恒 Héng Perseverance (Endurance) [hexagram 32]

Wood element

益 Yì [42] Increase; Gain

Opposite

咸 Xián [31] Persuasion; Influence

Inverse

夬 Guài [43] Breakthrough; Resolution

Mutual

The Decision

Perseverance. Success and no blame through steadfastness; any undertaking is favorable.

There is strength above and weakness below. Thunder and wind provide mutual support. Gentle and energetic from the balance of strong and weak produce perseverance. ‘Success and no blame through steadfastness’ – endurance along the true way; Heaven and Earth endure forever. ‘Any undertaking is favorable’ – sapped energy will be renewed. The sun and moon shine forever just as the four seasons transform and renew. The wise persevere on their way to accomplishment. By contemplating the way of perseverance reveals the true nature of all under Heaven.

恒: 亨, 无咎, 利贞, 利有攸往. Héng: hēng, wú jiù, lì zhēn, lì yǒu yōu wǎng.

彖传: 恒, 久也. 刚上而柔下, 雷风相与, 巽而动, 刚柔皆应, 恒. 恒亨无咎, 利贞; 久于其道也, 天地之道, 恒久而不已也. 利有攸往, 终则有始也. 日月得天, 而能久照, 四时变化, 而能久成, 圣人久于其道, 而天下化成; 观其所恒, 而天地万物之情可见矣! Tuàn zhuàn: Héng, jiǔ yě. Gāng shàng ér róu xià, léi fēng xiāng yǔ, xùn ér dòng, gāng róu jiē yīng, héng. héng hēng wú jiù, lì zhēn; jiǔ yú qí dào yě, tiān dì zhī dào, héng jiǔ ér bù yǐ yě. lì yǒu yōu wǎng, zhōng zé yǒu shǐ yě. Rì yuè dé tiān, ér néng jiǔ zhào, sì shí biàn huà, ér néng jiǔ chéng, shèng rén jiǔ yú qí dào, ér tiān xià huà chéng; guān qí suǒhéng, ér tiān dì wàn wù zhī qíng kě jiàn yǐ!

The Image

Thunder and Wind form ‘Perseverance’. The wise take a stand and will not be deflected.

象传: 雷风, 恒; 君子以立不易方. Xiàng zhuàn: Léi fēng, héng; jūn zǐ yǐ lì bù yì fāng.

Line Change 1

大壮 Dà zhuàng [34] Great power; Powerful

Zealously seeking perseverance, even with resolve there will be misfortune; nothing is advantageous.

The misfortune arises from too earnest a desire for perseverance from the word go.

初六: 浚恒, 贞凶, 无攸利. Chū liù: jùn héng, zhēn xiōng, wú yōu lì.

象传: 浚恒之凶, 始求深也. Xiàng zhuàn: Jùn héng zhī xiōng, shǐ qiú shēn yě.

Line Change 2

小过 Xiǎo guò [62] Small surplus; Slight excess

Regrets vanish.

‘Regrets vanish’ – remaining centered.

九二: 悔亡. Jiǔ èr: huǐ wáng.

象传: 九二悔亡, 能久中也. Xiàng zhuàn: Jiǔ èr huǐ wáng, néng jiǔ zhōng yě.

Line Change 3

解 Xiè [40] Release; Relief

Virtue not maintained consistently. Others question worthiness and so however resolute there will be shame.

‘Virtue not maintained consistently’ – this is not to be encouraged.

九三: 不恒其德, 或承之羞, 贞吝. Jiǔ sān: bù héng qí dé, huò chéng zhī xiū, zhēn lìn.

象传: 不恒其德, 无所容也. Xiàng zhuàn: Bù héng qí dé, wú suǒ róng yě.

Line Change 4

升 Shēng [46] Advancing upwards; Growing upward

A hunt without a quarry.

Not maintaining true position, how could the quarry by found?

九四: 田无禽. Jiǔ sì: tián wú qín.

象传: 久非其位, 安得禽也. Xiàng zhuàn: Jiǔ fēi qí wèi, ān dé qín yě.

Line Change 5

大过 Dà guò [28] Excessive; Great Exceeding

Patiently maintaining virtue, this in a wife is fortunate but, in a husband, disappointing.

‘Patiently maintaining virtue, this in a wife is fortunate’ – she perseveres unceasingly. The husband decides what is right, to simply follow his wife spells trouble.

六五: 恒其德, 贞, 妇人吉, 夫子凶. Liù wǔ: héng qí dé, zhēn, fù rén jí, fū zǐ xiōng.

象传: 妇人贞吉, 从一而终也. 夫子制义, 从妇凶也. Xiàng zhuàn: Fù rén zhēn jí, cóng yī ér zhōng yě. fū zǐ zhì yì, cóng fù xiōng yě.

Line Change 6

鼎 Dǐng [50] Cooking pot; Containment

Continuous agitation. Misfortune.

Continuous agitation – this lacks merit.

上六: 振恒, 凶. Shàng liù: zhèn héng, xiōng. .

象传: 振恒在上, 大无功也. Xiàng zhuàn: Zhèn héng zài shàng, dà wú gōng yě.