P37

37. Chia Jen; The Family

Above; Sun the Gentle wind,wood

Below; Li the Clinging fire

21st Century

Comparisons

Here the lines of the Hexagram represent a family, the various members in the their appropriate places. Assume nothing. Frame your actions to suit the boundaries intrinsic to your family's reality. The family is an association of like interests generating consequences as offspring. Ordering themselves to the task of preserving and nurturing the next generation. By example one's authority asserts itself in the family through the integrity of one's actions and the benefits of the consequences.

To be in an association with others who do not take their responsibilities seriously will lead to stress and trouble. But if each attends to their tasks conscientiously all will be well.

Being too harsh with those who have made common cause with you is foolish. It disrespects the other's commitment. However if there is reciprocity then there is nothing to hinder the difficulties being addressed. The feminine aspect of life places the priority on safety for the young, the offspring. When balanced with the male principle the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

In the end in presiding over the particular family of interests which concerns you the welfare of those interests will govern the decisions you have to make. When family is primary then the problems of ego solve themselves.

Line 1

Below are the comparative interpretations of a) Legge, b) Willhelm, c) Riefler, d) Crowley

Hex 37 Line 1:

a) establishing restrictive regulations in his household. Occasion for repentance will disappear.

b) Firm seclusion within the family. Remorse disappears.

c) The man makes rules for the family. Guilt disappears.

d) First, proper law's a necessary thing.

Go to top

Hex 37 Line 2:

a) taking nothing on herself, but in her central place attending to the preparation of the food. Through her firm correctness there will be good fortune.

b) She should not follow her whims. She must attend within to the food. Perseverance brings good fortune.

c) She attends to the cooking. Auspicious if you keep to your course.

d) Housekeepers keep the house with modesty;

Go to top

Hex 37 Line 3:

a) (treating) the members of the household with stern severity. There will be occasion for repentance, there will be peril. (but) there will (also) be good fortune. If the wife and children were to be smirking and chattering, in the end there would be occasion for regret.

b) When tempers flare up in the family, Too great severity brings remorse. Good fortune nonetheless. When woman and child dally and laugh, It leads in the end to humiliation.

c) The man is very stern. If he let his wife and children chatter and giggle he would regret it. Auspicious but with guilt and peril.

d) Be stern for idleness and chattering.

Go to top

Hex 37 Line 4:

a) enriching the family. There will be great good fortune.

b) She is the treasure of the house. Great good fortune.

c) She enriches the family. Very auspicious.

d) Thus fortune helps enrich the family.

Go to top

Hex 37 Line 5:

a) the influence of the king extending to his family. There need be no anxiety; there will be good fortune.

b) As a king he approaches his family. Fear not. Good fortune.