Notes on Hexagram 57.2 Xun – Priests and magicians are used in great number

Many Yi aficionados would agree that some prognostications can be interpreted literally. And that is when we understand most from the oracle. The deeper and more experienced diviners would say it depends on the question and the answer, and our own levels of understanding, but this may not tell us much if the Yi never spoke.

On the assumption the Yi actually spoke on this occasion and the question is for an annual hexagram, what can the deeper and more experienced interpreters make out of this prognostication?

The Judgment:

The Gentle. Success through what is small. It furthers one to have somewhere to go. It furthers one to see the great man.

Nine in the second place means:

Penetration under the bed. Priests and magicians are used in great number. Good fortune.

Wilhelm provided a good explanation to the line in Book I of his translation where it was mentioned that the task of priests (Shi) is to trace the intangible influences that slink into dark corners that affect people by suggestion. And thereafter the magicians (Wu) would remove the influences. When such elusive influences are brought to light and branded, they lose their power over people.

Of course the ancient way of interpretation could be different. Shi would mean ancient masters of the Way. And Wu would mean diviners who used tortoises and/or yarrow stalks for divination.

The Yi could be telling the diviner, he is on the right track to become a master of the way and diviner using the yarrow for divination. And he is to bring into the light and brand those intangible influences that had slinked into dark corners. (That is because of humanity and justice.) Furthermore he could influence the Shi and the Wu and use them in great number when the time is right, to assist the gods.

Some Yi aficionados may think the interpretation incorrect but I have not revealed much yet. It may help their understanding of the interpretation if they read up on Wilhelm’s translation on Hexagram 57.2 including that of Book III to prepare for a deeper interpretation later, if heaven finally allows the omen to be published.

Meanwhile Laozi may have something to say about it in his Tao Te Ching chapter 47.1:

‘Without going out through the doors, one can know what is happening in the world; without looking out of one’s windows, one sees the Tao of Heaven.’
[Lin Yutan]

The great sage was talking about the Wu and the Shi respectively, in case readers do not know. The Wu and recently the Shi have been paying much attention to what has been published in this blog! Figure that out for yourself.

Cheerio!