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

Section 4: Family Ethics in the Book of Rites and the Jia Ren Hexagram

The Book of Rites ($\text{Lǐ Jì}$, 礼记) is the culmination of Pre-Qin Confucian ritual theory and contains extensive discourse on family ethics, which deeply corresponds to the Jia Ren hexagram's principles.

The Li Ji, Nei Ze discusses daily conduct norms for family members:

"All inside and outside the household, at the first crow of the cock, all wash their mouths and rinse their teeth, comb and tie their hair, put on their caps and fasten their tassels, adjust their robes and girdles, place their tablets in their sashes. They carry their ornaments on their persons: the left carried the ornamental sash, knife, sharpener, small awl, metal tinderbox; the right carried the jade tablet, defensive shield, musical instrument tubes, string-winder, large awl, wooden tinderbox. When approaching, they put on their shoes. A daughter-in-law serves her father-in-law and mother-in-law as she serves her own parents."

"The son serves his parents: at the first crow of the cock, he washes his mouth and rinses his teeth, combs and ties his hair... When he approaches the place of his parents and in-laws, he lowers his voice and softens his tone, asking about the cold or warmth of their clothes, and respectfully scratches where they are itchy or pained. When going out or coming in, he sometimes goes ahead and sometimes follows behind, respectfully supporting them. When presenting water for washing, the younger one holds the basin, the elder one holds the water, asks for the water to be poured, and after washing, hands over the towel. He respectfully presents what they desire. He uses a gentle countenance to warm them."

This passage details the norms for children serving their parents: waking early, grooming, visiting parents to inquire about their well-being, speaking softly, attending to their physical needs, and guiding them respectfully. These detailed norms are precisely the content of Initial 9, "Guarding the family"—what "guarding" ($\text{jiān}$) means is establishing such a detailed code of conduct, enabling family members to cultivate habits of respect for elders and love for the young from the very routine of daily life.

The Li Ji, Da Zhuan discusses the relationship between the family and the clan:

"To love one's relatives, to revere the honored, to respect the elders, to have distinction between men and women—these are what cannot be changed along with the people."

"To love one's relatives, to revere the honored, to respect the elders, distinction between men and women"—these four are considered unchangeable fundamental principles ($\text{bù kě dé yǔ mín biàn gé zhě}$, 不可得与民变革者). This precisely reflects the Jia Ren hexagram's foundation: affection between father and son, hierarchy, order between elder and younger, and distinction between husband and wife. These four are not arbitrary social conventions but necessary manifestations of the "Great Righteousness of Heaven and Earth" in human relationships.

The Li Ji, Ai Gong Wen records a passage where Confucius discusses the Way of Marriage:

"Confucius then said: 'If Heaven and Earth do not unite, the myriad things cannot be born. The great marriage is the lineage of ten thousand generations. How can the lord consider it too important$6'"

"'Confucius said: 'If the rites for the ancestral temples within are managed correctly, they can match the spiritual efficacy of Heaven and Earth; if the rites for direct speech outside are managed correctly, they can establish respect between superiors and inferiors. Shame in things can spur rectification; shame in the state can spur renewal. Governance must begin with ritual. Is ritual perhaps the root of governance$7'"

"The great marriage is the lineage of ten thousand generations"—marriage is the source of all subsequent generations. "How can the lord consider it too important$8"—how can one say that too much importance is placed on marriage$9 It cannot be too important! Because marriage is the starting point of everything. This aligns completely with the Jia Ren hexagram placing the marital relationship at the core (the response between Line 6 in the Second and Line 9 in the Fifth).