Hexagram 16 豫 - YÙ / ENTHUSIASM

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Trigrams

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• Above: Zhèn, The Arousing, Thunder
• Below: Kūn, The Receptive, Earth

The strong line in the fourth place, the position of the leading official, finds cooperation and obedience from all the other weak lines. The upper primary trigram, Zhèn, has movement as its characteristic, while the lower, Kūn, represents obedience and devotion. Thus, a movement is initiated that meets with devotion, resulting in a sweeping, enthusiastic effect. Furthermore, the law of movement along the line of least resistance is of great importance, expressed in this hexagram as a law for both natural phenomena and human life.

The Judgment

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Enthusiasm. It is favorable to appoint assistants and set armies marching.

The time of enthusiasm relies on the presence of a prominent man who is in touch with the soul of the people and acts in harmony with it. Therefore, he finds universal, willing obedience. To awaken enthusiasm, it is necessary to adjust one’s regulations to the nature of those being led. The inviolability of natural laws rests upon this rule of movement along the line of least resistance. These laws are not external to things, but rather the immanent harmony of movement within them. This is why heavenly bodies do not deviate from their orbits, and all natural processes unfold with strict regularity.

A similar principle applies to human society. Here, too, only those laws deeply rooted in popular sentiment can be successfully implemented, whereas laws opposing this sentiment only arouse bitterness.

Enthusiasm also makes it possible to appoint assistants to carry out tasks without fearing hidden opposition. It is enthusiasm that unifies mass movements, as in war, enabling them to achieve victory.

The Image

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Thunder comes sounding forth from the earth: the image of Enthusiasm. Thus the ancient kings made music to honor merit, and offered it magnificently to the Supreme God, inviting their ancestors to be present.

When thunder, the electrical force, bursts forth again from the earth at the beginning of summer and the first thunderstorm refreshes nature, a long-held tension breaks. Relief and joy take its place. Similarly, music possesses the power to ease the tension in the heart and dissolve the grip of dark emotions. The heart’s enthusiasm expresses itself spontaneously through song, dance, and the rhythmic movement of the body. Since antiquity, the inspiring effect of invisible sound, which moves and unites human hearts, has been perceived as a mystery.

Rulers utilized this natural inclination toward music, elevating and organizing it. Music was regarded as something serious and sacred, intended to purify human emotions. It was meant to praise the virtues of heroes and thus bridge the gap to the invisible world. In the temple, people approached God with music and pantomimes [¹]. Religious feelings toward the Creator of the world were united with the most sacred human emotions: reverence for ancestors. The ancestors were invited to these divine services as guests of the Heavenly Lord and representatives of humanity in those higher realms. By linking one’s own past with the divine during solemn moments of religious enthusiasm, the bond between God and humanity was sealed. The ruler who honored the divine through his ancestors became the Son of Heaven, in whom the heavenly and earthly worlds mystically touched. These ideas represent the ultimate and highest synthesis of Chinese culture [²].

The Moving Lines

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Six at the beginning means:

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Enthusiasm that expresses itself brings misfortune.

Someone in a subordinate position enjoys noble connections, which they enthusiastically boast about. This arrogance inevitably attracts misfortune. Enthusiasm must never be an egoistic feeling; it is only justified as a shared disposition that connects people with one another.

Six in the second place means:

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Firm as a rock. Not a whole day. Perseverance brings good fortune.

This describes someone who refuses to be deceived by illusions. While others let themselves be blinded by enthusiasm, this person recognizes the first signs of the times with absolute clarity. Thus, they are neither flattering toward those above nor negligent toward those below; they remain as firm as a rock. As soon as the first sign of discord appears, they know how to withdraw in time, without wasting even a single day. Perseverance in such conduct brings good fortune [³].

Six in the third place means:

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Enthusiasm that looks upward brings remorse. Hesitation brings remorse.

This is the exact opposite of the previous line: where there was independence, here is an enthusiastic gazing upward. If one hesitates too long, that too brings remorse. In approaching others, one must seize the right moment; only then does one hit the mark.

Nine in the fourth place means:

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The source of enthusiasm. He achieves great things. Do not doubt. Friends gather around you as around a hair clasp.

This refers to someone capable of awakening enthusiasm through their own confidence and freedom from doubt. By remaining completely truthful and unwavering, they attract people. By placing trust in others, they win them over for enthusiastic cooperation and achieve success. Just as a hair clasp holds hair together and unites it, this person unifies people through the support they provide.

Six in the fifth place means:

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Persistently ill, yet never dying.

Here, enthusiasm is obstructed. One finds oneself under continuous pressure, which prevents breathing freely. However, this pressure can have its advantages. It preserves a person from wasting their energy in empty enthusiasm. Thus, constant pressure can serve precisely to keep one alive.

Six at the top means:

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Blinded enthusiasm. But if one comes to a change after completion, that is no blame.

Allowing oneself to be blinded by enthusiasm is harmful. However, even if this delusion is already an accomplished fact, if one can still change, one becomes free of blame. Sobriety following false enthusiasm is entirely possible and highly favorable.

Reference links

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• Hexagram look-up table
• Advanced hexagram correspondence table