Hexagram 55

豐 Fēng

Abundance

☳ Thunder above ☲ Fire

Judgment 卦辭

亨。王假之。勿憂。宜日中。

豐fēngabundance, prosperity, proliferation, plenty
亨hēngfulfillment, success, consummation, triumph
王wángthe sovereign, king, ruler
假jiǎcomes, draws near to; approaches, attains
之zhīit, this; such; his [abundance, zenith]
勿wùdo not
憂yōube anxious, discouraged; worry, grieve
宜yíadjust, adapt to; it befits, suits, is meet, right
日rìthe sun
中zhōngto be at mid(day), noon, its zenith

Commentary

Success. The king attains abundance. Be not sad. Be like the sun at midday. Clarity within, movement without—this produces greatness and abundance. Development has reached a peak, but this extraordinary condition cannot be maintained permanently. Not every mortal is able to bring about such a time. A sage might well feel sad in view of the decline that must follow. But such sadness does not befit them. Only one who is inwardly free of sorrow and care can lead in a time of abundance—like the sun at midday, illuminating and gladdening everything under heaven.

Classical Text

豐離下震上 豐，亨，王假之。 勿憂，宜日中。

Feng (Abundance), Li below, Zhen above. Abundance. Success. The king reaches it. Do not worry; it is fitting to be like the sun at midday.

Image 象

雷電皆至，豐。君子以折獄致刑。

Both thunder and lightning come. Decide lawsuits and carry out punishments. Clarity within makes it possible to investigate the facts exactly. Shock without ensures strict and precise carrying out of punishments.

Lines 爻辭

1

遇其配主雖旬無咎往有尚

遇yùmeet with, encounter, find, engage
其qíone's own, another; one who is
配pèiequal, peer, match, counterpart, coequal, colleague
主zhǔand, or better, superior, master, leader
雖suīeven if, for, though; although it, this be
旬xúnten days, a long week [an ancient ten-day week]
無wúno; this is not; nothing
咎jiùblame; is wrong; a mistake; harm
往wǎngto go ahead, proceed, continue
有yǒuis, will be; has, holds, will have
尚shàngworth, merit; honor, value, able

When a man meets his destined ruler, they can be together ten days, and it is not a mistake. Going meets with recognition. To bring about abundance, a union of clarity with energetic movement is needed. Two individuals with these attributes are suited to each other. Even if they spend an entire cycle of time together during abundance, it will not be too long. Go forth to make your influence felt; it will meet with recognition.

Classical commentary

初九，遇其配主，雖旬无咎，往有尚。

Initial Nine. He meets his matching lord. Though they are equal, there is no blame. To go forth brings esteem.

2

豐其蔀日中見斗往得疑疾有孚發若吉

豐fēngso abundant, prolific, plentiful, ample
其qíare one's; the, these, those; their
蔀bùwoven screens, curtains, partitions
日rìthe day
中zhōngat mid-; in the middle of; at noon
見jiànone may see, watch, look at, observe
斗dǒuthe bushel constellation; big dipper
往wǎnggoing ahead, proceeding, continuing on
得définds, brings, encounters, acquires, results in
疑yídoubt, uncertainty, suspicion; dis-, mistrust
疾jíand anxiety, distress, affliction, pressure
有yǒuto be, stay; have, find; remember
孚fútrue, sincere; confidence; to trust
發fāand manifest, express, show, deliver on
若ruòthis; the same, as much
吉jíis promising, auspicious, opportune, timely

The curtain is of such fullness that the polestars can be seen at noon. Through going one meets with mistrust and hate. If one rouses through truth, good fortune comes. Plots and party intrigues have the darkening effect of an eclipse. The ruler is overshadowed by a party that has usurped power. Energetic measures would meet only mistrust and envy. The essential thing is to hold inwardly to the power of truth, which in the end exerts an invisible influence, so that all goes well.

Classical commentary

六二，豐其蔀，日中見斗。往得疑疾，有孚發若，吉。

Six in the Second. He makes abundant his screen of grass. At midday he sees the Dipper. Going forth, he encounters suspicion and hostility. With sincerity he arouses trust—auspicious.

3

豐其沛日中見沬折其右肱無咎

豐fēngso abundant, prolific, plentiful, ample, rich
其qíare one's; the, these, those; their
沛pèiflowing banners, pennants
日rìthe day
中zhōngat mid-; in the middle of; at noon
見jiànone may see, watch, look at, observe
沬mèistardust, star spray; the milky way
折zhéand also break, fracture
其qíone's own, the, that
右yòuright, favorite
肱gōngupper arm
無wúbut no; not; avoid
咎jiùblame; worthy; make mistakes, errors

The underbrush is of such abundance that the small stars can be seen at noon. He breaks his right arm. No blame. The eclipse reaches totality. Even the most insignificant persons can push themselves to the foreground. This makes it impossible for an able person to undertake anything—as though their arm were broken. But they are not to blame for being thus hindered in action.

Classical commentary

九三，豐其沛，日中見沬。折其右肱，无咎。

Nine in the Third. He makes abundant his curtain. At midday he sees tiny stars. He breaks his right arm—no blame.

4

豐其蔀日中見斗遇其夷主吉

豐fēngso abundant, prolific, plentiful, ample
其qíare one's; the, these, those; their
蔀bùwoven screens, curtains, partitions
日rìthe day
中zhōngat mid-; in the middle of; at noon
見jiànone may see
斗dǒuthe bushel constellation; big dipper
遇yùor meet, encounter, find, happen upon
其qíthe, that; the other's, others'; their
夷yíhidden, covert, obscure, dark, cloaked
主zhǔmaster, leader, superior, ruler
吉jípromising, auspicious, opportune, timely

The curtain is of such fullness that the polestars can be seen at noon. He meets his ruler, who is of like kind. Good fortune. Darkness is already decreasing; interrelated elements come together. The complement must be found—wisdom to complement joy of action. Then everything will go well.

Classical commentary

九四，豐其蔀，日中見斗。遇其夷主，吉。

Nine in the Fourth. He makes abundant his screen of grass. At midday he sees the Dipper. He meets his equal lord—auspicious.

5

來章有慶譽吉

來láicoming, emerging, emergent; emerges
章zhānga, an, the order, pattern, composition
有yǒuthere are, will be; this has, holds; bringing
慶qìngreward, congratulation, satisfaction
譽yùand praise, commendation, honor
吉jípromising, auspicious, opportune, timely

Lines are coming. Blessing and fame draw near. Good fortune. The ruler is modest and therefore open to the counsel of able people. Surrounded by those who suggest lines of action. This brings blessing, fame, and good fortune to all.

Classical commentary

六五，來章有慶譽，吉。

Six in the Fifth. Brilliance comes; there will be celebration and praise—auspicious.

6

豐其屋蔀其家闚其戶閴其無人三歲不覿凶

豐fēngso, such abundant(ce), rich(ness), plenty
其qíare, is in, of one's own; these, their
屋wūchambers, rooms; dwelling, house, home
蔀bùscreen, curtain, partition off, away
其qíone's own; their own
家jiāfamily, household; relatives, kindred
闚kuīpeering, peeking, spying, watching through
其qíone's own; their own
戶hùdoor, doorway, entry, entrance gate
閴qùabandoned, lonely, desolate, deserted, silent
其qíin, with one's; their
無wúhaving no; avoidance, lack, void, want of
人rénthe others, people, humanity, society
三sānand, for three
歲suìyears, harvests
不bùnot; without being; without an
覿díseen face to face; a visitor; encounter
凶xiōngunfortunate, disappointing, sad, miserable

His house is in a state of abundance. He screens off his family. He peers through the gate and no longer perceives anyone. For three years he sees nothing. Misfortune. A person who through arrogance and obstinacy attains the opposite of what they strive for. Seeking abundance and splendor for their dwelling, wishing at all odds to be master in their house, they so alienate their family that in the end they find themselves completely isolated.

Classical commentary

上六，豐其屋，蔀其家，闚其戶，闃其无人。三歲不覿，凶。

Top Six. He makes abundant his roof, screens his household. Peering through his door—silent, with no one there. For three years he is not seen—misfortune.