55. Feng

	Abundance
	Upper Trigram:	Chen, Thunderclap, Movement
	Lower Trigram:	Li, Clinging Brightness, Fire
	Governing Ruler:	Six in the fifth place

The Image
Thunder and lightning combine to form Feng. The superior man, in accordance with this, decides cases of litigation, and apportions punishments with exactness.

Miscellaneous Signs
Feng tells of trouble; Lü can boast few friends.

The Judgement
Feng intimates progress and development. When a king has reached the point implied in it, there is no occasion to be anxious for fear of a change. Let him be as the sun at noon.

Commentary
Feng has the signification of being great. It is made up of the trigrams for intelligence and movement, intelligence being the directing one. It is thus that it has this signification.
'The king has reached the point implied in it': he has still to make it greater.
'There is no occasion to be anxious: let him be as the sun at noon': it is for him to cause his light to shine on all under the sky. When the sun has reached the meridian height, it begins to decline. When the moon has become full, it starts to wane. The interaction of heaven and earth is now vigorous and abundant, now dull and scanty, growing and diminishing according to the seasons. How much more must it be so with men! how much more also with the spiritual agency!

The Lines and commentaries
Bottom nine
Showing its subject meeting with his mate. Though they are both of the same character (his correlate being improper), there will be no error. Advance will call forth approval.

'Though they are both of the same character, there will be no error': if the subject of this line should seek to overpass that similarity, there will be calamity.

Six in the second place
Showing its subject surrounded by screens so large and thick (his improper correlate and benighted ruler), that at midday he can see from them the constellation of the Bushel. If he go and try to enlighten his ruler, he will make himself to be viewed with suspicion and dislike. Let him cherish his feeling of sincere devotion, that he may thereby move his ruler's mind, and there will be good fortune.

'Let him cherish his feeling of sincere devotion, that it shall appear being put forth': it is by sincerity that the mind is affected.

Nine in the third place
Showing its subject with a screen of a large and thick banner, through which at midday he can see the Mei star. In the darkness he breaks his right arm; but there will be no error.

'There is a screen of a large and thick banner': great things should not be attempted.

Nine in the fourth place
Showing its subject in a tent so large and thick, that at midday he can see from it the constellation of the Bushel. He meets with his correlate, who is like himself. There will be good fortune.

'He is surrounded by a screen, large and thick': his position is inappropriate.
'At midday he sees the constellation of the Bushel': there is darkness and no light.
'He meets with his correlate, who is like himself. There will be good fortune': action may be taken.

Six in the fifth place
Showing its subject bringing around him the men of brilliant ability. There will be occasion for congratulation and praise. There will be good fortune.

The good fortune indicated by this line is the congratulation that is sure to arise.

Top-most six
His house is made large, but it is only serving as a screen to his household. When he looks at his door, it is still, and there is nobody about it. For three years no one is to be seen. There will be evil.

'He looks at his door, which is still, with no one about it': he keeps himself withdrawn from all others.