An Analysis of the Structure, Ethics, and Ontology of the 'Jia Ren' Hexagram in the Zhou Yi

Section 2: Line 9 in the Fifth: "The Ruler Arrives at the Family, Without Worry, Auspicious"

Line Statement:

"Line 9 in the Fifth: The ruler ($\text{wáng}$, 王) arrives at the family ($\text{jiǎ yǒu jiā}$, 假有家), without worry ($\text{wù xù}$, 勿恤), auspicious ($\text{jí}$, 吉)."

Lesser Image Commentary:

"The ruler arriving at the family means mutual love."

Interpretation:

"Wang" ($\text{王}$): One of noble status; in the family, symbolizing the head of the household or patriarch. "Jia" ($\text{假}$, gé) means to arrive or reach. "The ruler arrives at the family" means the one of noble status personally comes to govern his family. "Without worry" ($\text{wù xù}$): No need to worry. "Auspicious" ($\text{jí}$): Auspicious.

Line 9 in the Fifth is the core of the entire hexagram—a Yang line in the Yang position (fifth position), both properly positioned and central. The Fifth position in the Zhou Yi is the "ruler's position," corresponding to the Tuan Zhuan's statement: "The Family has a stern ruler."

The expression "The ruler arrives at the family" is interesting. Why not "The ruler governs the family" but "The ruler arrives at the family"$20

"Jia" (arrive) emphasizes a posture of "personal presence." A good parent does not rule from on high issuing commands but personally comes among the family members to be with them. This "sense of togetherness"—or "presence" in modern terms—is key to family happiness.

The Lesser Image Commentary states: "The ruler arriving at the family means mutual love." The reason Line 9 in the Fifth is "without worry, auspicious" is that the family members have "mutual love" ($\text{jiāo xiāng ài}$, 交相爱). These three characters are exquisite: it is not unilateral love (like a father loving a son while the son is unfilial) but reciprocal, mutual love.

This has some resonance with Mozi's idea of "Universal Love" ($\text{jiān ài}$, 兼爱), but with differences. Mozi states (Mozi, Jian Ai Zhong):

"View another's state as one's own, another's family as one's own, another's body as one's own. Therefore, if feudal lords love each other, they will not wage war; if heads of houses love each other, they will not usurp from each other; if people love each other, they will not harm each other; if rulers and ministers love each other, they will be benevolent and loyal. If fathers and sons love each other, they will be kind and filial; if elder and younger brothers love each other, they will be harmonious. If all people under Heaven love each other, the strong will not oppress the weak, the many will not rob the few, the rich will not insult the poor, the noble will not scorn the humble, the clever will not deceive the simple."

"If fathers and sons love each other, they will be kind and filial; if elder and younger brothers love each other, they will be harmonious"—this is precisely what the Jia Ren hexagram, Line 9 in the Fifth, speaks of: "mutual love." The difference is that Mozi's Universal Love is undifferentiated, whereas Confucian "kindness toward relatives" ($\text{qīn qīn}$, 亲亲) involves hierarchy. However, whether it is Universal Love or kindliness toward relatives, "mutual love" is an indispensable core element in the family unit.

When asked about "Ren" ($\text{仁}$, Benevolence), Confucius gave various answers, but the most fundamental one was (in Lun Yu, Yan Yuan):

"Fan Chi asked about benevolence. The Master said: 'To love others.'"

"To love others"—the core of benevolence is love for others. The beginning of loving others is first loving one's family members. "The ruler arrives at the family"—when the head of the household approaches the home with an attitude of love, mutually loving the family members, the Family Way naturally prospers, and there is no need for worry.

Line 9 in the Fifth corresponds correctly with Line 6 in the Second, symbolizing the harmony of the marital relationship. The perfect combination of upright Yang (Line 9 in the Fifth) and gentle Yin (Line 6 in the Second) is the core relationship of the entire Jia Ren hexagram. When husband and wife divide labor (man external, woman internal) and achieve harmony (mutual love), the foundation of the Family Way becomes the most stable.