Divination

"It's a funny thing coming home. Nothing changes. Everything looks the same, feels the same, even smells the same. You realized what's changed is you." - F. Scott Fitzgerald 

Wei Chi

Before Completion

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This hexagram indicates a time when the transition from disorder to order is not yet completed.  The change is indeed prepared for, since all the lines in the upper trigram are in relation to those in the lower.  However they are not yet in their places.  This hexagram presents a parallel to spring, which leads out of winter stagnation into the fruitful time of summer.  With this hopeful outlook the book of changes comes to its close.

THE JUDGMENT

BEFORE COMPLETION.  Success.  

But the little fox, after nearly completing the crossing,

Gets his tail in the water,

There is nothing that would further.

The conditions are difficult.  The task is great and full of responsibility.  It is nothing less than that of leading the wold out of confusion back to order.  But it is a task that promises success, because there is a goal that can unite the forces now tending in different directions.  At first, however, one must move warily, like an old fox walking over ice.  The caution of a fox walking over ice is proverbial in China.  His ears are constantly alert to the cracking of the ice, as he carefully and circumspectly searches out the safest spots.  A young fox who has as yet not acquired this caution goes ahead boldly, and it may happen that he falls in and gets his tail wet when he is almost across the water.  Then of course his effort has all been in vain.  Accordingly, in times "before completion," deliberation and caution are the prerequisite of success.

THE IMAGE

Fire over water:

The image of the condition before transition.

Thus the superior man is careful

In the differentiation of things,

So that each finds its place.

When fire, which by nature flames upward, is above, and water, which flows downward is below, their efforts take opposite directions and remain unrelated.  If we wish to achieve an effect, we must first investigate the nature of the forces in question and ascertain their proper place.  If we can bring these forces to bear in the right place, they will have the desired effect and completion will be achieved.  But in order to handle external forces properly, we must above all arrive at the correct standpoint ourselves, for only from this vantage can we work correctly.

THE LINES

Nine in the fourth place means:

Perseverance brings good fortune.

Remorse disappears.

Shock, thus to discipline the Devil's Country.

For three years great realms are rewarded.

Now it is the time of struggle.  The trasition must be completed.  We must make ourselves strong in resolution; this brings good fortune.  All misgivings that might arise in such grave times of struggle must be silenced.  It is a question of a fierce battle to break and to discipline the Devil's Country, the forces of decadence.  But the struggle also has its reward.  Now is the time to lay the foundations of power and mastery for the future.

SIGNIFICANCE OF SPECIFIC LINES DETERMINES 

ITS STATUS AND FUNCTION IN A HEXAGRAM

LINE 4

Lines three and four are of the human domain. 

Line four represents the courtier of the king, or the official of the central government, or a high-ranking official.

In present times, it can be interpreted as the official.

At a position full of fear it stays next to the king and acts as a courtier

Its mode of conduct is at a position of resting, as it just arrives at the upper trigram after a hard march.