55 story

The image of hexagram 55
Fēng, abundance.

Hexagram 55 has trigram Lí, Fire, below or inside, Zhèn, Thunder, above or outside. Lí is visible reality, order, discerning things. Zhèn is initiative, sudden changes. This is a big but short-lasting fire.

What does it mean, 'inner' and 'outer trigram' (popup)

When trigram Lí is below (popup)

When trigram Zhèn is above (popup)

Lí below Zhèn: a vision is coming forth, there is strategy which will result in sudden changes. Lí inside brings insight, order, discernment, and Zhèn cannot wait to make it happen. But Lí reigns in Zhèn's impulsiveness and together they are a great team for organizing big things and making them happen. King Wen named his garrison-city Fēng, abundance. From there he and his son Wu conquered the Shang. But look carefully at things: anything which is at its top will not stay there, but inevitably go down again. So use the right moment but don't expect it to last.

The old diviners gave this combination of trigrams a name: Fēng. It means Abundance, because Lí and Zhèn combine forces which can do more than win a battle, they can improve the world with insight and change.

Ideogram of the hexagram name: below a ritual vessel or maybe a threshing floor, with above or within it ears of grain or branches of foliage. An image of a big harvest brought in, a cornucopia.
Meanings: big, tall, increase; expand, thick, rich, to cause abundance and prosperity in plenty, harvest, fullness.

The Image says: Thunder and lightning arrive together: abundance. The noble one decides lawsuits and carries out punishments.
(With the clarity of Fire and the quick action of Thunder)

Hex.55 is the contrast of 59, which is about dissolving. Hex.55 is gathering all forces in order to conquer.

  Story:
  Sometimes somebody has a grand vision, so big that he can win all for his plans. The real secret of his success is not just the vision, it relies on his guts, his ability to convince, his trustworthiness, the power of his actions and most of all on the mandate of Heaven.
  Nowadays we call that mandate good luck, but why then do some people have good luck all the time, and others never? Follow those who seem to be subscribed to good luck. Their good fortune will be yours too.
  How does one find that luck oneself? With guts and trustworthiness, by going on even where the road seems impassable, by being prepared, by reading all signs available, by finding helpers and organizing the battles.

The image of hexagram 55 Fēng, abundance.

The image of hexagram 55
Fēng, abundance.