ENTHUSIASM
16. Yü / Enthusiasm
Top: Thunder | Bottom: Earth
The strong line in the fourth place, that of the leading official, meets with response and
obedience from all the other lines, which are all weak. The attribute of the upper trigram, Chên,
is movement; the attributes of K'un, the lower, are obedience and devotion. This begins a
movement that meets with devotion and therefore inspires enthusiasm, carrying all with it. Of
great importance, furthermore, is the law of movement along the line of least resistance, which in
this hexagram is enunciated as the law for natural events and for human life.
THE JUDGMENT
It furthers one to install helpers and to set armies marching.
The time of ENTHUSIASM derives from the fact that there is at hand an eminent man who is in
sympathy with the spirit of the people and acts in accord with it. Hence he finds universal and
willing obedience. To arouse enthusiasm it is necessary for a man to adjust himself and his
ordinances to the character of those whom he has to lead. The inviolability of natural laws rests
on this principle of movement along the line of least resistance. Theses laws are not forces
external to things but represent the harmony of movement immanent in them. That is why the
celestial bodies do not deviate from their orbits and why all events in nature occur with fixed
regularity. It is the same with human society: only such laws are rooted in popular sentiment can
be enforced, while laws violating this sentiment merely arouse resentment. Again, it is
enthusiasm that enables us to install helpers for the completion of an undertaking without fear of
secret opposition. It is enthusiasm too that can unify mass movements, as in war, so that they
achieve victory.
THE IMAGE
Thunder comes resounding out of the earth: Thus the ancient kings made music in order to
honor merit, and offered it with splendor to the Supreme Deity, inviting their ancestors to be present.
When, at the beginning of summer, thunder--electrical energy--comes rushing forth from the
earth again, and the first thunderstorm refreshes nature, a prolonged state of tension is resolved.
Joy and relief make themselves felt. So too, music has power to ease tension within the heart and
to loosen the grip of obscure emotions. The enthusiasm of the heart expresses itself involuntarily
in a burst of song, in dance and rhythmic movement of the body. From immemorial times the
inspiring effect of the invisible sound that moves all hearts, and draws them together, has
mystified mankind. Rulers have made use of this natural taste for music; they elevated and
regulated it. Music was looked upon as something serious and holy, designed to purify the
feelings of men. It fell to music to glorify the virtues of heroes and thus to construct a bridge to
the world of the unseen. In the temple men drew near to God with music and pantomimes (out of
this later the theater developed). Religious feeling for the Creator of the world was united with
the most sacred of human feelings, that of reverence for the ancestors. The ancestors were
invited to these divine services as guests of the Ruler of Heaven and as representatives of
humanity in the higher regions. This uniting of the human past with the Divinity in solemn
moments of religious inspiration established the bond between God and man. The ruler who
revered the Divinity in revering his ancestors became thereby the Son of Heaven, in whom the
heavenly and the earthly world met in mystical contact. These ideas are the final summation of
Chinese culture. Confucius has said of the great sacrifice at which these rites were performed:
"He who could wholly comprehend this sacrifice could rule the world as though it were spinning
on his hand."
THE LINES
Six at the beginning means:
Enthusiasm that expresses itself brings misfortune.
A man in an inferior position has aristocratic connections about which he boasts enthusiastically.
This arrogance inevitably invites misfortune. Enthusiasm should never be an egotistic emotion; it is justified only when it is a general feeling that unites one with others.
Six in the second place means:
Firm as a rock. Not a whole day. Perseverance brings good fortune.
This describes a person who does not allow himself to be misled by any illusions. While others
are letting themselves be dazzled by enthusiasm, he recognizes with perfect clarity the first signs
of the time. Thus he neither flatters those above nor neglects those beneath him; he is as firm as a
rock. When the first sign of discord appears, he knows the right moment for withdrawing and
does not delay even for a day. Perseverance in such conduct will bring good fortune. Confucius
says about this line: "To know the seeds, that is divine indeed. In his association with those above
him, the superior man does not flatter. In his association with those beneath him, he is not arrogant.
For he knows the seeds. The seeds are the first imperceptible beginning of movement, the first trace
of good fortune (or misfortune) that shows itself. The superior man perceives the seeds and
immediately takes action. He does not wait even a whole day." In the Book of Changes it is said:
"Firm as arock. Not a whole day. Perseverance brings good fortune."Firm as a rock, what need of a whole day? The judgment can be known. The superior man knows what is hidden and what is
evident. He knows weakness, he knows strength as well. Hence the myriads look up to him."
Six in the third place means:
Enthusiasm that looks upward creates remorse. Hesitation brings remorse.
This line is the opposite of the preceding one: the latter bespeaks self-reliance, while here there is
enthusiastic looking up to a leader. If a man hesitates too long, this also will bring remorse. The
right moment for approach must be seized: only then will he do the right thing.
Nine in the fourth place means:
The source of enthusiasm. He achieves great things. Doubt not. You gather friends around you
as a hair clasp gathers the hair.
This describes a man who is able to awaken enthusiasm through his own sureness and freedom
from hesitation. He attracts people because he has no doubts and is wholly sincere. Owing to his
confidence in them he wins their enthusiastic co-operation and attains success. Just as a clasp
draws the hair together and hold it, so he draws man together by the support he gives them.
Six in the fifth place means:
Persistently ill, and still does not die.
Here enthusiasm is obstructed. A man is under constant pressure, which prevents him from
breathing freely. However, this pressure has its advantage--it prevents him from consuming his
powers in empty enthusiasm. Thus constant pressure can actually serve to keep one alive.
Six at the top means:
Deluded enthusiasm. But if after completion one changes, then there is no blame.
It is a bad thing for a man to let himself be deluded by enthusiasm. But if this delusion has run its
course, and he is still capable of changing, then he is freed of error. A sober awakening from
false enthusiasm is quite possible and very favorable.