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36 Darkening of the Light
Uncompromising

In the context of guidance we utilise trust.

"MING YI -

MING : light-giving aspect of burning, heavenly bodies and consciousness; with fire, the symbol of the trigram radiance, LI [the clinging]..

YI : keep out of sight; remote, distant from the center; equalize by lowering; squat, level, make ordinary; pacified; colorless; cut, wound, destroy, exterminate."
ERANOS p406

Image :

"[with guidance comes trust] The light enters the centre of the earth[moves up]. Hiding the Light. One oversees the people to know when to darken and lighten."

NOTE: In one of the alternative titles, The term 'calling pheasant' implies trickery, hiding one's true nature. Another title is 'bright pheasant'. The latter describes an excellent official who attempts to get the message across to his ruler but is totally ignored. This act of ignorance manifests the darkening of light; light in the inner position manifests guidance.

Class: Integrating

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. Hexagram 36 is the general form of hexagram 12 where the particular darkening is in the form of neutralising opposition.

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 Filteration (through faith, given rules). The focus is on the affect of filteration 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.)

Extended Commentary

Referring to the Quality Matrix below, the raw context from which hexagram 36 derives is described by analogy with hexagram 22 with its under-exaggerated expression of hiding something. Once within hexagram 36, the base quality level is described by analogy with the general nature of hexagram 52, Self-restraint/Discernment in that hexagram 52 is linked to the bottom line of hexagram 36 and expresses the general emphasis on blockage through self-restraint. The development path of qualitative expression works up through the lines of hexagram 36 where at line 5 it is best expressed by analogy to hexagram 37, rigid structuring, where the intent of the development is to impose a structure to reduce tensions. This imposing of structure need is finally transformed at the peak of the hexagram, line 6, into the expression of being uncompromising in approach.

Pair 36/06

Root Vertical Binary

Quality Matrix

Root Horizontal Binary

Balance Matrix

36 15 11 46 24 02 19 07

22 52 26 18 27 23 41 04

35 16 12 45 23 02 20 08

35 16 12 45 23 02 20 08

55 62 34 32 51 16 54 40

30 56 14 50 21 35 38 64

56 62 33 31 52 15 53 39

56 62 33 31 52 15 53 39

63 39 05 48 03 08 60 29

37 53 09 57 42 20 61 59

64 40 06 47 04 07 59 29

64 40 06 47 04 07 59 29

49 31 43 28 17 45 58 47

13 33 01 44 25 12 10 06

50 32 44 28 16 46 57 48

50 32 44 28 16 46 57 48

22 52 26 18 27 23 41 04

36 15 11 46 24 02 19 07

21 51 25 17 27 24 42 03

03 42 24 27 17 25 51 21

30 56 14 50 21 35 38 64

55 62 34 32 51 16 54 40

30 55 13 49 22 36 37 63

63 37 36 22 49 13 55 30

37 53 09 57 42 20 61 59

63 39 05 48 03 08 60 29

38 54 10 58 41 19 61 60

60 61 19 41 58 10 54 38

13 33 01 44 25 12 10 06

49 31 43 28 17 45 58 47

14 34 01 43 26 11 09 05

05 09 11 26 43 01 34 14

At its worst, hexagram 36 is expressed by analogy with an under-exaggerated 22, to hide something, to make a facade. At best hexagram 36 is expressed by analogy with an over-exaggerated 47, with a focus on forced enclosure and demanding conformity.

The Traditional Single Changing Line Comments:
Line 1
In the beginning one needs to restrain oneself from being seen to be moving too fast and loosing touch with one's roots.
Line 2
One's movement is neutralized. One avails oneself of an offered helping hand
Line 3
By chance one acquires the source of one's opposition; a moment of celebration as disorder is avoided, but testing times still lie ahead.
Line 4
One believes one has captured the essence of the darkness and confidently wanders out of a safe place.
Line 5
Although unable to complete one's path, one maintains one's faith through testing times. Beneficial.
Line 6
One has reached the top of darkening and in the process learns the laws of darkening and lightening, for once anything reaches a peak it must inevitably collapse.

Transformative methods

By introducing this hexagram as context, you can change a state described by any other hexagram into a state described by hexagram 22. To make a state associated with another hexagram transform into this state, introduce hexagram 22 as context.

Hexagram 22 deals with facades (beautyfication), which is linked to the act of hiding something behind somethingelse and that is a context set by 36. Reciprocally introducing a context of facading allows for the emergence of the characteristics of 36.

It is important to remember that, when using transformative methods, the more lines requiring change, the more energy required when attempting to introduce a different context. It may therefore be of benefit to work on existing changing lines and achieve your goal in steps rather than attempt, for example, a six-line change all at once.

Context as Push

To 'go with the flow', any hexagram that is changing into hexagram 35 reflects an influence of 36 on that hexagram in that the 'flow' is in hexagram 36 and as such this reflects the need to adapt to that flow and so take-on the properties and methods of 36.

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