36 Uncompromising In the context of guidance we utilise trust.

Trigrams : guidance (bottom), dual-mindedness (top) : with/from guidance comes dual-mindedness. [earth over fire]

The mud from which 36 has emerged is best described by analogy to the under-stated qualities of hexagram 52 - standing still (blocking/discerning)

A situation reflecting the uncompromising, be it 'you of them' and/or 'them of you'.

Commentary :

Cooperative Format : In hexagram 36 we find that at times it is necessary to control expressing one's point of view, especially when there is no other likeminded people around. In this situation it is best to keep the light within as you find that your guidance is ignored; best to observe when to advice and when to be quiet (as the image says). Contextually we come from a degree of self-restraint and rigid structure to an uncompromising position.

Oppositional Format : To cut back the light; darken it. Absolutely.

Structural Relationship (Being) : Hexagram 36 is the opposite of hexagram 06, in that 36 reflects uncompromising as compared to compromising;

Temporal Relationship (Doing) : The goal of 36 is hexagram 15 (or 'how do I 15? - 36' How do I be modest, level things out? Uncompromisingly hide/put-out all 'lights')

Five-Phase Relationships : The trigram of Fire reflects Distribution. The trigram of Earth reflects Filtration (through faith, given rules). The focus is on the affect of filtration upon distribution (blocking/hiding the light) but more so the focus on faith in distribution - an overall sense of being uncompromising.

36 is the goal of 46 (or 'how do I 36? - 46' How do I be uncompromising? By getting entangled more, move 'up' a level.)

The I Ching tells us about hexagram 36:

Some PAIRINGS of hexagram 36 with other hexagrams:

• In the traditional sequence hexagram 36 pairs with hexagram 35.

This pairing reflects issues of 'light', be it bring something into the light (35) or on hiding that 'light' (36).

LIGHT:

35 : light - through bring into (uncover); 35 progressing comes from a context described by hexagram 51 - arousing

36 : light - through darken of (cover), uncompromising; 36 uncompromising comes from a context described by hexagram 52 - self-restraint/discerning

• In the binary sequence hexagram 36 pairs with hexagram 22.

The overall focus in this pair is on covering-up, be it the need to hide one's "light" by being uncompromising or suffering the attacks of the uncompromising, or else by a need to draw attention away from the core and to the surface through beautifying the exterior, also known as facading or even to gloss-over and so draw attention away. In hexagram 36 the focus is on integration, like pulling a blanket over onself to cover up and so hide, whereas in hexagram 22 the focus is more on differentiation, on exaggeration of something to draw attention.

• In the binary sequence hexagram 36 opposes hexagram 06.

This pairing covers the issues of compromise, as expressed in the need for compromise expressed in hexagram 06 compared to a focus on being uncompromising (as well as being the object of the uncompromising) expressed in hexagram 36.

At the LOCAL level we are dealing with an octet of hexagrams with the FIRE trigram as base. In this sequence hexagram 13, the exaggerated focus upon likemindedness, 'opposes' hexagram 36, with its focus on being uncompromising, hiding the light rather than sharing it. More so, the exaggerated focus on 'likemindedness', of sharing the 'light' is reflected in a more balanced format by a focus on covering-up the light.

• In the traditional sequence hexagram 36 opposes hexagram 29.

This pairing reflects an aire of 'containment', be it for social reasons (29) or personal reasons (36).

• The generic properties of hexagram 36 reflect the mixing of the generic properties of hexagram 22 with the generic properties of hexagram 52.

A combination of covering-up, the use of adornments to distract attention away from the core to the surface (22) with a focus on blockage and on being discerning (52) is reflected in the focus on being uncompromising, as well as the object of that uncompromising, given in hexagram 36.

• In the variations on a theme sequence, hexagram 36 complements hexagram 15.

The overall emphasis here is on covering-up, as in playing-down one's appearance (as compared to 22 where we ham-up appearance to draw focus to the surface and so the dress-up part). In 15 the focus is on the use of reducing highs and lows, overall exaggerations, and focusing on modesty. In 36 the focus is more on outright hiding of one's 'light' within.

Copyright © 2003-2009 C. J. Lofting