I-Ching Hexagram 58
兌 The Joyous
Also known as Lake / Open Exchange
Shared joy, free exchange, the open lake reflecting heaven. The figure favours honest communication, friendship, and mutual delight; but it warns against sycophancy and empty pleasure.
joy · openness · exchange
The Story
Two friends sat by a lake in late afternoon, sharing a flask and speaking of whatever came to them. They did not flatter each other. They disagreed, laughed, fell silent, began again. The lake was calm; the sky was clear. A younger man, passing, wished to join, and they made room. Nothing of consequence was decided. Everything of consequence was felt. That evening each walked home lighter than he had come, though he could not have said why. Shared joy, honestly held, is not frivolous. It is the quiet power that makes all other labors bearable.
The Judgment
Success. Perseverance is furthering.
The Image
Lakes resting one on the other: the image of the joyous. Thus the superior person joins with their friends for discussion and practice.
Interpretation
Shared joy, free exchange, the open lake reflecting heaven. The figure favours honest communication, friendship, and mutual delight; but it warns against sycophancy and empty pleasure. Real joy strengthens; counterfeit joy weakens.
Trigrams
The Six Lines
- First (Bottom) Contented joyousness. Good fortune. Quiet inner pleasure without need for display.
- Second Sincere joyousness. Good fortune. Remorse disappears. Pleasure that is honestly come by.
- Third Coming joyousness. Misfortune. Joy sought from outside rather than grown from within.
- Fourth Joyousness that is weighed is not at peace. After ridding oneself of mistakes, one finds joy. Calculated pleasure is not pleasure; let the calculation go.
- Fifth Sincerity toward disintegrating influences is dangerous. Genuine warmth toward the wrong company is still dangerous company.
- Sixth (Top) Seductive joyousness. Flattery that invites downfall; a bad line disguised as a good one.