Hexagram 16: Enthusiasm
Outer trigram (upper)
Chấn
Thunder · Wood
Inner trigram (lower)
Khôn
Earth · Earth
Judgment
豫：利建侯，行師.
Dự: Lợi kiến hầu, hành sư.
Translation
Contentment and joy: establishing feudal lords (to govern the people) and mobilizing an army both bring good fortune.
Commentary
Thunder is above, Earth is below: above there is movement and action, below there is compliance and following — and from this, joy naturally arises. Thunder over the earth is also the image of yang energy stirring (thunder belongs to yang) and all things springing to life beneath it — another picture of joyful contentment. This hexagram has only one yang line (the fourth), and the five yin lines all follow it; it acts as the ruling line of the hexagram, like a capable and virtuous person whose every undertaking meets compliance, and so naturally succeeds, bringing joy and stability. When one acts in accordance with the natural order, even Heaven and Earth fall into step — how much more so ordinary matters like establishing feudal lords or raising an army; would the people not follow as well?
Line Readings
Line 1 (yin)
初六：鳴豫，凶.
Translation
Boasting of one's happiness loudly and ostentatiously — this is unfortunate.
Commentary
This yielding yin line at the very bottom is neither centered nor correctly placed — the mark of a petty person. Relying on the firm, powerful fourth line above, which corresponds with and supports it, this person grows smug and flaunts their happiness noisily. Such arrogance brings misfortune.
Line 2 (yin)
六二：介于石，不終日，貞吉.
Translation
Firm of resolve as stone, acting at once without waiting out the day — upright and steadfast, this brings good fortune.
Commentary
According to Confucius, in the second part of the Great Commentary, Chapter 5, the noble person recognizes a coming sign the moment it first appears, and so responds without delay. In dealing with superiors, there is no flattery; in dealing with subordinates, no familiarity that oversteps its bounds. Such a person knows precisely when to yield and when to stand firm.
Line 3 (yin)
六三：盱豫，悔遲，有悔.
Translation
Looking upward with hope (longing for wealth and status) and taking pleasure in that hope — this will surely lead to regret, and the slower one is to correct it, the greater the regret becomes.
Commentary
This line is likewise neither centered nor correctly placed. Like a petty person gazing up at the strong yang fourth line, hoping for wealth and rank and taking delight in that hope — if one does not pull back from the snare of power in time, deep regret will follow.
Line 4 (yang)
九四：由豫，大有得；勿疑，朋盍簪.
Translation
Others find their happiness through this person's actions, making great success possible; hold to complete sincerity and set doubt aside, and like-minded companions will gather in numbers, and quickly, to help.
Commentary
This line rules the hexagram: it has ability, holds a high position, and enjoys the full trust of the fifth line, the ruler. So it is able to bring happiness to others and achieve great success. But being the only yang line in the whole hexagram, it must shoulder the burden alone, and there will be moments of discouragement and doubt. The line's text therefore advises holding to complete sincerity — then many companions will come to help, in numbers and quickly.
Line 5 (yin)
六五：貞疾，恆，不死.
Translation
A lingering illness, chronic and persistent, yet not fatal.
Commentary
The fifth line holds the most honored position, but is yielding yin, while the fourth line has won the people's hearts and taken on all the affairs of the realm, wielding power on its own. The fifth line has nothing left to do but sink into pleasure and ease (fitting for this hexagram's time), and so is likened to someone suffering a lingering illness. Fortunately, the fifth line is centrally placed, and the fourth line does not press against it, so it keeps its position in name even so — like an illness that drags on but does not kill.
Line 6 (yin)
上六：冥豫，成有渝，无咎.
Translation
Clouded and lost in pleasure-seeking, yet if one recognizes this and changes course, there is no fault.
Commentary
This line is yielding yin, neither centered nor correctly placed, and stands at the very end of this hexagram — hence its likeness to someone lost in the fog of pleasure. But fortunately, this line belongs to the outer trigram Thunder, which signifies movement, so there remains hope of stirring oneself to change and grow strong again. In that case, the outcome need not be bad.