11. T'ai / Peace

       above  K'UN  THE RECEPTIVE, EARTH
       below  CH'IEN  THE CREATIVE, HEAVEN




The Receptive, which moves downward, stands above; the Creative, 
which moves upward, is below. Hence their influences meet and 
are in harmony, so that all living things bloom and prosper. 
This hexagram belongs to the first month (February-March), 
at which time the forces of nature prepare the new spring. 

        THE JUDGMENT

        PEACE. The small departs,
        The great approaches.
        Good fortune. Success.

This hexagram denotes a time in nature when heaven seems to be 
on earth. Heaven has placed itself beneath the earth, and so 
their powers unite in deep harmony. Then peace and blessing 
descend upon all living things. In the world of man it is a 
time of social harmony; those in high places show favor to 
the lowly, and the lowly and inferior is an end to all feuds. 

Inside, at the center, in the key position, is the light 
principle; the dark principle is outside. Thus the light has 
a powerful influence, while the dark is submissive. In this way 
each receives its due. When the good elements of society occupy 
a central position and are in control, the evil elements come 
under their influence and change for the better. When the spirit 
of heaven rules in man, his animal nature also comes under its 
influence and takes its appropriate place. 

The individual lines enter the hexagram from below and leave it 
again at the top. Here the small, weak, and evil elements are 
about to take their departure, while the great, strong, and good 
elements are moving up. This brings good fortune and success.


        THE IMAGE

        Heaven and earth unite: the image of PEACE.
        Thus the ruler
        Divides and completes the course of heaven and earth,
        And so aids the people.


Heaven and earth are in contact and combine their influences, 
producing a time of universal flowering and prosperity. This stream 
of energy must be regulated by the ruler of men. It is done by a 
process of division. Thus men divide the uniform flow of time into 
the seasons, according to the succession of natural phenomena, and 
mark off infinite space by the points of the compass. In this way 
nature in its overwhelming profusion of phenomena is bounded and 
controlled. One the other hand, nature must be furthered in her 
productiveness. This is done by adjusting the products to the 
right time and the right place, which increases the natural 
yield. This controlling and furthering activity of man in his 
relation to nature is the work on nature that rewards him.