I Ching

Author: Anonymous / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features:
【Original Text】
Upper Nine: The Dragon Rises to the Extreme and Regrets.
The Image says: "The Dragon Rises to the Extreme and Regrets," for excess cannot last.
The Commentary says: "Upper Nine says 'The Dragon Rises to the Extreme and Regrets,' what does this mean? The Master says: 'Esteemed but without a position, high but without people to govern, the wise are in lower positions without support—hence, if they act hastily, they will 'regret.'"
The Commentary says: "The word 'extreme' () means knowing how to advance but not how to retreat, knowing how to survive but not how to perish, knowing how to gain but not how to lose. Is there anyone but the sage who understands this? Knowing how to advance, retreat, survive, and perish without losing their way—can there be anyone but the sage?"
【Translation】
Upper Nine: When the dragon flies to a certain height, it reaches its peak. If it continues to rise, it may invite disaster and cause regret.
The Image says: When the dragon flies to a certain height, it reaches its peak. If it continues to rise, it may invite disaster because excess cannot last.
The Commentary says: "Upper Nine says 'The Dragon Rises to the Extreme and Regrets,' what does this mean? The Master says: 'This compares those who are noble but lack real authority, high in status yet unable to govern the people, the wise who are in lower positions without support—so if they act hastily, they will 'regret.'"
The Commentary says: "The word 'extreme' () means knowing how to advance but not how to retreat, knowing how to survive but not how to perish, knowing how to gain but not how to lose. Is there anyone but the sage who understands this? Knowing how to advance, retreat, survive, and perish without losing their way—can there be anyone but the sage?"
【Insight】
This hexagram teaches that those with great ambitions should not rush to climb higher after achieving their greatest success.
【Original Text】
Use Nine: Seeing the gathering dragons without a leader is auspicious.
The Image says: "Use Nine," for the virtue of Heaven cannot be the leader.
The Commentary says: "Hidden Dragon, do not act," means being in a low position; "Dragon appears in the field," means temporarily yielding to a low position as the time begins to unfold; "All day long, strive diligently," means putting actions into practice; "Or leap in the depths," means self-testing; "Dragon flies in the sky," means forming the best political situation; "Dragon rises to the extreme and regrets," means disaster from reaching the limit; Heaven's primal virtue "Use Nine" means that is inevitable.
The Commentary says: "Hidden Dragon, do not act," means the yang qi is hidden and not yet manifest; "Dragon appears in the field," means the world is civilized; "All day long, strive diligently," means following the progress of time; "Or leap in the depths," means the "Heavenly Way" is transforming, bringing change; "Dragon flies in the sky," means the yang qi is strong and occupies the "Heavenly virtue"; "Dragon rises to the extreme and regrets," means reaching the limit with the passage of time; Heaven's primal virtue "Use Nine" means this reflects the fundamental laws of nature.
【Translation】
Use Nine: When the dragons gather together, unsure of which is the leader, they fly freely—a very auspicious sign. This is a unique hexagram title, appearing only in the Hexagram of Heaven () and the Hexagram of Earth (), where the latter is "Use Six."
The Image says: All six lines are yang, representing the gathering place of the finest talents under Heaven, the embodiment of Heaven's virtue, and thus cannot have a leader.
The Commentary says: "Hidden Dragon, do not act," means being in a low and humble position; "Dragon appears in the field," means temporarily yielding to a low position as the time begins to unfold; "All day long, strive diligently," means putting actions into practice; "Or leap in the depths," means self-testing; "Dragon flies in the sky," means forming the best political situation; "Dragon rises to the extreme and regrets," means disaster from reaching the limit; Heaven's primal virtue "Use Nine" means that is inevitable.
The Commentary says: "Hidden Dragon, do not act," means the yang qi is hidden and not yet manifest; "Dragon appears in the field," means the world is civilized; "All day long, strive diligently," means following the progress of time; "Or leap in the depths," means the "Heavenly Way" is transforming, bringing change; "Dragon flies in the sky," means the yang qi is strong and occupies the "Heavenly virtue"; "Dragon rises to the extreme and regrets," means reaching the limit with the passage of time; Heaven's primal virtue "Use Nine" means this reflects the fundamental laws of nature.
【Insight】
This teaches us that when one's career reaches its peak, one should gather wisdom to prevent the "regret of the extreme dragon."
P8-9