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Hexagram 55: Feng (丰) — Abundance
Hexagram 55, Feng (丰) — Abundance, is the fifty-fifth figure of the I Ching, composed of the Thunder trigram over the Fire trigram; the ancients read it as fullness at its zenith.
Meaning
Feng is the hexagram of the peak. Thunder and lightning fill the sky at once, and the old readers saw the fullest, brightest moment of any cycle — the sun at midday. The judgment is unexpectedly gentle: do not be sad, be like the sun at noon. Abundance at its height, the text says, is not to be mourned for being brief but to be entered into completely while it lasts.
Measured against success in one's calling, the figure warns of the danger that attends great prosperity. The lines return again and again to the image of a curtain so thick that the stars are hidden even at noon — abundance so great it blinds. The moment of greatest prosperity is also the moment of greatest risk, because fullness breeds both carelessness and envy. The ancients counselled a clear eye at the very top.
For people living under one roof, Feng was read as the danger of overfilling a relationship. The last line describes a house in a state of abundance whose owner screens off his family and peers through the gate, no longer perceiving anyone — the commentators' picture of comfort cutting a person off from those closest to him. Abundance, they taught, must be shared to be safe.
Within the rhythm of a cycle, this figure marks the high point, and the implicit teaching is that it cannot be held. The image of thunder and fire together is the book's picture of a moment of maximum light and energy — and of the knowledge that the afternoon follows the noon. The counsel is to act while the light is full, since the peak is brief.
The Judgment
“Abundance has success. The king attains abundance. Be not sad. Be like the sun at midday.”
The Six Lines of Abundance
Line 1When a man meets his destined ruler, they can be together ten days, and it is not a mistake. Going meets with recognition.
Line 2The curtain is of such fullness that the polestars can be seen at midday. Going brings misfortune.
Line 3The underbrush is of such abundance that the small stars can be seen at midday. He breaks his right arm. No blame.
Line 4The curtain is of such fullness that the polestars can be seen at midday. He meets his ruler, who is of like kind. Good fortune.
Line 5Lines are coming, blessing and fame draw near. Good fortune.
Line 6His house is in a state of abundance. He screens off his family. He peers through the gate and no longer perceives anyone.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What two trigrams make up Hexagram 55?
Feng (丰) sets the Thunder trigram (Zhen, 震) over the Fire trigram (Li, 离). Thunder and lightning striking together was the ancients' image of the fullest, brightest moment — the source of the meaning of abundance at its peak.
What does the judgment of Hexagram 55 say?
It reads: 'Abundance has success. The king attains abundance. Be not sad. Be like the sun at midday.' The old commentaries explain that a full moment should be lived completely rather than mourned in advance — the noon sun does not grieve that evening is coming.
Why does Hexagram 55 speak of stars hidden at midday?
The image of the curtain so full that the polestars are hidden at noon was read as a warning. The commentators saw in it abundance grown so thick that it obscures clear sight — prosperity that blinds its owner to what is actually happening.
Related
Source: Judgment and line texts follow the Wilhelm/Baynes rendering of the Yijing.
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