The Book of Changes/I Ching: The Marrying

Above we have Chên, the eldest son, and below, Tui, the youngest daughter. The man leads and the girl follows him in gladness. The picture of this hexagram of I Ching/the Book of Changes is that of the entrance of the girl into her husband's house. In all, there are four hexagrams depicting the relationship between husband and wife. Hsien, INFLUENCE, (31), describes the attraction that a young couple have for each other; Hêng, DURATION (32), portrays the permanent relationships of marriage; Chien, DEVELOPMENT (53), reflects the protracted, ceremonious procedures attending the arrangement of a proper marriage; finally, Kuei Mei, THE MARRYING MAIDEN, shows a young girl under the guidance of an older man who marries her. Following is the original text of I Ching/the Book of Changes.

The Judgment
THE MARRYING MAIDEN.
Undertakings bring misfortune.
Nothing that would further.

The Image
Thunder over the lake:
The image of THE MARRYING MAIDEN.
Thus the superior man
Understands the transitory
In the light of the eternity of the end.

Lower line
Nine at the beginning means:
The marrying maiden as a concubine.
A lame man who is able to tread.
Undertakings bring good fortune.

Second line
Nine in the second place means:
A one-eyed man who is able to see.
The perseverance of a solitary man furthers.

Third line
Six in the third place means:
The marrying maiden as a slave.
She marries as a concubine.

Fourth line
Nine in the fourth place means:
The marrying maiden draws out the allotted time.
A late marriage comes in due course.

Fifth line
Six in the fifth place means:
The sovereign I gave his daughter in marriage.
The embroidered garments of the princess
Were not as gorgeous
As those of the serving maid.
The moon that is nearly full
Brings good fortune.

Upper line
Six at the top means:
The woman holds the basket, but there are no fruits in it.
The man stabs the sheep, but no blood flows.
Nothing that acts to further.

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