Hexagram of the Day Friday, July 31, 2026: #58 The Joyous (Lake) (兑)

Duì means pleasing and joyous. A single yin line advances above two yang lines, so that joy appears on the exterior. Its image is the lake (marsh), taken from its pleasing all living things; it also takes the image of Kǎn Water whose downward flow is blocked.

The structure of the hexagram is firm in the center and yielding on the outside. Firm in the center, it pleases and is prosperous; yielding on the outside, it is advantageous to persevere.

For pleasing has the way of prosperity, yet reckless pleasing must not go uncaught by warning; hence its divination is such.

Furthermore, being yielding on the outside signifies pleasing and prosperity, while being firm in the center signifies advantage in persevering—this is also a valid interpretation. Pronounce 説 as yuè, the same below. Explaining the meaning of the hexagram name.

Pronounce 先 as xī-jiàn (xiān), or in the standard tone; pronounce 難 as nài-dàn (nàn). Explaining the Hexagram Statement through the hexagram structure and carrying it to its ultimate expression.

Two lakes adhere to one another, mutually moistening and enriching each other. Friends discussing and practicing—the image is like this.

Hexagram The Joyous (Lake) in the Sequence of the Hexagrams: The Gentle (Wind) means entering; after entering, one is pleased, and therefore it is followed by The Joyous (Lake). Duì means pleasing.

When things enter one another, they please one another; when they please one another, they enter one another. This is why The Joyous follows The Gentle. Duì means pleasing. Pleasing is the way to bring about prosperity.

Being able to please all things, none among them fails to rejoice and join with it, which suffices to bring about prosperity.

However, the way of pleasing finds advantage in persevering correctness; if one seeks to please through unrighteous ways, it becomes depraved flattery, bringing regret and blame. Hence the admonition: 'Advantageous to persevere.'

The Commentary on the Judgment says: Duì means pleasing.

The meaning of the hexagram is pleasing. A single yin line sits atop two yang lines; yin pleases yang, and is pleased by yang.

Yang firmness occupies the center, an image of sincerity and truth within; the yielding lines reside on the outside, an image of harmony and softness in interacting with things. Therefore it creates joy while being able to remain correct.

'Advantageous to persevere': the way of pleasing ought to be correct. The hexagram possesses the virtue of firm centrality, enabling it to persevere.

Pleasing yet able to persevere, it accords upward with Heavenly principle and responds downward to human hearts; this is the utmost correctness and utmost goodness of the way of pleasing.

As for those who defy the Tao to fish for praise among the common people, that is reckless pleasing: defying the Tao fails to accord with Heaven; fishing for praise does not truly respond to people, merely seizing momentary pleasure.

This is not the correct path of the noble person. The noble person's way of pleasing the people is like the bounty of Heaven and Earth, moving their hearts so that they joyfully submit without weariness.

Thus, when leading the people with joy, their hearts follow gladly and forget their toil; when leading them into danger, their hearts joyfully submit to righteousness and disregard their death. So great is the way of pleasing that none among the people fail to be encouraged.

Encouraged means believing and striving in compliance. The ruler's way takes the joyful submission of the people's hearts as its foundation, which is why the sage praises its greatness.

Joined lakes: two lakes adhering together. Two lakes joining each other presents the image of mutual soaking, moistening, and enriching. Therefore, the noble person observes this image and engages with friends in discussion and practice.

Friends discussing and practicing bring mutual enrichment. Former scholars remarked: 'Under Heaven, nothing is more joyous than friends discussing and practicing.'

Friends discussing and practicing is indeed a great source of joy, yet one must clearly perceive the image of mutual enrichment.

If pleasing departs from firmness, it becomes flattery; if firmness departs from pleasing, it becomes tyranny. Firm within and yielding without is how one pleases with advantage in persevering.

Firm in the center, hence advantageous to persevere; yielding on the outside, hence pleasing and prosperous. Heaven is firm yet never loses its pleasing harmony.

Joined (麗, lì) means connected. In the manifestation of pleasing joy, none is more flourishing than this.

The Correct Meaning states: Duì means pleasing. The Explaining the Trigrams says: 'Of that which gives joy to all things, none is greater than the lake.' Because Duì is the hexagram symbolizing the lake, it is named Duì.

The lake moistens and gives life to all things, so all things rejoice; applied to human affairs, it is like a ruler nourishing the people with kindness and favor, so that all the people rejoice. When bounty is bestowed and the people rejoice, prosperity follows.

When pleasing all things, one fears lapsing into flattery and evil; its advantage lies in persevering correctness. Therefore it is said: 'The Joyous (Lake): prosperity, advantageous to persevere.'

The Correct Meaning states: 'Duì means pleasing' glosses the hexagram name.

'Firm in the center and yielding on the outside, pleasing with advantage in persevering' explains the meaning of 'The Joyous: prosperity, advantageous to persevere' based on lines Two and Five holding firmness in the center, and Six at the Top and Six in the Third Place residing yieldingly on the outside.

Though yielding and pleasing on the outside, inner virtue is firm and upright, so one does not fear depraved flattery. Though firm and upright within, outward conduct is yielding and pleasing, so one does not fear invasive tyranny.

Precisely because it is firm in the center and yielding on the outside, inside and outside complement each other, achieving pleasing prosperity and advantage in persevering. The Correct Meaning states: Broadly clarifying the meaning of pleasing, it unites Heaven and humanity.

Heaven possesses firm virtue yet employs yielding restraint, remaining firm without losing its pleasing nature. Now, pleasing with advantage in persevering complies upward with Heaven.

The human heart rejoices in gracious favor; being able to please people with favor responds downward to humanity.

The Correct Meaning states: From 'Pleasing in leading the people, the people forget their toil' downward, it praises the results achieved through pleasing, and also elaborates the method of responding to humanity: first soothing the people with joy, and then setting them to work, the people will exert all their strength and forget the toil of labor; hence 'Pleasing in leading the people, the people forget their toil.'

'Pleasing in confronting difficulties, the people forget their death': first comforting and encouraging the people with joy, and then sending them into danger, the people will dedicate their lives and forget the death of braving danger; hence 'Pleasing in confronting difficulties, the people forget their death.'

When pleasing is extended to people, its effects are such; is it not truly the greatness of pleasing that can inspire and encourage the people? Therefore it is said: 'So great is pleasing that the people are encouraged!'

The Correct Meaning states: 'Joined lakes: The Joyous'—joined means connected; two lakes connecting together show the abundance of moistening joy, hence 'Joined lakes: The Joyous.'

'The noble person joins with friends for discussion and practice': those of the same master are called péng (comrades); those of the same aspiration are called yǒu (friends).

When friends dwell together, discussing and practicing moral principles, the height of mutual joy cannot surpass this. Therefore the noble person models this by discussing and practicing with friends.