Section 5: The Rise and Fall in the Spring and Autumn Period as Verification of Da You

The rise and fall of the feudal states during the Spring and Autumn Period can serve as positive and negative verification of the Da You hexagram.

I. Duke Huan of Qi’s Hegemony—The Zenith of Da You.

Duke Huan of Qi appointed Guan Zhong as his minister; he brought the feudal lords together nine times and unified the realm under one hegemony—this was the image of Da You during the Spring and Autumn period.

The reason Duke Huan could achieve hegemony was precisely his alignment with the Dao of Da You:

He appointed the worthy Guan Zhong as minister—this is a variation of "yielding obtaining the position of honor"—although Duke Huan himself was not "yielding," he could employ the worthy in a yielding manner, not imposing his own will—this is a form of yieldingness.

Guan Zhong's governance of Qi resulted in: "When the granaries were full, people knew courtesy and propriety; when clothing and food were sufficient, people knew honor and shame" (Guanzi, Mu Min), making Qi rich and strong—this is the realization of "Da You."

Duke Huan respected the Son of Heaven and expelled the "barbarians," honoring the Son of Heaven above the feudal lords, and leading the lords to audience at the Zhou court—this accords with the meaning of "the noble lord feasts with the Son of Heaven."

However, in his later years, Duke Huan ignored Guan Zhong’s advice and relied on the three petty men: Zidiao, Yiyi, and Kaifang, violating the principle of "stopping evil and promoting good," eventually dying without proper burial, and his five sons fighting for the throne, causing Qi to fall into chaos. This serves as a warning against failing to maintain the state of Da You.

II. Duke Wen of Jin’s Hegemony—Verification of Da You.

Duke Wen of Jin was in exile for nineteen years and suffered many hardships. This aligns with the meaning of the Initial Nine statement: "If strenuous, there is no blame." Duke Wen maintained himself with arduousness, never forgetting his ultimate goal, and finally returned to his state to assume the throne.

After ascending, Duke Wen employed worthy ministers like Zhao Ci, Hu Yan, and Xian Zhen as his aides. In the Battle of Chengpu, he decisively defeated the Chu army, and subsequently held an audience with the Son of Heaven at Jian Tu, leading the realm to rally to him—this was the flourishing of Da You.

The Zuo Zhuan, Xi Gong 28, records Duke Wen’s strategy: "Chu has just taken Cao, and is newly allied with Wei; if we attack Cao and Wei, Chu will surely come to their rescue, and Qi and Song will be spared" (楚始得曹，而新昏于卫；若伐曹、卫，楚必救之，则齐、宋免矣). Duke Wen’s planning was firm and decisive, matching the meaning of Da You’s virtue being "firm and persistent, yet civilized and bright."

Furthermore, Duke Wen’s audience with the Son of Heaven, where he received the bow, arrows, and axe as a reward, is an instance of "the noble lord feasts with the Son of Heaven." The Zuo Zhuan, Xi Gong 28, records: "The King hunted at Heyang." In reality, it was Duke Wen who summoned the King, but they used the pretext of the King hunting, so as not to show the minister’s presumption. This is Duke Wen’s "not puffed up"—despite his great achievements, he did not consider himself supreme but still respected the authority of the Son of Heaven.

III. King Zhuang of Chu’s Hegemony—An Alternate Interpretation of Da You.

In the early years of his reign, King Zhuang of Chu remained silent and inactive for three years. The Han Feizi, Yu Lao, records: "King Zhuang of Chu governed for three years without issuing an edict, without making a policy decision... The Right Minister of Cavalry sat by the throne and said to the King in jest: 'A bird lands on a southern mound. For three years it has neither flapped its wings nor sung, silent and without sound. What is this called$24' The King replied: 'For three years it has not flapped its wings so it can grow its wings; for three years it has not sung so it can observe the people's conduct. Though it does not fly now, when it flies, it will soar to the heavens; though it does not sing now, when it sings, it will startle men'" (楚庄王莅政三年，无令发，无政为也。右司马御座而与王隐曰：“有鸟止南方之阜，三年不翅，不飞不鸣，嘿然无声，此为何名？”王曰：“三年不翅，将以长羽翼；不飞不鸣，将以观民则。虽无飞，飞必冲天；虽无鸣，鸣必惊人。”). King Zhuang’s three years of inaction mirrors the Initial Nine's "without connection, there is no harm"—avoiding external engagement to accumulate inner strength. Later, he soared to the heavens in one flight and achieved hegemony.

King Zhuang’s questioning of the cauldrons in the central plain ("questioning the cauldrons" mentioned in Zuo Zhuan, Xuan Gong 3) shows the ambition of Da You, although it carried a hint of presumption.

The Zuo Zhuan, Xuan Gong 12, records King Zhuang saying after conquering Zheng: "If the ruler is capable of humbling himself, he will surely be trusted by his people. How could we refuse him$1" (其君能下人，必能信用其民矣。庸可乎？). King Zhuang’s ability to retreat the army shows one aspect of "not puffed up"—despite having the momentum of great victory, he was able to restrain himself and yield.