The name 名
Fēng 豐 means full and great: wealth abounding and virtue enlarged. The old graph shows a vessel heaped with offerings, the picture of a rich harvest. It was also the name of Feng, the city King Wen made his capital, so the word carries a historical echo.
The image 象
Thunder (Zhèn, movement) above fire (Lí, light) below: clarity within, action without, so every move tells. Yet the sky darkens fastest in a thunderstorm. Lines two to four keep speaking of screens and stars at noon, and one reading sees in them the phases of a solar eclipse. At the height of brightness, the shadow is already moving in.
Layers of images 層
A gua can be read on several levels at once: the trigrams as members of a family (father, mother, eldest to youngest sons and daughters), the six lines as ranks in an organisation (from newcomer to ruler), and as forces of nature and animals. Each extra level adds meaning to the line texts.
Read as a family
Below is Lí, the middle daughter; above is Zhèn, the eldest son. She sees clearly within; he acts outside. With a clear mind, every move bears fruit: that is abundance. But with the light inside and the action outside, the light can only show through what is done; once the action is screened off, the clarity within cannot shine out. Fēng’s difficulty is exactly this: being shaded at the height of fullness.
Line 2, “the screen grows thick; at noon one sees the Dipper; going on brings suspicion and illness; with sincerity it opens up; good fortune”: Line 2 is the centre of the lower Lí, bright and correct, but its counterpart, Line 5, is also yin, and the two do not correspond. A capable subordinate under a dim superior meets more suspicion the harder he pushes; only steady sincerity can gradually open the other’s mind.
Line 3, “the curtain grows thicker; at noon one sees the small stars; he breaks his right arm; no blame”: Line 3 is in the nuclear Xùn of lines 2–4, the thigh, which on the arm becomes the upper arm, as in a ruler’s “legs and arms,” his trusted ministers. It is also in the nuclear Duì of lines 3–5, breakage, and Duì is the west, the right side, so the right arm breaks. With the top line it forms the only true correspondence in the hexagram and could have acted, but it meets the darkest hour and must stay still.
Line 5, “bringing in the brilliant; there is blessing and praise; good fortune”: Line 5, yielding in the seat of honour, can draw up the bright Line 2. It sits in the nuclear Duì, joy and the mouth, hence celebration and praise. The same nuclear Duì that broke Line 3’s arm brings Line 5 good cheer: what an image means depends on where it falls.
Turned over, Fēng becomes Lǚ, the Traveller. The Xu Gua says that what grows great to the limit must lose its home, so the Traveller follows; the Za Gua says abundance has many affairs, while the traveller has few close to him. In busy times there are many tasks and many friends; turn around and you may be alone on the road. When you draw Fēng, think of Lǚ as well: the fullness will not stay.
Fēng’s nuclear trigrams are Xùn below and Duì above, making Dàguò, Great Excess: a ridgepole overloaded in the middle with ends too weak to hold it. Inside abundance lies an excessive load; the bigger it grows, the more easily it bends.
In sequence 序
得其所歸者必大，故受之以豐；豐者大也。
The Sequence says that whoever finds a place to which things return must grow great, hence Abundance. The previous gua was about a bride’s homecoming, but “return” also means people rallying to you. Where people gather, land and wealth follow, and greatness comes with them.
The judgment 辭
豐：亨。王假之，勿憂，宜日中。
“Abundance: success. The king arrives. Do not worry; it is fitting to be like the sun at noon.” 假 is read gé, “to arrive.” At noon the sun stands overhead and nothing casts a shadow; the old character for “right” 是 is built from “sun” and “upright.” What abundance fears most is self-interest. A leader who shines on all without favour, with everything in the open, has nothing to worry about.
Commentary on the judgment 彖
彖曰：豐，大也。明以動，故豐。王假之，尚大也。勿憂宜日中，宜照天下也。日中則昃，月盈則食，天地盈虛，與時消息，而況于人乎？況于鬼神乎？
The Commentary explains abundance as “clarity in motion.” Then it turns: “When the sun reaches noon it declines; when the moon is full it wanes.” Heaven and earth fill and empty with the times, and how much more so people and spirits. But we are not meant to wax and wane in virtue with the moon. Moving with the times means adjusting one’s stance: humble in success, steadfast in adversity.
The great image 象
象曰：雷電皆至，豐；君子以折獄致刑。
“Thunder and lightning arrive together: Abundance. The noble person decides lawsuits and carries out penalties.” Under thunder and lightning no wrong stays hidden. The noble person borrows that clarity and force to judge cases fairly. Every Great Image that speaks of justice involves the fire trigram: judgment rests on seeing clearly.
The six lines 爻
Ruling line The notes do not name a ruler; following tradition (e.g. the Zhouyi Zhezhong), the yielding fifth line, which draws talent to itself and wins praise, governs the gua.
The path of the six lines, bottom to top
Line 1 meets a partner equal to itself and for a while they work together on level terms; going forward brings merit. Line 2 is bright but screened by a thick curtain, seeing the Dipper at noon; pressing on brings suspicion, and only sincerity can open the way. At Line 3 the shade is deeper still, the small stars show, and the right arm breaks: there is ability but no way to use it. Line 4 enters the upper trigram still in the dark, but meets a lord of equal standing, and mutual help brings good fortune. Line 5 is willing to bring in brilliant people and receives blessing and praise. The top line builds a grand house and screens off its family; peer through the door and no one is there, not for three years: abundance has ended in isolation.
初九遇其配主，雖旬无咎，往有尚。
In plain words
You meet a partner who matches you; though you are equals, there is no blame, and going forward wins esteem.
Close reading
A firm line in a firm place, it faces another firm line at four, so there is no true correspondence; 旬 here means “equal.” But abundance needs inner light joined to outer action, and the two yang lines, each with a yin line riding above it, can treat each other as host and guest. The Small Image warns that going beyond equality brings disaster.
If you drew this line
Work with a like-minded partner as an equal and move ahead together; do not try to dominate or take more than your share.
六二豐其蔀，日中見斗，往得疑疾，有孚發若，吉。
In plain words
The screen spreads wide; at noon the Dipper appears. Going forward meets suspicion and resentment, but showing sincerity brings good fortune.
Close reading
蔀 is a matting canopy. The second line is yielding, central and correct, at the middle of the sun trigram, hence “noon.” Its counterpart at five is also yin and does not respond; looking up it sees thunder, shaped like an upturned ladle, the Dipper, blotting out the light. Under a weak ruler a good minister can only win through by sincerity. The Small Image: “Trust awakens the will.”
One level deeper
Line 2, “the screen grows thick; at noon one sees the Dipper; going on brings suspicion and illness; with sincerity it opens up; good fortune”: Line 2 is the centre of the lower Lí, bright and correct, but its counterpart, Line 5, is also yin, and the two do not correspond. A capable subordinate under a dim superior meets more suspicion the harder he pushes; only steady sincerity can gradually open the other’s mind.
If you drew this line
When you are misread or distrusted, do not force your case; let sincerity and steady conduct show what you mean.
The Quarrel of Yu and Rui
As Shang sank into darkness, the western state of Zhou was known for virtuous rule. The rulers of Yu and Rui, deadlocked over a border, agreed to let the Lord of the West decide. Inside Zhou they saw farmers yielding field boundaries to one another and people deferring to their elders. Ashamed before ever meeting him, they said that what they fought over was what the people of Zhou would be ashamed of, and went home having each given way. Even in an eclipse, sincerity still gives light.
九三豐其沛，日中見沬，折其右肱，无咎。
In plain words
The curtain hangs thick; at noon even faint stars appear. The right arm is broken; no blame.
Close reading
沛 is a banner-curtain, 沬 a nameless faint star, darker than the Dipper of line two: near totality. A firm line in a firm place, it holds the gua’s only true correspondence, with line six, and could act, but the world has gone dark, so it must hide its light. It sits in the nuclear Xùn (thigh, hence arm) and Duì (breaking, the west, the right), hence the broken right arm. The Small Image: not for great affairs, and in the end not to be used.
One level deeper
Line 3, “the curtain grows thicker; at noon one sees the small stars; he breaks his right arm; no blame”: Line 3 is in the nuclear Xùn of lines 2–4, the thigh, which on the arm becomes the upper arm, as in a ruler’s “legs and arms,” his trusted ministers. It is also in the nuclear Duì of lines 3–5, breakage, and Duì is the west, the right side, so the right arm breaks. With the top line it forms the only true correspondence in the hexagram and could have acted, but it meets the darkest hour and must stay still.
If you drew this line
The climate is dark; this is no time for large undertakings. Lie low, look after yourself and those you rely on, and wait for the light.
Breaking the Tyrant’s Right Arm
Marquis Hu of Chong slandered the Lord of the West to Zhou Xin, who imprisoned him at Youli; he was freed after Zhou sent gifts of beauties and fine horses, and was granted the right to punish other lords. He went on to subdue lawless states, attacked Chong, and built the city of Feng there, moving his capital from the foot of Mount Qi. A Shang king faced south, so the west lay at his right hand. Taking the western lords broke the tyrant’s right arm, and because it was done under a lawful mandate, there was no blame.
九四豐其蔀，日中見斗，遇其夷主，吉。
In plain words
The screen spreads wide; at noon the Dipper appears. Meeting your equal, the lord below, brings good fortune.
Close reading
Lines four and two share the same words because Abundance arises from Tài 泰 by swapping those two lines; read as an eclipse, the darkness is now easing. A firm line in a yielding place, it is “not in its proper position,” and with the sun trigram beneath it, “dark and unlit.” Its “equal lord” is line one; 夷 means level. Two yang lines meeting can move together, and the Small Image calls it fortunate action.
If you drew this line
The situation is still dim, but do not go it alone; join a reliable partner on equal terms and move forward together as things clear.
六五來章，有慶譽，吉。
In plain words
Brilliance comes in; there is celebration and praise. Good fortune.
Close reading
Yin in a yang place, not correct but central, it holds the seat of honour with gentleness and can draw the able to itself. Line two is the cultured brightness of the lower fire; when it comes, light arrives, hence “brilliance comes,” a phrase found only here. In the nuclear Duì (joy, mouth), celebration and praise spread by word of mouth. Line two “goes” and meets suspicion; line five has it “come” and rejoices: in any relationship, one side often pays while the other gains.
One level deeper
Line 5, “bringing in the brilliant; there is blessing and praise; good fortune”: Line 5, yielding in the seat of honour, can draw up the bright Line 2. It sits in the nuclear Duì, joy and the mouth, hence celebration and praise. The same nuclear Duì that broke Line 3’s arm brings Line 5 good cheer: what an image means depends on where it falls.
If you drew this line
Welcome capable people with humility and respect, and a good name will spread of itself; remember what others gave up to come.
上六豐其屋，蔀其家，闚其戶，闃其无人，三歲不覿，凶。
Variant Shown as 「闚其戶」; some editions read 「窺」.
In plain words
A lofty house, its rooms screened in darkness. Peer through the door: silent, no one there. For three years no one is seen. Misfortune.
Close reading
Yin in a yin place, correct and paired with line three, yet at the extreme of abundance and farthest from the light below. The bigger the house, the more it screens its owner from the world. The Small Image: “soaring at the edge of heaven,” far above the people’s hardships; and “he hides himself away.” Three years: the three steps down to line three, and simply a long time.
If you drew this line
At the peak, do not expand or flaunt further. Either rise above possessions or quietly withdraw, and do not let grandeur cut you off from people.
Stories 典
The Ivory Chopsticks and the Three Worthies of Shang
In his youth Zhou Xin was gifted and strong, and six centuries of Shang wealth still stood behind him: a moment of true abundance. When he began using ivory chopsticks, Jizi grew uneasy: ivory chopsticks would demand jade cups, then rare delicacies and towering palaces, desire widening step by step. So it went, down to the pools of wine and forests of meat. The Analects records: “Weizi left him, Jizi became a slave, Bigan remonstrated and died.” With the worthy gone, the court was the empty house of the top line. Those with the most resources are the most easily eclipsed by their own desires.
An Empty Room Fills with Light
In the “Human World” chapter, Zhuangzi speaks of fasting the mind: look into the empty space, and the empty room fills with light. A warehouse crammed with goods throws shadows under even the strongest lamp; an empty room is lit wall to wall by one candle. Four lines of Abundance speak of screening: the more we hold, the deeper the shadow. The point is not to renounce wealth but not to mistake it for what we truly own. Strip away name, profit, power and rank, and ask whether the person who remains deserves respect.
Insight 悟
Everyone pursues abundance, yet abundance carries its own shadow: more choices, more desires, a mind more easily clouded. Heaven’s course holds no fortune or misfortune; the sun declines and the moon wanes, but people can choose to keep their principles through the change. Be humble in success and steadfast in adversity, and most selfless when you stand at noon. At the very top there are only two paths: rise above your possessions, or quietly keep a low profile.