Chapter Two: Hexagram Image and Structure -- The Cosmic Schema of Li above Qian below

The philosophy of the I Ching is a philosophy of images and numbers. The trigram structure of the Da You hexagram is highly distinctive, encoding profound political allegory.

2.1 Li above Qian below: The Sun at the Meridian

• Upper trigram (outer trigram): Li: Li signifies fire, the sun, lightning, civilization, armor, and the middle daughter. In temporal terms it represents summer or high noon.
• Lower trigram (inner trigram): Qian: Qian signifies heaven, vigor, the sovereign, the father, jade, and gold.
• Da Xiang Zhuan (Great Image Commentary): "Fire above heaven -- Da You." This is a supremely magnificent spectacle. The sun hangs high above the sky, illuminating all things. The sun's radiance is without partiality; it lights the mountaintops just as it lights the deepest valleys. This symbolizes that the virtue of a ruler should be as transparent, just, and far-reaching as the sun itself.

2.2 The Order of Firm and Yielding: One Yin Governing Five Yangs

The auspiciousness of the Da You hexagram hinges on its line structure.

• The Eminence of Six in the Fifth Place: The entire hexagram contains only a single yin line (Six-Five), occupying the sovereign's position (the fifth line). All other five lines are yang.
• Overcoming the firm with the yielding, receiving fullness through emptiness: The five yang lines symbolize all the worthy talents, wealth, and strength of the realm. The single yin line symbolizes the sovereign.
  • In pre-Qin political philosophy, this represents the supreme ideal of "governing through non-action" (wuwei er zhi). The ruler need not be mightier (more yang) than his ministers; what the ruler needs is humility (yielding centrality), the capacity to accept and embrace all vigorous yang talents.
  • Correspondence: Six-Five and Nine-Two are in correspondence. Nine-Two is firm and centered, representing a regional lord or minister of substance. Six-Five is receptive and humble, Nine-Two is loyal and steadfast -- this is the most perfect meeting of sovereign and minister.

2.3 Inverse and Complementary Relationships

• Inverse hexagram (flipped): Tong Ren (Fellowship with Others, Heaven over Fire). Tong Ren is "going out to forge alliances and gather strength"; Da You is "enjoying the fruits after gathering." The two are two faces of one coin. Tong Ren is the founding; Da You is the preservation.
• Complementary hexagram (all lines inverted): Bi (Holding Together, Water over Earth). Bi emphasizes close attachment; Da You emphasizes radiant illumination for all.