Hexagram 55
FêngAbundance
Thunder (Zhen) · Fire (Li)
The image
Both thunder and lightning come: The image of ABUNDANCE. Thus the superior man decides lawsuits And carries out punishments.
This hexagram in one line
Chên is movement; Li is flame, whose attribute is clarity. Clarity within, movement without—this produces greatness and abundance. The hexagram pictures a period of advanced civilization. However, the fact that development has reached a peak suggests that this extraordinary condition of abundance cannot be maintained permanently.
Core Meaning
The core judgment of this hexagram.
Thunder and fire illuminate
Hexagram Judgment
ABUNDANCE has success. The king attains abundance. Be not sad. Be like the sun at midday.
It is not given to every mortal to bring about a time of outstanding greatness and abundance. Only a born ruler of men is able to do it, because his will is directed to what is great. Such a time of abundance is usually brief. Therefore a sage might well feel sad in view of the decline that must follow. But such sadness does not befit him. Only a man who is inwardly free of sorrow and care can lead in a time of abundance. He must be like the sun at midday, illuminating and gladdening everything under heaven.
Upper and Lower Trigrams
- Thunder (Zhen)
- Thunder · Arousing
- Fire (Li)
- Fire · Clinging
Lines
What each of the six positions expresses.
Classics
Tuan CommentaryThe reasoning behind the judgment.
Abundance means greatness. Clarity and movement bring abundance. The king attains abundance because he is great. Be not sad. It is fitting to see the sun at midday: this means one should illumine the whole world. When the sun stands at midday, it begins to set; when the moon is full, it begins to wane. Heaven and earth in their fullness and emptiness alternate with time. How much more is this true of man, how much more of the spirits and gods!
Abundance means greatness. Clarity joined with movement creates abundance. The king attains it by honoring greatness. Do not worry. It is fitting to be like the sun at midday, shining over all under heaven. Yet when the sun reaches midday it begins to decline, and when the moon is full it begins to wane. Heaven and earth wax and empty with the seasons, how much more so human beings and spirits.
Great ImageThe image itself, read as a picture of the situation.
Both thunder and lightning come: The image of ABUNDANCE. Thus the superior man decides lawsuits And carries out punishments.
This hexagram has a certain connection with Shih Ho, BITING THROUGH (21), in which thunder and lightning similarly appear together, but in the reverse order. In BITING THROUGH, laws are laid down; here they are applied and enforced. Clarity [Li] within makes it possible to investigate the facts exactly, and shock [Chên] without ensures a strict and precise carrying out of punishments.
Further
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Frequently asked questions
What does Fêng / Abundance mean in the I Ching?
It is not given to every mortal to bring about a time of outstanding greatness and abundance. Only a born ruler of men is able to do it, because his will is dir...
How should I study Hexagram 55 on this page?
Start with the judgment and image, then read the line statements in sequence. To bring about a time of abundance, a union of clarity with energetic movement is needed. Two individuals possessed of these two attributes are suited to each other, and even if th...
How can this hexagram be applied in a modern reading?
Abundance means greatness. Clarity joined with movement creates abundance. The king attains it by honoring greatness. Do not worry. It is fitting to be like the sun at midday, shining over all under heaven. Yet when the...
Test this hexagram against your question
A hexagram page is useful for study, but a real reading starts from your situation. Choose a question and cast directly.
Original text from the I Ching; translation based on Richard Wilhelm's German version.