64. Wei Chi / Before Completion

Top: Fire | Bottom: Water

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THE SUMMARY

This hexagram indicates a time when the transition from disorder to order is not yet completed.

The change is indeed prepared for, since all the lines in the upper trigram are in relation to those

in the lower. However, they are not yet in their places. While the preceding hexagram offers an

analogy to autumn, which forms the transition from summer to winter, this hexagram presents a

parallel to spring, which leads out of winter's stagnation into the fruitful time of summer. With

this hopeful outlook the Book of Changes come to its close.

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THE WISDOM

The conditions are difficult. The task is great and full of responsibility. It is nothing less than that

of leading the world out of confusion back to order. But it is a task that promises success,

because there is a goal that can unite the forces now tending in different directions. At first,

however, one must move warily, like an old fox walking over ice. The caution of a fox walking

over ice is proverbial in China. His ears are constantly alert to the cracking of the ice, as he

carefully and circumspectively searches out the safest spots. A young fox who as yet has not

acquired this caution goes ahead boldly, and it may happen that he falls in and gets his tail wet

when he is almost across the water. Then of course his effort has been all in vain. Accordingly, in

times "before completion," deliberation and caution are the prerequisites of success.

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THE JUDGMENT

Success. But if the little fox, after nearly completing the crossing, gets his tail in the water, and

there is nothing that would further.

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THE IMAGE

Fire over water: The image of the condition before transition. Thus the superior man is careful In the differentiation of things, so that each finds its place.

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When fire, which by nature flames upward, is above, and water, which flows downward, is

below, their effects take opposite directions and remain unrelated. If we wish to achieve an

effect, we must first investigate the nature of the forces in question and ascertain their proper

place. If we can bring these forces to bear in the right place, they will have the desired effect and

completion will be achieved. But in order to handle external forces properly, we must above all

arrive at the correct standpoint ourselves, for only from this vantage can we work correctly.

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THE LINES STRESSED

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Six at the beginning means:

He gets his tail in the water. Humiliating.

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In times of disorder there is a temptation to advance oneself as rapidly as possible in order to

accomplish something tangible. But this enthusiasm leads only to failure and humiliation if the

time for achievement has not yet arrived. In such time it is wise to spare ourselves the

opprobrium of failure by holding back.

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Nine in the second place means:

He brakes his wheels. Perseverance brings good fortune.

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Here again the time to act has not yet come. But the patience needed is not that of idle waiting

without thought of the morrow. Kept up indefinitely, this would not lead to any success. Instead,

an individual must develop in himself the strength that will enable him to go forward. He must

have a vehicle, as it were, to effect the crossing. But he must for the time being use the brakes.

Patience in the highest sense means putting brakes on strength. Therefore he must not fall asleep

and lose sight of the goal. If he remains strong and steadfast in his resolve, all goes well in the

end.

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Six in the third place means:

Before completion, attack brings misfortune. It furthers one to cross the great water.

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The time of transition has arrived, but one lacks the strength to complete the transition. If one

should attempt to force it, disaster would result, because collapse would then be unavoidable.

What is to be done? A new situation must be created; one must engage the energies of able

helpers and in this fellowship take the decisive step-cross the great water. Then completion will

become possible.

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Nine in the fourth place means:

Perseverance brings good fortune. Remorse disappears. Shock, thus to discipline the Devil's

Country. For three years, great realms are rewarded.

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Now it is the time of struggle. The transition must be completed. We must make ourselves strong

in resolution; this brings good fortune. All misgivings that might arise in such grave times of

struggle must be silenced. It is a question of a fierce battle to break and to discipline the Devil's

Country, the forces of decadence. But the struggle also has its reward. Now is the time to lay the

foundations of power and mastery for the future.

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Six in the fifth place means:

Perseverance brings good fortune. No remorse. The light of the superior man is true. Good fortune.

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The victory has been won. The power of steadfastness has not been routed. Everything has gone

well. All misgivings have been overcome. Success has justified the deed. The light of a superior

personality shines forth anew and makes its influence felt among men who have faith in it and

rally around it. The new time has arrived, and with it good fortune. And just as the sun shines

forth in redoubled beauty after rain, or as a forest grows more freshly green from charred ruins

after a fire, so the new era appears all the more glorious by contrast with the misery of the old.

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Nine at the top means:

There is drinking of wine in genuine confidence. No blame. But if one wets his head, he loses it, in

truth.

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Before completion, at the dawning of the new time, friends foregather in an atmosphere of

mutual trust, and the time of waiting is passed in conviviality. Since the new era is hard on the

threshold, there is no blame in this. But one must be careful in all this to keep within proper

bounds. If in his exuberance a man gets drunk, he forfeits the favorableness of the situation

through his intemperance.