Tai
Flowing Harmony
When you receive Hexagram 11, Tai, the I Ching turns your attention to flowing harmony. The small departs and the great arrives. Below is its judgment, its image, and the meaning of each changing line.
The Judgment
The small departs and the great arrives. Good fortune, progress and success.
Classical (Legge)Thai indicates that (in the state which it denotes) the small has gone and the great come. (It indicates that) there will be good fortune, with progress and success.
The Image
Heaven and earth in communion. Tai. The sovereign shapes the ways of heaven and earth into proper form, assists their turning, and so benefits the people.
Classical (Legge)(The trigrams for) heaven and earth in communication together form Thai. The sovereign, in accordance with this, fashions and completes (his regulations after) the courses of heaven and earth, and assists the application of the adaptations furnished by them — in order to benefit the people.
The Changing Lines
Pulling up ribbon grass, it brings other stalks whose roots are joined. Advance brings good fortune.
Classical (Legge)When the (first subject) pulls up the ribbon grass, he pulls up others whose roots are connected with his. Advance (on the part of its subject) will be fortunate.
Bearing with the uncultivated, crossing the river without a boat, keeping the distant in mind, having no selfish friendships. This accords with the way of the Mean.
Classical (Legge)He can bear with the uncultivated, will cross the Ho without a boat, does not forget the distant, and has no (selfish) friendships. Thus does he prove himself acting in accordance with the course of the due Mean.
No peace lasts undisturbed. No departure of the corrupt ensures they will never return. Firm and correct in the face of difficulty prevents error. Do not grieve. Happiness will come.
Classical (Legge)There is no state of peace that is not liable to be disturbed; no departure (of evil men) so that they shall not return. He who is firm and correct, as he realises the difficulty (of such a position), will commit no error. He need not be sorrowful; (the happiness of the good) will (certainly) come.
Descending, fluttering down. Not as a rich man relying on his neighbors. They all come without the impulse of sincerity.
Classical (Legge)He descends (from his place), fluttering (as with wings), not as a rich man (relying on) his neighbour(s). They all (come) not on the impulse of sincerity.
The sovereign gives his daughter in marriage to the ruler of the western region. Great happiness. Good fortune.
Classical (Legge)The sovereign I (gave his daughter in marriage to) the ruler of the western region; (it was) his (great) happiness. There will be good fortune.
The city wall falls back into the moat. Do not use the army now. Orders may be announced to the people of the city, yet however correct and firm, there is cause for regret.
Classical (Legge)The city wall falls back into the moat. It is not the time to use the army. (The subject of the line) may, (indeed), announce his orders to the people of his own city; but however correct and firm he may be, he will have cause for regret.
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