Koyonari translation.
“Joining together from within; steadfastness brings good fortune.” Attachment originates in the inner trigram. The second yin line is central and correctly placed, corresponding directly to the fifth yang line in the honored position: hence, from within. Joining a suitable ruler without losing one’s proper role brings good fortune through steadfastness in the right course. The Xiàngzhuàn (Commentary on the Images) calls this not losing oneself.
Zhouyi, hexagram 8, line 3. Koyonari translation.
“Holding together from within: one does not lose oneself.” Six in the second place dwells in the center of the inner trigram and reaches outward from within to attach to Nine in the fifth place; it keeps its own central and correct place and does not lose itself in reaching outward, so it is said not to lose itself.
Zhouyi, hexagram 8, line 4. Koyonari translation.
“Joining with unworthy companions.” The attachment is to an unsuitable person. Bǐ means drawing close and attaching oneself to someone. Fěi rén means that the other person is not upright. This line emphasizes that the problem lies in choosing an unsuitable person to join.
Zhouyi, hexagram 8, line 5. Koyonari translation.
“Holding together with improper people: is this not hurtful?” Attaching oneself to improper persons: is it not truly lamentable?
Zhouyi, hexagram 8, line 6. Koyonari translation.
“Joining with someone outside; steadfastness brings good fortune.” Attachment reaches outward toward a suitable person. The fourth yin line is in the outer trigram and joins the fifth yang line above: hence, joining outward. Good fortune through steadfastness means keeping to the right course with a favorable outcome. This outward attachment also requires a suitable partner and a proper relationship.
Zhouyi, hexagram 8, line 7. Koyonari translation.
“Outwardly allied with the worthy: following superiors.” Six in the fourth place attaches outwardly to the worthy, following Nine in the fifth place above.
Zhouyi, hexagram 8, line 8. Koyonari translation.
“Manifest union. The king conducts the three-sided hunt, losing the game ahead, yet the townspeople need no warning; good fortune.” People are drawn into attachment openly and honestly. In a hunt, the king drives the animals from only three sides, allowing those ahead to escape. The people of the settlement need no admonition, and the outcome is good fortune. Open attachment uses a hunt without insisting on catching everything as its metaphor: the bond is open and honorable, without forcing anyone to stay.
Zhouyi, hexagram 8, line 9. Koyonari translation.
“Manifest alliance brings good fortune through being central and correct. Relinquishing the opposing and taking the compliant: losing game ahead. Citizens require no caution: the one above directs them centrally.” Manifest alliance is auspicious because Nine in the fifth place is central and correct. Letting beasts that run toward oneself escape and taking only those fleeing with the drive lets forward game slip away; townspeople need no defense because the one above directs them aptly, in accord with the central path.
Zhouyi, hexagram 8, line 10. Koyonari translation.
“Joining without a head; misfortune.” The attachment lacks a beginning. Having no beginning means that the relationship was not established at the outset. Only at the end of the Bǐ hexagram is attachment sought, when the proper time has already passed. Misfortune means an unfavorable outcome. This line concerns an attachment that has missed the beginning it needed.
Zhouyi, hexagram 8, line 11. Koyonari translation.
“Holding together without a head: nowhere to end.” Six at the top attaches without a beginning (“head”, also read as a leader), hence having no way to reach an end.
Zhouyi, hexagram 8, line 12. Koyonari translation.