Hexagram 24 復 - FÚ / THE TURNING POINT
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Trigrams#
- Above: Kūn, the Receptive, Earth
- Below: Zhèn, the Arousing, Thunder
The turning point is indicated by the fact that after the dark lines have pushed all the light lines upward and out, a light line now re-enters the hexagram from below. The time of darkness is over. The winter solstice brings the victory of light. This hexagram is associated with the eleventh month, the month of the solstice (December-January).
The Judgment#
Return. Success. Going out and coming in without error. Friends come without blame. To and fro goes the way. On the seventh day comes the return. It is advantageous to have a destination.
After a period of collapse comes the turning point. The strong light that was previously expelled enters again. There is movement, but this movement is not forced. The upper trigram, Kūn, has devotion as its inherent character; therefore, it is a natural movement that arises spontaneously. For this reason, the transformation of the old is completely effortless. The old is discarded and the new is introduced; both measures correspond to the time and therefore cause no harm. Associations of like-minded individuals form. But this union takes place in full public view; it corresponds to the requirements of the era, and therefore any selfish, fractional ambition is excluded, ensuring no structural error arises from these associations. Return is grounded in the course of nature. The movement is cyclic, and the path is closed within itself. Therefore, there is no need to rush anything artificially. Everything develops on its own when the time is right. This is the operational meaning of heaven and earth.
All movements develop in six stages, and the seventh stage brings the return. Thus, the winter solstice arrives in the seventh month after the summer solstice (from which point the year declines), just as sunrise follows the seventh double-hour after sunset. Therefore, seven is the number of the young light, born when six, the number of great darkness, increases by one. This introduces movement into stagnation.
The Image#
Thunder in the midst of the earth: the image of the turning point. Thus the ancient kings closed the passes at the time of the solstice. Merchants and strangers did not travel, and the ruler did not inspect the provinces.
The winter solstice has always been celebrated in China as the resting period of the year - a custom still preserved in the New Year holiday season. In winter, the life force - symbolized by the arousing thunder - is still beneath the earth. Movement is in its earliest beginnings. Therefore, it must be strengthened through rest so that it is not dissipated by premature consumption. This core principle of allowing the returning strength to grow robust through rest applies to all corresponding structural situations. Returning health after an illness, or returning understanding after a disagreement: everything must be treated gently and with care in its initial stages, so that the return may lead to full bloom.
The Changing Lines#
Nine at the beginning means:#
Return from a short distance. No need for remorse. Great good fortune!
Slight deviations from what is right are unavoidable. One must only turn back in time before going too far. This is of particular importance in character cultivation. Every subtle negative impulse must be eliminated immediately, before it develops further and solidifies. In this way, there is no need for remorse, and everything progresses exceptionally well.
Six in the second place means:#
Quiet return. Good fortune!
Turning back always requires a clear decision and is an act of self-mastery. It is made easier when one is in good company. If one can find the humility to set aside pride and align with upright individuals, it brings validation and good fortune.
Six in the third place means:#
Repeated return. Danger. No blame.
Some individuals possess a certain inner instability, requiring a continuous recalibration of their will. There is danger in this perpetual turning away from the right path due to uncontrolled impulses and subsequently turning back to it out of a better resolve. However, because this pattern prevents a permanent solidification in wrong ways, the general inclination toward shedding the flaw remains entirely possible.
Six in the fourth place means:#
Walking in the midst of others, one returns alone.
One moves in the midst of a group of low-minded associates but maintains an inner connection with a strong and upright friend. As a consequence, one turns back alone. Although there is no mention of reward or punishment, the outcome is highly favorable; for such a commitment to the right path carries its own intrinsic reward.
Six in the fifth place means:#
Magnanimous return. No remorse.
When the time for return arrives, one should not hide behind trivial excuses, but rather practice introspection and honest self-examination. If an error has been committed, it should be acknowledged with a resolute and magnanimous decision. This is a path that no one will regret.
Six at the top means:#
Missing the return. Misfortune. Disaster from without and from within. If armies are marched in this way, a great defeat will ultimately be suffered, bringing disaster to the ruler of the country. For ten years, one will be unable to attack.
Missing the right moment for return leads to disaster. The internal misfortune is rooted in a misaligned position relative to the universal order, and external misfortune follows as a direct consequence of this structural error. This depicts absolute obstinacy and its inevitable judgment.
Reference links#
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