
Autumnal Equinox 2019
59. Dispersing
Sequence of the Gua
After happiness and joyfulness, there comes dispersing.
Thus, after Joyful, Dispersing follows.
Decision:
Dispersing.
Prospersous and smooth.
The king arrives at the temple.
Favorable to cross great rivers.
Favorble to be steadfast and upright.
Commentary on the Decision
Dispersing.
Prosperity and smoothness.
The firm comes comes without hindrance.
The yielding is at the proper place.
It goes out to meet its similarity above.
The king arrives at the temple.
His is in the central place
Favorable to cross great rivers.
The merit comes from mounting on the wood.
Commentary on the Symbol
The wind mover over the water.
An image of dispersing.
In correspondence with this,
The ancient king offers sacrifice to the Lord of Heaven
And establishes temples.
Second Nine
Dispersing.
Hurrying to an opportune moment.
Regret vanishes.
Significance
The gua takes the image of the wind moving over the water to demonstrate the act of dispersing people’s resentment. During the time of dispersing, having a leader with wisdom and foresight is crucial. The king approaching his temple gives us an image of his connection with the spiritual world. Crossing great rivers signifies the hardship and difficulty of the work. Steadfastness and uprightness should be the virtue of a great leader. He has self-confidence, so his is able to live and work in peace. The host of the gua is the solid line at the fifth place. This line represents the king who approaches his temple to connect himself with the Lord of Heaven. During the time of dispersing he is the only one who, in the honored place, is able to establish order throughout his nation. The fourth line represents the king’s minister, while the second line is his officer. They faithfully assist the king to unite the people in the time of dispersing.
During King Wen’s sitting in stillness he meditated upon joyfulness and dispersion. After people had been joyful, their energy dispersed, and their focus was scattered. At such a time, a leader with wisdom and foresight was needed. Heed arrived at his temple and communicated with the deity. His sincerity and trustworthiness encouraged people to work in full cooperation and with unity of purpose. The Duke of Zhou narrates that to be of help at such a time, one should have the speed of a strong horse. Dispersing self-serving gbroups led to a union as solid as a mound.