Hexagram Analysis

I Ching Hexagram 59 : 渙 Huan / Dispersion (Dissolution)

When wind passes over water, it scatters and dissolves into foam and mist. This analogy can be applied to the human body, where the stagnation of vital energy (indicated by the lower trigram) can be alleviated through the gentle breaking up and dissolving of blockages.

The Judgment

The act of scattering leads to triumph. The ruler nears their sacred place. It is beneficial to traverse vast distances. Persistence is advantageous.

The hexagram's text bears resemblance to Ts'ui's GATHERING TOGETHER (45), which focuses on bringing together separated elements, like water collecting in lakes on earth. In contrast, DISPERSION deals with dissolving divisive egotism. However, both hexagrams share a common thread that leads to gathering together. Overcoming the egotism that divides people requires religious forces. The great ruler employed the common celebration of sacrificial feasts and sacred rites to unite people, expressing the interrelation and social articulation of family and state. The sacred music and ceremonies stirred a strong emotional tide that awakened a consciousness of the common origin of all creatures, dissolving disunity and rigidity. Co-operation in great general undertakings that set a high goal for the will of the people is another means to the same end. When all hands unite in a joint task, barriers dissolve, just as when a boat crosses a great stream. However, only a person who is free of selfish ulterior considerations and perseveres in justice and steadfastness can dissolve the hardness of egotism.

The Image

As the wind sweeps across the surface of the water, it symbolizes the act of scattering. This is reminiscent of the ancient rulers who offered sacrifices to the divine and erected places of worship.

As the seasons change, water transforms into ice during autumn and winter. However, when spring arrives with its warm breezes, the ice melts, and the scattered elements reunite. Similarly, people's minds can become rigid and selfish, causing them to separate from others. Egotism and greed can isolate individuals, but a devout emotion can seize their hearts. By experiencing a religious awe towards eternity and recognizing the One Creator of all living beings, people can unite through the strong feeling of fellowship found in divine worship.