54. The Marrying Maiden (归妹)

'The one-eyed can see' continues from the previous line. Nine in the Second Place is Yang-firm and attains Central Position, representing a worthy woman.

Above she has a proper correlate, but that correlate is Yin-yielding and not upright; thus a worthy woman is matched with an unworthy mate and cannot fully accomplish the merit of inner assistance.

Hence it bears the image of 'the one-eyed can see,' and its divination is that it is advantageous for the constancy of a solitary person. A solitary person is also one who embraces the Dao, maintains rectitude, and lacks a proper mate.

Nine in the Second Place is Yang-firm and attains the Central Position, representing a worthy and upright woman. Above she has a proper correlate, but it is of Yin-yielding quality, moved by pleasure.

Thus a worthy woman meets an unworthy mate; hence although Line Two is worthy, she cannot fulfill her aspirations to accomplish the merit of inner assistance.

She can only cultivate herself and apply her abilities in a limited way, like a one-eyed person who can still see, meaning her sight cannot reach far.

In relationships between man and woman, one ought to abide by upright ritual; though Line Five is not upright, Line Two keeps her own secluded stillness, chastity, and rectitude, which is where her advantage lies.

Line Two possesses the virtue of firm rectitude, being a person of secluded quietude. With Line Two possessing such talent, saying 'advantageous for constancy' means it is advantageous to maintain such constancy, not that she is lacking and requires admonition.

Maintaining secluded constancy, she has not lost the constant and upright Dao of husband and wife. Worldly people take wanton familiarity as the norm, and therefore regard chaste quietude as altering the constant, not knowing that it is indeed the enduring Dao.

Although losing its position, it dwells within and occupies the center; the one-eyed can still see, sufficient to preserve constancy. Dwelling inside and treading the center, she can preserve her constancy; hence 'it is advantageous for the constancy of a solitary person.'

Rectified Meaning: Nine in the Second Place does not mention 'the marrying maiden' because, being already within the hexagram of The Marrying Maiden, that it is the marrying maiden is known, so it need not be restated.

Yet Nine in the Second Place, though losing its position, does not cease to dwell inside and occupy the center.

Speaking in terms of the marrying maiden, though not a primary match, she does not lose the Dao of sexual union, just like a one-eyed person whose vision is not properly balanced, yet who is still able to see; hence it says, 'The one-eyed can see.'

'Advantageous for the constancy of a solitary person'—dwelling within and treading the center, able to preserve her constancy; applied to human conduct, this is dwelling in seclusion without losing chastity and rectitude.

Hence it says, 'Advantageous for the constancy of a solitary person.'

Rectified Meaning: 'Not altering constancy'—chaste rectitude is the constancy of human nature.

Nine in the Second Place loses position, raising suspicion that she might alter constancy and become unchaste; but being able to tread the center without deviation, it says 'not altering constancy.'

Nine in the Second Place, line two, lower-middle: Outside the door, affairs pile up repeatedly; the Yin person meets many unions. Though a worthy woman aids with skill, all is misty and vast, hard to harmonize in the end.