Structural Analysis, Meaning, and Philosophical Inquiry of the Hexagram Huotian Dayou (Fire Over Heaven)
This article systematically investigates the fourteenth hexagram of the *I Ching*, *Huotian Dayou*, analyzing its structure (Li over Qian), delineating the rich connotations of 'Great Possession,' and interpreting its principle of 'One Softness in Supremacy Responded to by Five Yangs' through the lens of Pre-Qin texts, thereby revealing its profound significance in ancient political philosophy.
Section 2: The Principle of the Complementary Hexagram—Da You and Tong Ren
The Complementary Hexagram (Zong Gua) of Da You is Tong Ren. Da You (Li above Qian below) inverted becomes Qian above Li below, which is Tong Ren.
These two hexagrams are mutually complementary, and their relationship is extremely close.
Tong Ren means sharing the same heart and virtue with others. Li is below and Qian is above. The virtue of civilization is internal, and the action of firmness is external. It means sharing the same heart and virtue with the world through a civilized mind.
Da You means achieving great possession through the virtue of Tong Ren. Li is above and Qian is below. The virtue of civilization is external, and the action of firmness is internal. By carrying out the function of civilization with a firm structure, one can greatly possess the realm.
The relationship between the two hexagrams is like an inside and outside: Tong Ren is the inside, Da You is the outside; Tong Ren is the cause, Da You is the result. Without the virtue of Tong Ren, the enterprise of Da You cannot be achieved.
This is like the saying in the Shangshu, Tai Shi Zhong: "Those who share strength examine virtue; those who share virtue examine righteousness" (同力度德，同德度义). Those who share strength assess virtue; those who share virtue assess righteousness. One must first have the virtue of Tong Ren, then achieve the enterprise of Da You.