Theme
Inner Truth
Carried by twenty-nine chapters
In the constellation
FellowshipThe Superior Man07 The Army16 Enthusiasm34 The Power of the Great41 Decrease58 The Joyous, Lake63 After Completion05 Waiting17 Following20 Contemplation29 The Abysmal35 Progress49 Revolution62 Preponderance of the Small03 Difficulty at the Beginning06 Conflict09 The Taming Power of the Small14 Possession in Great Measure38 Opposition42 Increase15 Modesty22 Grace37 The Family46 Pushing Upward54 The Marrying Maiden64 Before Completion08 Holding Together11 Peace45 Gathering Together61 Inner TruthGood FortuneNaturalnessCrossing the Great WaterNourishmentEmptiness
Inner truth (Chinese chung fu, literally "truth in the center") is sincerity so complete that it becomes a force acting on others — the same quality Wilhelm elsewhere renders "sincerity" and "confidence." It is the title-theme of hexagram 61, whose commentary measures its power against the hardest possible case:
Pigs and fishes are the least intelligent of all animals and therefore the most difficult to influence. The force of inner truth must grow great indeed before its influence can extend to such creatures.
The image is of an egg-like emptiness at the heart of the hexagram — a heart free of prejudice, and therefore open to others. Where such sincerity is present, it "works upon" even the unresponsive; where it is feigned, nothing holds. Inner truth is thus the invisible root of trust, oaths, and lasting bonds, and it links closely to sincerity in worship and to the confidence a leader inspires.
Where the thread runs
- 03 Difficulty at the Beginning
- 05 Waiting
- 06 Conflict
- 07 The Army
- 08 Holding Together
- 09 The Taming Power of the Small
- 11 Peace
- 14 Possession in Great Measure
- 15 Modesty
- 16 Enthusiasm
- 17 Following
- 20 Contemplation
- 22 Grace
- 29 The Abysmal
- 34 The Power of the Great
- 35 Progress
- 37 The Family
- 38 Opposition
- 41 Decrease
- 42 Increase
- 45 Gathering Together
- 46 Pushing Upward
- 49 Revolution
- 54 The Marrying Maiden
- 58 The Joyous, Lake
- 61 Inner Truth
- 62 Preponderance of the Small
- 63 After Completion
- 64 Before Completion