INFLUENCE
31. Hsien / Influence
Top: Lake | Bottom: Mountain
The name of the hexagram means "universal," "general," and in a figurative sense "to influence,"
"to stimulate." The upper trigram is Tui, the Joyous; the lower is Kên, Keeping still. By its
persistent, quiet influence, the lower, rigid trigram stimulates the upper, weak trigram, which
responds to this stimulation cheerfully and joyously. Kên, the lower trigram, is the youngest son;
the upper, Tui, is the youngest daughter. Thus the universal mutual attraction between the sexes
is represented. In courtship, the masculine principle must seize the initiative and place itself
below the feminine principle. Just as the first part of book 1 begins with the hexagrams of heaven
and earth, the foundations of all that exists, the second part begins with the hexagrams of
courtship and marriage, the foundations of all social relationships.
THE JUDGMENT
Influence. Success. Perseverance furthers. To take a maiden to wife brings good fortune.
The weak element is above, the strong below; hence their powers attract each other, so that they
unite. This brings about success, for all success depends on the effect of mutual attraction. By
keeping still within while experiencing joy without, one can prevent the joy from going to excess
and hold it within proper bounds. This is the meaning of the added admonition, "Perseverance
furthers," for it is perseverance that makes the difference between seduction and courtship; in the
latter the strong man takes a position inferior to that of the weak girl and shows consideration for
her. This attraction between affinities is a general law of nature. Heaven and earth attract each
other and thus all creatures come into being. Through such attraction the sage influences men's
hearts, and thus the world attains peace. From the attractions they exert we can learn the nature
of all beings in heaven and on earth.
THE IMAGE
A lake on the mountain: Thus the superior man encourages people to approach him by his
readiness to receive them.
A mountain with a lake on its summit is stimulated by the moisture from the lake. It has this
advantage because its summit does not jut out as a peak but is sunken. The image counsels that
the mind should be kept humble and free, so that it may remain receptive to good advice. People
soon give up counseling a man who thinks that he knows everything better than anyone else.
THE LINES
Six at the beginning means:
The influence shows itself in the big toe.
A movement, before it is actually carried out, shows itself first in the toes. The idea of an
influence is already present, but is not immediately apparent to others. As long as the intention
has no visible effect, it is of no importance to the outside world and leads neither to good nor to
evil.
Six in the second place means:
The influence shows itself in the calves of the legs. Misfortune. Tarrying brings good fortune.
In movement, the calf of the leg follows the foot; by itself it can neither go forward nor stand
still. Since the movement is not self-governed, it bodes ill. One should wait quietly until one is
impelled to action by a real influence. Then one remains uninjured.
Nine in the third place means:
The influence shows itself in the thighs. Holds to that which follows it. To continue is humiliating.
Every mood of the heart influences us to movement. What the heart desires, the thighs run after
without a moment's hesitation; they hold to the heart, which they follow. In the life of man,
however, acting on the spur of every caprice is wrong and if continued leads to humiliation.
Three considerations suggest themselves here. First, a man should not run precipitately after all
the persons whom he would like to influence, but must be able to hold back under certain
circumstances. As little should he yield immediately to every whim of those in whose service he
stands. Finally, where the moods of his own heart are concerned, he should never ignore the
possibility of inhibition, for this is the basis of human freedom.
Nine in the fourth place means:
Perseverance brings good fortune. Remorse disappears. If a man is agitated in mind, and his
thoughts go hither and thither, only those friends on whom he fixes his conscious thoughts will
follow.
Here the place of the heart is reached. The impulse that springs from this source is the most
important of all. It is of particular concern that this influence be constant and good; then, in spite
of the danger arising from the great susceptibility of the human heart, there will be no cause for
remorse. When the quiet power of a man's own character is at work, the effects produced are
right. All those who are receptive to the vibrations of such a spirit will then be influenced.
Influence over others should not express itself as a conscious and willed effort to manipulate
them. Through practicing such conscious incitement, one becomes wrought up and is exhausted
by the eternal stress and strain. Moreover, the effects produced are then limited to those on whom
one's thoughts are consciously fixed.
Nine in the fifth place means:
The influence shows itself in the back of the neck. No remorse.
The back of the neck is the most rigid part of the body. When the influence shows itself there, the
will remains firm and the influence does not lead to confusion. Hence remorse does not enter into
consideration here. What takes place in the depths of one's being, in the unconscious mind. It is
true that if we cannot be influenced ourselves, we cannot influence the outside world.
Six at the top means:
The influence shows itself in the jaws, cheeks, and tongue.
The most superficial way of trying to influence others is through talk that has nothing real behind
it. The influence produced by such mere tongue wagging must necessarily remain insignificant.
Hence no indication is added regarding good or bad fortune.