A Detailed Inquiry into the Most Auspicious Hexagram Lines in the Zhou Yi: From 'Yuan Ji' to 'Ji Wu Buli'

Chapter 26: A Study of the Regularities in the Distribution of Auspiciousness and Inauspiciousness among the 384 Yao

Section 1: Statistical Analysis of Auspiciousness and Inauspiciousness by Yao Position

To more precisely understand the Zhouyi's system of auspiciousness and inauspiciousness, this chapter statistically analyzes the distribution of auspicious and inauspicious judgments among the three hundred and eighty-four yao lyrics according to their positions.

Distribution of Auspiciousness and Inauspiciousness in the First Yao (64 Yao):

As the beginning of a hexagram, the First yao often mentions "Wu Jiu" (without blame) or conditional "Ji" (auspicious) (e.g., "Zheng Ji," "Zheng Ji"). It rarely mentions "Yuan Ji." The number of First yao achieving "Yuan Ji" is only one instance: Fu Nine at the First Place. Inauspicious judgments for the First yao are also relatively few, as affairs are just beginning and there is still room for maneuver.

Typical auspicious judgments for the First Yao:

• Qian Nine at the First Place: "Hidden dragon; do not act." (潜龙勿用。) — No judgment of auspiciousness or inauspiciousness, a warning.
• Fu Nine at the First Place: "Not returning far; no great regret. Supremely auspicious (Yuan Ji)." (不远复，无祗悔，元吉。) — The sole "Yuan Ji" for the First yao.
• Qian Six at the First Place: "Humble, humble gentleman. To cross the great river is auspicious (Ji)." (谦谦君子，用涉大川，吉。) — "Ji."

Statistical Analysis of Auspiciousness and Inauspiciousness in the Second Yao (64 Yao):

The Second yao is a "central position" and "the second often receives praise," thus it has the most auspicious judgments. The Second yao achieving "Yuan Ji" includes one instance: Li Six at the Second Place. Inauspicious judgments for the Second yao are extremely rare.

Typical auspicious judgments for the Second Yao:

• Qian Nine at the Second Place: "Dragon appears in the field; beneficial to see the great person." (见龙在田，利见大人。) — "Li."
• Kun Six at the Second Place: "Straight, centered, and great. Without practice, all is beneficial." (直方大，不习无不利。) — "Wu Bu Li."
• Li Six at the Second Place: "Yellow adherence. Supremely auspicious (Yuan Ji)." (黄离，元吉。) — "Yuan Ji."
• Shi Nine at the Second Place: "In the midst of the army, auspiciousness (Ji), without blame. The king bestows three honors." (在师中，吉，无咎。王三锡命。) — "Ji, Wu Jiu."

Statistical Analysis of Auspiciousness and Inauspiciousness in the Third Yao (64 Yao):

The Third yao is "the third often encounters misfortune," with the most inauspicious and perilous judgments. However, there are exceptions, such as Qian Nine at the Third Place: "Toiling humility; the gentleman has completion. Auspiciousness (Ji)."

Typical inauspicious judgments for the Third Yao:

• Qian Nine at the Third Place: "The gentleman constantly strives; in the evening, be cautious—perilous (Li), without blame." (君子终日乾乾，夕惕若，厉，无咎。) — "Li."
• Pi Nine at the Third Place: "Embracing shame." (包羞。)
• Kan Six at the Third Place: "Approaching the Kan (danger); perilous and leaning. Entering the pitfall. Do not use." (来之坎坎，险且枕，入于坎窞，勿用。) — "Do not use" (inauspicious judgment).

Statistical Analysis of Auspiciousness and Inauspiciousness in the Fourth Yao (64 Yao):

The Fourth yao is "the fourth often experiences fear," often mentioning "Wu Jiu" (without blame) or "Li" (perilous); auspiciousness and inauspiciousness are mixed. The Fourth yao achieving "Yuan Ji" includes one instance: Da Xu Six at the Fourth Place.

Typical judgments for the Fourth Yao:

• Qian Nine at the Fourth Place: "Either leaping in the abyss. Without blame." (或跃在渊，无咎。) — "Wu Jiu."
• Da Xu Six at the Fourth Place: "A young ox's yoke. Supremely auspicious (Yuan Ji)." (童牛之牿，元吉。) — "Yuan Ji."
• Guan Six at the Fourth Place: "Observing the radiance of the state; beneficial to be a guest of the king." (观国之光，利用宾于王。) — "Li."

Statistical Analysis of Auspiciousness and Inauspiciousness in the Fifth Yao (64 Yao):

The Fifth yao is the position of honor and centrality, "the fifth often achieves merit," thus having the most auspicious judgments and the highest level. The Fifth yao achieving "Yuan Ji" includes multiple instances: Kun Six at the Fifth Place, Tai Six at the Fifth Place, Sun Six at the Fifth Place, Yi Nine at the Fifth Place.

Typical auspicious judgments for the Fifth Yao:

• Qian Nine at the Fifth Place: "Flying dragon in the heavens; beneficial to see the great person." (飞龙在天，利见大人。) — "Li."
• Kun Six at the Fifth Place: "Yellow lower garments, supremely auspicious (Yuan Ji)." (黄裳，元吉。) — "Yuan Ji."
• Tai Six at the Fifth Place: "Emperor Yi marries off his daughter; with blessings, supremely auspicious (Yuan Ji)." (帝乙归妹，以祉元吉。) — "Yuan Ji."
• Yi Nine at the Fifth Place: "Sincerity and a compassionate heart; do not ask, and it will be supremely auspicious (Yuan Ji)." (有孚惠心，勿问元吉。) — "Wu Wen Yuan Ji."
• Sun Six at the Fifth Place: "Someone presents him with a tortoise worth ten pairs of shells; he cannot refuse. Supremely auspicious (Yuan Ji)." (或益之十朋之龟，弗克违，元吉。) — "Yuan Ji."

Statistical Analysis of Auspiciousness and Inauspiciousness in the Top Yao (64 Yao):

The Top yao is the extreme of the hexagram, often mentioning "Xiong" (inauspicious), "Hui" (regret), or "Wu Jiu" (without blame). However, there are extremely auspicious examples, such as Da You Nine at the Top Place ("Heaven's help comes to him; auspiciousness without disadvantage") and Jing Six at the Top Place ("The well collects; do not cover. With sincerity, supremely auspicious Yuan Ji").

Typical judgments for the Top Yao:

• Qian Nine at the Top Place: "The dragon has exceeded its position and has regrets." (亢龙有悔。) — "Hui."
• Kun Six at the Top Place: "Dragons fight in the wilderness; their blood is black and yellow." (龙战于野，其血玄黄。) — Inauspicious image.
• Da You Nine at the Top Place: "Heaven's help comes to him; auspiciousness without disadvantage." (自天祐之，吉无不利。) — "Ji Wu Bu Li."
• Jing Six at the Top Place: "The well collects; do not cover. With sincerity, supremely auspicious (Yuan Ji)." (井收，勿幕，有孚，元吉。) — "Yuan Ji."

Section 2: Statistical Conclusions

From the above statistics, we can draw the following conclusions:

1. The Fifth Place is the position where "Yuan Ji" appears most frequently. Kun Six at the Fifth Place, Tai Six at the Fifth Place, Sun Six at the Fifth Place, and Yi Nine at the Fifth Place—four instances of "Yuan Ji" occur in the Fifth Place.
2. The Second Place is the position where "auspicious judgments" appear most frequently. The assertion that "the second often receives praise" is confirmed by statistics.
3. The Third Place is the position where "inauspicious judgments" appear most frequently. The assertion that "the third often encounters misfortune" is confirmed by statistics.
4. "Yuan Ji" is extremely rare in the First and Top Places. Only one instance at the First Place (Fu Nine at the First Place) and one instance at the Top Place (Jing Six at the Top Place)—these two instances are exceptions due to the special nature of their hexagrams (Fu hexagram's "heart of Heaven and Earth"; Jing hexagram's "nourishing without exhaustion").
5. The Fifth Place is indeed the position most likely to receive supremely auspicious judgments—this is entirely consistent with the assertion that "the fifth often achieves merit" and the Fifth Place's position of honor and centrality.