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Chapter 8 of 64
东坡易传
Water over Earth — Bi (Union)
"Bi": Auspicious. Divining once again, [one finds that] holding fast to what is primordial and enduring is without fault. Those who are restless come; but one who comes late meets with misfortune.
🌊 Water flows upon the earth, intimately moistening the land — this is the image of the Bi hexagram: attachment, unity, mutual support. The hexagram statement says: Bi is generally auspicious. But before deciding whom to attach oneself to, one should, like the ancients casting yarrow stalks, deliberate with repeated caution ("original divination" means divining once again), confirming from the foundation whether this relationship can endure for long, and only then can one be without fault. Those who come restlessly seeking refuge will be accepted; but those who tarry until they have no other choice before submitting will meet with misfortune.
The reason Bi is auspicious is that it signifies assistance and support — those in lower positions submitting to the honored one above. Su Shi interprets: The Bi hexagram is never inauspicious in itself, but if one attaches to the wrong person, though the present may seem fine, disaster will inevitably follow. Hence the emphasis on "original divination" — divination is choosing whom to follow; "original" means doing it again, repeatedly. Divining over and over is the height of caution. "Primordial" refers to the beginning — once one has chosen whom to follow at the start, how could one change course later even if one wanted to? Hence the phrase "primordial and enduring" — from the very beginning, one commits to lifelong steadfastness. Precisely because one knows the commitment will be lifelong, one must deliberate with repeated caution before deciding to follow. So, who is truly worthy of being followed? Is it not the Nine in the Fifth? Therefore the line text says "firm and central" — the Nine in the Fifth is firm and occupies the central position.
[Translator's note: Su Shi interprets "original" (yuan) as "again," emphasizing the caution of choice; "firm and central" refers to the Nine in the Fifth, a yang line occupying the central position of the upper trigram, symbolizing a leader with both virtue and ability.]
"Those who are restless come" refers to the four yin lines (from Initial Six through Six in the Fourth, as well as Top Six). The yin lines cannot settle themselves, so they come seeking the protection and stability of the Nine in the Fifth's firm yang mastery. Upper and lower respond to each other, forming a united situation.
When one comes seeking attachment only after reaching a dead end with no other recourse, who would be close to him then? The opportunity has been lost; the path is exhausted — hence misfortune.
🌍 Water flows upon the surface of the earth — the water moistens the earth and the earth supports the water. This is the image of Bi. From this, the sage-kings of antiquity understood that they should enfeoff the myriad states, draw near to the feudal lords, and maintain order under heaven through a system of kinship and affinity.
All four yin lines yearn to attach themselves to the Nine in the Fifth. Initial Six is at the very bottom, with no proper correspondence above (being a yin line facing Six in the Fourth, also a yin line, they do not resonate), making it the most eager to seek attachment. Those eager to attach themselves to others will inevitably exhaust their sincerity, and therefore the integrity of Initial Six is the most complete. Su Shi points out: if the Nine in the Fifth were to slight Initial Six because of its eagerness to attach, then the enthusiasm of those who come later would slacken as well. Therefore it is essential to sincerely accept Initial Six — only then can there be "no fault." The sincerity of Initial Six, though faint and simple at first — like a small clay vessel holding only a little water and wine — is precisely this genuine sincerity that can attract more people to come and rally. Hence "ultimately there will come other [good fortune], auspicious" — in the end, there will be unexpected benefits and support; this is auspicious.
The Commentary on the Image says: "The sincerity of Initial Six — it is that 'there is other good fortune to come.'"
The merit of Initial Six lies in its ability to move others through its own sincerity, bringing about unexpected blessings.
Six in the Second is a yin line occupying the central position of the inner trigram, correctly corresponding to the Nine in the Fifth, hence "union from within" — attaching oneself to the Nine in the Fifth from within, from the depths of one's heart. Six in the Second holds fast to its own central and correct position, not seeking attachment outward, and therefore "perseverance brings good fortune": holding firmly to the proper path brings good fortune.
The Commentary on the Image says: "'Union from within' — one does not lose oneself."
The reason Six in the Second finds auspiciousness in perseverance is that it does not lose its own identity. Su Shi comments: Six in the Second attaches itself because of its proper correspondence, so "from within" means for Six in the Second "perseverance brings good fortune" and "not losing oneself." But from the perspective of the Nine in the Fifth, Six in the Second is merely one among many who come to attach — this kind of relationship appears somewhat narrow from that vantage point.
Six in the Third is a yin line occupying the top position of the lower trigram. Surrounded entirely by yin lines (Six in the Second below, Six in the Fourth above), with no resonance with Top Six, its environment contains no worthy person to attach itself to. Hence "union with the wrong people" — attaching to those one should not attach to.
The Commentary on the Image says: "'Union with the wrong people' — is this not deeply lamentable?"
Is it not truly grievous to attach oneself to the wrong kind of person? Choosing the wrong object of attachment is one of the most profound pains in life.
Six in the Fourth is a yin line occupying the lower position of the upper trigram, closely adjacent to the Nine in the Fifth. Though not in proper correspondence (Six in the Fourth and Initial Six, both yin, do not resonate), it actively draws near to the Nine in the Fifth — the firm, central, and correct ruler. Hence "union with the external" — actively approaching the worthy from without.
The Commentary on the Image says: "'Union with what is external' in approaching the worthy — this is to follow the superior."
"Superior" refers to the Nine in the Fifth. Though Six in the Fourth has no proper corresponding line, it nevertheless actively approaches the worthy and submits to the superior, hence "perseverance brings good fortune."
The Nine in the Fifth, firm, central, and correct, is the heart of the Bi hexagram. "Manifest union" (xian bi) refers to a way of attaching that is open, upright, public, and without selfishness. Su Shi cites Wang Bi's commentary: the Nine in the Fifth, as the principal line of the Bi hexagram, echoes Six in the Second and is the one who possesses "manifest union." But if the attachment is shown too overtly, then what is included in one's circle actually becomes narrower. One who is genuinely impartial toward all things and promotes only the worthy is never harmed by those who come or go.
"Three-sided drive" refers to the ancient hunting ritual: setting up nets on three sides while leaving one side open for escape. When an animal runs directly toward the hunter, it is released and not killed; those fleeing away from him may be shot. This symbolizes: cherishing those who come, letting go of those who leave, with complete freedom of movement and no force used. Hence one often "loses the game ahead" — letting the nearest quarry escape. The Nine in the Fifth, dwelling in the royal position with the virtue of "manifest union," employs the way of the "three-sided drive": releasing those who oppose, taking those who follow, not rejecting those who come, and not pursuing those who depart. There is no need for guards or warnings among the townsfolk, because their trust in the ruler is genuine and comes from within their hearts. This is "the townsfolk need no warning — auspicious."
Wang Bi further adds: "This may serve as the method by which those above direct those below, but it is not yet the highest level of leadership." This is because it is still a deliberate art of governance — it has not yet reached the state of governing through non-action.
The Commentary on the Image says: "The auspiciousness of 'manifest union' lies in the position being central and correct. Releasing those who oppose and taking those who follow — this is losing the game ahead. The townsfolk need no warning — the superior employs the mean."
The Nine in the Fifth occupies the central and noble position, hence "manifest union" brings good fortune. Releasing followers and taking those who follow — hence "losing the game ahead." Not warning the townsfolk, because the one above employs the central way in governing the people — the people are transformed naturally.
"Without a head" is like saying "without foundation" — lacking accumulated merit and sincerity prepared in advance. Top Six is a yin line at the extreme of the hexagram, occupying high position but having no substantial virtue to compare with the Nine in the Fifth, and comes seeking attachment only after reaching the extreme of exhaustion — too late. No trust has been built beforehand, and only in urgency does one rush to attach — but this time, no one will accept. Hence misfortune.
The Commentary on the Image says: "'Union without a head' — there is nothing in the end."
Without a beginning, there can be no end. A relationship built on no preparation and accumulation can only end in emptiness.
The core philosophy of the Bi hexagram is the choice of attachment and the establishment of sincerity. The success or failure of a relationship lies not in the act of attaching itself — which always tends toward auspiciousness — but in whether the object of attachment is worthy of lifelong commitment, and whether the timing and sincerity of attachment are sufficient. Su Shi's reading places particular emphasis on two things: careful choice (original divination) and genuine accumulation (sincerity fills the clay vessel). Meanwhile, the Nine in the Fifth, as the leader being attached to, demonstrates the wisdom of freedom of approach and departure — no force, no control.
In contemporary society, the insights of the Bi hexagram are remarkably rich:
In modern decision-making scenarios, the Bi hexagram provides a "hypothesize — act — review" framework:
| Decision Stage | Guidance from Bi | Modern Action Suggestion |
|---|---|---|
| Selection phase | Original divination — repeated caution | Conduct thorough due diligence, evaluate the other party's values, capability, and track record from multiple dimensions |
| Commitment phase | Primordial and enduring — once chosen, hold fast | Make explicit commitments, devote resources and time, leave no room for hesitation |
| Cultivation phase | Sincerity fills the clay vessel — great trust from small sincerity | Start with small gestures, keep promises consistently, accumulate trust assets |
| Leadership phase | Three-sided drive — freedom to come and go | Create an open, inclusive team culture — retain talent through trust, not constraint |
| Review phase | Latecomer meets misfortune — never miss the moment | Reflect periodically: Were there opportunities missed through hesitation? Has indecision led us into passivity? |
The deep philosophy of the Bi hexagram lies in the dialectic of freedom and belonging. Genuine attachment is not dependency that destroys the self, but a voluntary union founded on independent personhood. The Six in the Second's "union from within, not losing oneself" and the Six in the Fourth's "union with the worthy from without" represent the two paths: natural affinity born of inner identification and deliberate approach grounded in rational assessment. The Nine in the Fifth's "three-sided drive" pushes this freedom to its height — the wisest principles of leadership do not use power to bind human ties, but rather attract allegiance through the virtue of centrality and integrity, allowing followers to feel truly free and to still stay: such is loyalty willingly given rather than fearfully rendered.
—— English Translation has been preserved in original format
[End of Translation]