53 – Chien (Jian) / Development (Gradual Progress) and #54 Kuei Mei (Gui Mei) / The Marrying Maiden

I Ching explorations - Parts 53 and 54 of 64

53 – Chien (Jian) / Development (Gradual Progress)

#53, Chien (Jian) is formed by The Gentle (Wind/Wood) above and Keeping Still (Mountain) below.  The outer expression is one of persistent and penetrating perseverance as demonstrated by a tree while the inner expression is one of calm, steadfast, and patient tranquility exemplified by the mountain.  The image of an ancient tree standing firmly rooted on a mountaintop captures the patience, determination, and tranquility embodied by this hexagram.

Gradual progression can be tedious.  It takes fortitude and determination to keep chipping away, bit by bit over a long period of time.  As Wilhelm translates, “perseverance alone prevents slow progress from dwindling to nothing.”  This hexagram is all about pacing oneself and not being too hasty.  Rather, the I Ching advises that one can exert inexorable influence through the ongoing cultivation of one’s own personality – “no influence such as that exerted by agitators has a lasting effect.” (W/B)  One is advised not to rush headlong in an attempt to change things.  Rather, at this time the proper course of action is to be patient and to go slowly.

The tree slowly grows and gradually changes its environment while it changes in turn.  It provides shelter to creatures and other plants and demonstrates to those wise enough to see, how to gradually have a positive influence through steadfast cultivation of one’s inner dynamics.  Those inner dynamics, here expressed by the polar opposite nuclear trigrams Li (Fire) and Kan (Water), must be carefully managed to prevent their energies from diverging as they are in contrary positions with water being below fire.  As was noted in the discussion of #64 (see July 4, 2012), these forces must be brought into proper configuration for them to be constructive.

“One must put them into their proper places as carefully as one handles fire and water, so that they do not combat one another." (W/B)

In the lives of men and women, the development of a lasting and stable relationship also succeeds through perseverance.  Ideally, we practice the difficult task of communicating and understanding one another while inwardly maintaining an attitude of calmness, patience, and tranquility.  If we allow the nuclear trigram Fire to enflame us too intensely or Water to chill us too frigidly, the inner balance will be offset and the situation can become untenable.  Relationship-building is a long-term endeavor and one can have a lasting influence over others, as the bristlecone does on its immediate surroundings, through gradual inner development.

#54 Kuei Mei (Gui Mei)  / The Marrying Maiden

#54 is one of the four hexagrams in the I Ching that depict relationships between a man and a woman.  #54 - Kuei Mei is the opposite of #53 -  Chien.  As such, one might expect it to mean “rapid decline,” but instead, the Marrying Maiden (Thunder over Lake) represents the delicate balance that must be achieved for interpersonal relationships to be successful.

Just as thunder can stir the waters of a lake, relationships between two people can be made to quiver with misunderstandings and disagreements if the internal dynamics are out of sync.  The nuclear trigrams, Water and Fire, are opposites here as they were in #53, but this time they are in the proper orientation to one another to produce sustaining harmony with fire flowing upward toward water the flows downward.  When in harmony, these two forces have the potential to create greatness, as was noted in the discussion of #63 (see July 12, 2012).

The I Ching advised that the relationship described by this hexagram can be used to describe how all voluntary relationships depend in the long run on mutual love and affection:  whether the relationship is between husband and wife, king and minister, or boss and employee.  Ok, we all know love and affection are unrealistic in some cases – for instance employee and boss, but respect and hopefully admiration would be steps in the right direction.

Outward enthusiasm, movement, and energy (Thunder) combined with inner joy (Lake) can produce attitudes that are conducive to a mutually-beneficial union between any two parties.  Think cool heads (nuclear trigram Water) and passionate hearts (nuclear trigram Fire) rather than hot heads and cold hearts.

This danger of potential misunderstandings is inherent in all relationships between individuals.  Therefore, the I Ching counsels that it is important to “remain mindful of the end.” (W/B).

            If we permit ourselves to drift along, we come together and are parted again as the day may determine.  If on the other hand a man fixes his mind on an end that endures, he will succeed in avoiding the reefs that confront the closer relationships of people.

If we approach relationships with the objective being to achieve enduring harmony and mutual benefit built on love and affection or at least respect, we are bound to be more successful than if we enter relationships with the motive being to achieve personal and selfish gains.