43. Kuai / Break-through (Resoluteness)

rosada · Jun 22, 2008

43. Kuai / Break-through (Resoluteness)

__ __
_____ above TUI THE JOYOUS, LAKE
_____
_____
_____ below CH'IEN THE CREATIVE, HEAVEN
_____

This hexagram signifies on the one hand a break-through after a long accumulation of tension, as a swollen river breaks through its dikes, or in the manner of a cloudburst. On the other hand, applied to human conditions, it refers to a time when inferior people gradually begin to disappear. Their influence is on the wane; as a result of resolute action, a change in conditions occurs, a break-through. The hexagram is linked with the third month [April-May].

Sparhawk · Jun 22, 2008

Sparhawk · Jun 22, 2008

Geeze... Talk about broken levees...

dobro · Jun 22, 2008

Yay! We broke through to Breakthrough.

I understand the images that Luis posted, but although that meaning is contained in 43, I see a HUGE parrt of the meaning to be, not so much breaking through, as breaking AWAY and going your own way. Remember that old Fleetwood Mac song, 'You Can Go Your Own Way'? Like that. The breakaway province of Chechnya. Like that.

See, there's a danger of confusing the meanings of 43 and 40. 40 can be breakthrough in the sense of breaking through a previous obstacle and the release of tension that comes with that; but 43 has got loads of tension. LOADS. It's loaded with tension. And there's a parting of the ways - break away more than breakthrough.

getojack · Jun 22, 2008

Yeah, I see 40 as more of breakthrough, as in achieving that "a-ha" or "eureka" moment or epiphany... my picture of 43, if I were designing my own cards would be something like a fork in the road, and it's time to make that decision... do I go left or right... I think of that poem by Robert Frost...

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

rosada · Jun 22, 2008

THE JUDGEMENT

BREAK-THROUGH. One must resolutely make the matter known
At the court of the king.
It must be announce truthfully. Danger.
It is necessary to notify one's own city.
It does not further one to resort to arms.
It furthers one to undertake something.

Even if only one inferior man is occupying a ruling position in a city, he is able to oppress superior men. Even a single passion still lurking in the heart has the power to obscure reason. Passion and reason cannot exist side by side - therefore fight without quarter is necessary if the good is to prevail.
- Wilhelm

meng · Jun 23, 2008

getojack said:
my picture of 43, if I were designing my own cards would be something like a fork in the road, and it's time to make that decision... do I go left or right...

Interesting view of 43. Not very far from LiSe's "the speaking staff", in that a decision or proclamation is called for, either to oneself or to others, "Making your statement" is how I'd word it. More specifically: breaking through established (usually man made) methods of restraining natural forces.

Tohpol · Jun 23, 2008

dobro said:
Yay! We broke through to Breakthrough.

I understand the images that Luis posted, but although that meaning is contained in 43, I see a HUGE parrt of the meaning to be, not so much breaking through, as breaking AWAY and going your own way. Remember that old Fleetwood Mac song, 'You Can Go Your Own Way'? Like that. The breakaway province of Chechnya. Like that.

Ok - don't forget to put the Fleetwood Mac song in the musical journey thread for 43 ...I'll compile them all eventually - (maybe one or two rainy Sundays in winter...)

As to 43 I'm really happy that this hex has come up as I see it as the "slap-around-the -face" hex. Or one of them. It's the only time I seem to get it. It's not a fun hex. No messing around. I haven't received it all that often but when I do I don't forget it in a hurry. The lines are quite sharp even if the log-jam theme of the image and commentary are quite "positive."

Yes, breaking away in terms of lines of thought or repeating behaviour - definitely. 40 as a release of tension and ways to formalize deliverance. Here, it seems to be about ways to capitalise on the breakthrough once this has happened. In effect, once the flood has burst through and taken all the bandits with it (or little negative "I"s) it's imperative not to get washed away down the valley along with your prize goat and kitchen ladle. Nor is it sensible to stand directly in front of the place where the damn will burst or to wear arm bands and a snorkel. Then it's all for nothing.

The clear up process begins which demands support, sharing and cooperation in oneself or in an external circumstance. Preparation, along with the correct action and follow through during the aftermath.

Topal

meng · Jun 23, 2008

43

Letting your freak flag fly ~ Jimi Hendrix

Sparhawk · Jun 24, 2008

Is everyone else working on the levees??

Nine at the beginning means:

Mighty in the forward-striding toes.
When one goes and is not equal to the task,
One makes a mistake.

In times of resolute advance, the beginning is especially difficult. We feel inspired to press forward but resistance is still strong; therefore we ought to gauge our own strength and venture only so far as we can go with certainty of success. To plunge blindly ahead is wrong, because it is precisely at the beginning that an unexpected setback can have the most disastrous results.

meng · Jun 24, 2008

I thought frank_r (?) posted something earlier, but I guess he deleted it. I didn't quite understand what he said but it sounded interesting, pertaining to the heart.

Sparhawk · Jun 24, 2008

Hmmm, I missed that one...

meng · Jun 24, 2008

Maybe I dreamt it.

maremaria · Jun 24, 2008

meng said:
Maybe I dreamt it.

No I read it too. Something about the heart and the pericardio(or something like that)

Frank, can you post it again ?

meng · Jun 24, 2008

Maybe he felt too conspicuous with his freaky flag flying in the breeze.

frank_r · Jun 24, 2008

Yes, this morning I wrote something about the heart and the pericardium.
But I made a mistake that was the reason I deleted my message.

43 is not the hexagram of the heart(that's 44) in the chinese clock but that of the stomach. 40 is the karmick hexagram of the pericardium(BAo or envelop) of the heart.

The stomach is the meridian that is belonging to the element earth. The stomach is earth of the earth, hexagram break-through has only one yin line, the line of heaven.
The stomach digest all physical food, and the only way that the stomach can digest in a normal way is when it has no mercy with the food it eats.

When somebody has problems with his stomach for instance nausea than we treat a point at the pericardium meridian. The pericardium meridian gives protection to the heart, the heart itself is pure kosmic energy, pure emptiness. The heart is Spirit and the pericardium is the ego the fals self.

The pericardium is in oppostion of the stomach when you look to the chinese clock

I will post this message but it feels a little bit like the first line for me;

sparhawk said:
Mighty in the forward-striding toes.
When one goes and is not equal to the task,
One makes a mistake.

In times of resolute advance, the beginning is especially difficult. We feel inspired to press forward but resistance is still strong; therefore we ought to gauge our own strength and venture only so far as we can go with certainty of success. To plunge blindly ahead is wrong, because it is precisely at the beginning that an unexpected setback can have the most disastrous results.[/INDENT]

getojack · Jun 24, 2008

sparhawk said:
Is everyone else working on the levees??

Nine at the beginning means:

Mighty in the forward-striding toes.
When one goes and is not equal to the task,
One makes a mistake.

Hey Luis, not so fast... we haven't done the Image yet...

THE IMAGE

The lake has risen up to heaven:

The image of BREAK-THROUGH.

Thus the superior man
Dispenses riches downward
And refrains from resting on his virtue.

getojack · Jun 24, 2008

43: Guài

夬

L. Wieger: parted; fork; certain
R. Harbaugh: divide; separate

Dà Xiàng:
象曰‧澤上于天‧夬‧君子以施祿及下‧居德則忌‧
xiàng yūe: zé shàng yú tiān. guài. jūnzi yĭ shī lù jí xià. jū dé zé jì.

xiang4: The image
yue1: says,
ze2: A marsh
shang4: above,
yu2: in
tian1: heaven...

Guài.

jun1zi: The nobleman,
yi3: accordingly,
shi1: bestows
lu4: the prosperity
ji2: (and) reaches
xia4: down.

ju1: Residing in
de2: virtue,
ze2: then,
ji4: is avoided.

meng · Jun 24, 2008

frank_r said:
The stomach digest all physical food, and the only way that the stomach can digest in a normal way is when it has no mercy with the food it eats.

Interesting in light of 43.

meng · Jun 25, 2008

frank_r · Jun 25, 2008

Beautifull pictures Bruce.

rosada · Jun 25, 2008

Well I guess we know what "Mighty in the forward-striding toes" means now! :rolling:

Okay, gonna back track here and post what Wilhelm says about the image:

The superior man dispenses riches downward and refrains from resting on his virtue.

When the water of a lake has risen up to heaven, there is reason to fear a cloud burst. Taking this as a warning, the superior man forestalls violent collapse. If a man were to pile up riches for himself alone, without considering others, he would certainly experience a collapse. For all gathering together is followed by dispersion. Therefore, the superior man begins to distribute while he is accumulating. In the same way, in developing his character he takes care not to be hardened in obstinacy but to remain receptive to impressions by help of strict and continuous self-examination.
-Wilhelm

rosada · Jun 25, 2008

Comparing The Image of 23 to 43:

23.
_____ Those above can ensure their position only by giving generously
__ __ those below.
__ __
__ __
__ __
__ __

43.
__ __ The superior man dispenses riches downward and refrains from resting on his
_____ virtue.
_____
_____
_____
_____

It seems to me that in the first hexagram the superior man is throwing money to the mob in order to keep from being devoured, where as in 43 there seems to be a more enlightened feeling of sharing.

rosada · Jun 26, 2008

The lake has been evaporated and its waters are gathering high in the heavens as mist and clouds: this points to an imminent break-through, in which the water will come down again as rain. In order to avoid a violent break-through, it is necessary to take advantage of the attributes of the two trigrams. Tui means pleasure; therefore, instead of piling up wealth in dangerous places and thus inviting a breach, one will be continuously giving and thus causing JOY. In self-education, we should be mindful of the stern judgment meted out by Ch'ien. Then we shall never be self-satisfied, which would also lead to catastrophe, but shall always retain a sense of AWE. When joy has mounted high, as a lake mounts to the heavens, it easily leads to excessive pride; hence it must be supplemented by the beneficent way of heaven. When strength perceives weakness above it, as does heaven under lake, it leads easily to defiance; hence it must be moderated by the friendly way of Tui.
-Wilhelm

rosada · Jun 27, 2008

43.1
Nine at the beginning means:
Mighty in the forward-striding toes.
When one goes and is not equal to the task,
One makes a mistake.

In times of resolute action, the beginning is especially difficult. We feel inspired to press forward but resistance is still strong: therefore we ought to gauge our own strength and venture only so far as we can go with certainty of success. To plunge blindly ahead is wrong, because it is precisely at the beginning that an unexpected set back can have the most disastrous results.

When one goes without being equal to the task, it is a mistake.

Toes are suggested by the lowest line. The hexagram of BREAKTHROUGH is the next stage after the hexagram of THE POWER OF THE GREAT (34). This is why the pronouncement on the lowest line is the same in both, except that here it is moderated somewhat, because the situation has developed further.

Trojina · Jun 27, 2008

So do you think line 1 is very simple advice not to over estimate ones capabilities or resources at this time ? Or do you see something more ? Would you take it as like 'wait till you are stronger' or give up the idea ? Can anyone recall any experience re this line ?

The fan yao is 28.1 being very careful in preparation so as a reverse 43.1 must be being totally unprepared as it says. But the line doesn't say 'make sure you are more prepared' so to speak, just that its no good setting out when not ready.

rosada · Jun 27, 2008

I've experienced 43.1 as being a warning that the situation you are dealing with may be a bigger problem than you realize or that you don't have the support you need and this leads to 28. with it's image of collapse and standing alone. So I see it as meaning be very cautious, don't assume people will be supportive, don't agree to do more than you can clearly handle on your own as you may not have the help you thought you could rely on.

I have created some problems in the last couple of days while we have been focusing on this line by promising a neighbor a gardener I knew would be able to help her out in time for her party next week. Turns out the gardener died two years ago. Auugh.

fkegan · Jun 27, 2008

rosada said:
I have created some problems in the last couple of days while we have been focusing on this line by promising a neighbor a gardener I knew would be able to help her out in time for her party next week. Turns out the gardener died two years ago. Auugh.

That is indeed a great example of hex 43.1 >> 28. Hope there was still time to find an emergency gardener...

The Wilhelm comment that this hexagram is the next stage from hex 34 refers to the set of hexagrams which adds one more Yang line to the open space at the top of the column until it reaches hex 1 and then adds one more Yin line to replace the bottom Yang line. This is used to count out the months. Overall, this treats the lines as solid blocks of Yang and Yin.

The first place counting up the body is the toes. Wilhelm gets the line judgments of 34.1 and 43.1 to be the same (actually just similar) seems to follow from this first lowly line leaving its block with the other Yang lines and acting on its own.

Applied to the specific of Rosada's example she took the risky step on her own initiative of promising a needed service without first checking to see that the gardener being available--the gardener being dead two years reinforces the overall poignancy of the fois pas. The principle is the same, especially useful for ancient Chinese Imperial bureaucrats, don't speak up and take responsibility for some needed result without first having made certain the resources required were under your control--otherwise the mistake of the entire situation will be blamed on you and you will feel the lack of support or understanding for your good intentions gone awry like hex 28.

Frank

rosada · Jun 28, 2008

Ah, yes. Well, if nothing else perhaps my life can serve as a warning to others....

rosada · Jun 28, 2008

43.2
Nine in the second place.
A cry of alarm. Arms at evening and at night.
Fear nothing.

Readiness is everything. Resolution is indissolubly bound up with caution. If an individual is careful and keeps his wits about him, he need not become excited or
alarmed. If he is watchful at all times, even before danger is present, he is armed when danger approaches and need not be afraid. The superior man is on his guard against what is not yet in sight and on the alert for what is not yet within hearing; therefore he dwells in the midst of difficulties as though they did not exist. If a man develops his character, people submit to him of their own accord. If reason triumphs, the passions withdraw of themselves, To be circumspect and not to forget one's armor is the right way to security.

Despite weapons, no fear - because one has found the middle way.

Tui, the upper trigram, means mouth, hence the cry of alarm. Tui is in the west, which indicates evening; Ch'ien is in the northwest, which indicates night. Metal is associated both with Tui and with Ch'ien, and this indicates weapons, But there is nothing to fear, because the line is strong and central and in the middle of the lower trigram Ch'ien, heaven.
-Wilhelm

43. Kuai / Break-through (Resoluteness)

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