Richard Wilhelm & Cary F. Baynes translation, 1950

   60. Chieh / Limitation

       above K'AN  THE ABYSMAL, WATER
       below TUI   THE JOYOUS,  LAKE





A lake occupies a limited space. When more water comes into it, it overflows. 
Therefore limits must be set for the water. The image shows water below and 
water above, with the firmament between them as a limit.
  The Chinese word for limitation really denotes the joints that divide a bamboo 
stalk. In relation to ordinary life it means the thrift that sets fixed limits 
upon expenditures. In relation to the moral sphere it means the fixed limits that 
the superior man sets upon his actions— the limits of loyalty and disinterestedness.


        THE JUDGMENT    

        LIMITATION. Success.
        Galling limitation must not be persevered in.


Limitations are troublesome, but they are effective. If we live economically 
in normal times, we are prepared for times of want. To be sparing saves us 
from humiliation. Limitations are also indispensable in the regulation of 
world conditions. In nature there are fixed limits for summer and winter, 
day and night, and these limits give the year its meaning. In the same way, 
economy, by setting fixed limits upon expenditures, acts to preserve property 
and prevent injury to the people.
  But in limitation we must observe due measure. If a man should seek to impose 
galling limitations upon his own nature, it would be injurious. And if he 
should go too far in imposing limitations on others, they would rebel. 
Therefore it is necessary to set limits even upon limitation.


        THE IMAGE

        Water over lake: the image of LIMITATION.
        Thus the superior man
        Creates number and measure,
        And examines the nature of virtue and correct conduct.


A lake is something limited. Water is inexhaustible. A lake can contain only 
a definite amount of the infinite quantity of water; this is its peculiarity. 
In human life too the individual achieves significance through discrimination 
and the setting of limits. Therefore what concerns us here is the problem of 
clearly defining these discriminations, which are, so to speak, the backbone 
of morality. Unlimited possibilities are not suited to man; if they existed, 
his life would only dissolve in the boundless. To become strong, a man's life 
needs the limitations ordained by duty and voluntarily accepted. The individual 
attains significance as a free spirit only by surrounding himself with these 
limitations and by determining for himself what his duty is.

        THE LINES

        Nine at the beginning means:
        Not going out of the door and the courtyard
        Is without blame.

Often a man who would like to undertake something finds himself confronted by 
insurmountable limitations. Then he must know where to stop. If he rightly 
understands this and does not go beyond the limits set for him, he accumulates 
an energy that enables him, when the proper time comes, to act with great force. 
Discretion is of prime importance in preparing the way for momentous things. 
Concerning this, Confucius says:
  Where disorder develops, words are the first steps. If the prince is not discreet, 
he loses his servant. If the servant is not discreet he loses his life. If germinating 
things are not handled with discretion, the perfecting of them is impeded. Therefore 
the superior man is careful to maintain silence and does not go forth.

        Nine in the second place means:
        Not going out of the gate and the courtyard
        Brings misfortune.

When the time for action has come, the moment must be quickly seized. Just as water 
first collects in a lake without flowing out, yet is certain to find an outlet when 
the lake is full, so it is in the life of man. It is a good thing to hesitate so 
long as the time for action has not come, but no longer. Once the obstacles to 
action have been removed, anxious hesitation is a mistake that is bound to bring 
disaster, because one misses one's opportunity.

        Six in the third place means:
        He who knows limitation
        Will have cause to lament.
        No blame.

If an individual is bent only on pleasures and enjoyment, it is easy for him 
to lose his sense of the limits that are necessary. If he gives himself over 
to extravagance, he will have to suffer the consequences, with accompanying 
regret. He must not seek to lay the blame on others. Only when we realize 
that our mistakes are of our own making will such disagreeable experiences 
free us of errors.

        Six in the fourth place means:
        Contented limitation. Success.

Every limitation has its value, but a limitation that requires persistent effort 
entails a cost of too much energy. When, however, the limitation is a natural 
one (as for example, the limitation by which water flows only downhill), 
it necessarily leads to success, for then it means a saving of energy. 
The energy that otherwise would be consumed in a vain struggle with the object, 
is applied wholly to the benefit of the matter in hand, and success is assured.

        ° Nine in the fifth place means:
        Sweet limitation brings good fortune.
        Going brings esteem.
        
The limitation must be carried out in the right way if it is to be effective. 
If we seek to impose restrictions on others only, while evading them ourselves, 
these restrictions will always be resented and will provoke resistance. If, however, 
a man in a leading position applies the limitation first to himself, demanding little 
from those associated with him, and with modest means manages to achieve something, 
good fortune is the result. Where such an example occurs, it meets with emulation, 
so that whatever is undertaken must succeed.

        Six at the top means:
        Galling limitation.
        Perseverance brings misfortune.
        Remorse disappears.

If one is too severe in setting up restrictions, people will not endure them. 
The more consistent such severity, the worse it is, for in the long run a reaction 
is unavoidable. In the same way, the tormented body will rebel against excessive 
asceticism. On the other hand, although ruthless severity is not to be applied 
persistently and systematically, there may be times when it is the only means 
of safeguarding against guilt and remorse. In such situations ruthlessness 
toward oneself is the only means of saving one's soul, which otherwise would 
succumb to irresolution and temptation.

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