Sequence of the Gua

Heaven and Earth exist, then the myriad things are born.

That which fills the space between Heaven and Earth is only the myriad things; therefore it is received by Germination. Germination is fullness; Germination is the beginning-birth of things.

Things born must be obscure, therefore it is received by Naive Immaturity. Naive Immaturity is obscurity; it is the budding of things.

Budding things cannot not be nourished, therefore it is received by Needing Rain. Needing Rain is the way of food and drink.

Food and drink must have contention, therefore it is received by Opposing Paths.

Contention must have a multitude arise, therefore it is received by Militia of Commoners. Militia of Commoners is the multitude.

A multitude must have affiliation, therefore it is received by Intimate Allies. Intimate Allies is affiliation.

Affiliation must have something gathered, therefore it is received by Minimal Gathering.

After things are gathered, there is propriety; therefore it is received by Intentional Stepping.

Treading to peace, then there is stability; therefore it is received by Engaging Interplay. Engaging Interplay is through-flow.

Things cannot be eternally through-flowing, therefore it is received by Disengagement.

Things cannot be eternally disengaged, therefore it is received by People in Agreement.

To those who are in agreement with people, things must return; therefore it is received by Great Harvest.

Having greatness cannot be overfull, therefore it is received by Humility.

Having greatness and being able to be humble must lead to ease; therefore it is received by Excited Stirring.

Excited Stirring must have following, therefore it is received by Following.

Those who follow others with joy must have affairs; therefore it is received by Inherited Mess. Inherited Mess is the affair.

Having affairs, then one can be great; therefore it is received by Approaching. Approaching is greatness.

After things are great, they can be observed; therefore it is received by Observing.

Being observable, then there is a joining; therefore it is received by Biting Through. Biting Through is joining.

Things cannot merely join haphazardly; therefore it is received by Adornment. Adornment is decoration.

Bringing about decoration, then there is through-flow, and then it is exhausted; therefore it is received by Decay. Decay is stripping away.

Things cannot be eternally exhausted; when Decay reaches the extreme, the top returns to the bottom; therefore it is received by Returning.

Returning, then there is no fabrication; therefore it is received by Uncontrived.

Having the uncontrived, then one can gather; therefore it is received by Bountiful Gathering.

Things gathered, then they can be nourished; therefore it is received by Managing Sustenance. Managing Sustenance is nourishment.

Without nourishment, one cannot move; therefore it is received by Great Excess.

Things cannot be eternally in excess; therefore it is received by Whitewater. Whitewater is entrapment.

Entrapment must have something to cling to, therefore it is received by Drawn to the Light. Drawn to the Light is clinging.

There is Heaven and Earth, then there are myriad things; there are myriad things, then there are men and women; there are men and women, then there are husbands and wives; there are husbands and wives, then there are fathers and sons; there are fathers and sons, then there are rulers and ministers; there are rulers and ministers, then there are superiors and inferiors; there are superiors and inferiors, then propriety finds its arrangement.

The way of husbands and wives cannot not be enduring; therefore it is received by Commitment. Commitment is duration.

Things cannot dwell long in their place, therefore it is received by Withdrawal. Withdrawal is retreat.

Things cannot eternally withdraw, therefore it is received by Great Strength.

Things cannot be eternally strong, therefore it is received by Advancement. Advancement is progress.

Progress must have injury; therefore it is received by Brightness Injured. Brightness Injured is injury.

Those injured outside must return to their household, therefore it is received by Household.

When the way of the household reaches an impasse, there must be divergence; therefore it is received by Divergence. Divergence is estrangement.

Divergence must have difficulty, therefore it is received by Obstruction. Obstruction is difficulty.

Things cannot be eternally difficult, therefore it is received by Release. Release is loosening.

Loosening must have loss, therefore it is received by Decrease.

Decrease without ceasing must lead to increase; therefore it is received by Increase.

Increase without ceasing must lead to a break; therefore it is received by Cloudburst. Cloudburst is the decision.

A break must have an encounter, therefore it is received by Encounter. Encounter is meeting.

Things meet, then they gather; therefore it is received by Gathering. Gathering is assembly.

Those who gather and rise are called Slow Growing; therefore it is received by Slow Growing.

Rising without ceasing must lead to constriction; therefore it is received by Limited.

Those constricted on high must return to the bottom, therefore it is received by The Well.

The way of the well cannot not be changed; therefore it is received by Shedding Old Skin.

For changing things, nothing is better than the cauldron; therefore it is received by The Cauldron.

For mastering the vessel, nothing is better than the eldest son; therefore it is received by Quaking Thunder. Quaking Thunder is movement.

Things cannot be eternally moving; stop them; therefore it is received by Holding Still. Holding Still is stopping.

Things cannot eternally stop, therefore it is received by Gradual Progress. Gradual Progress is advance.

Advance must have a returning; therefore it is received by Marrying In.

Those who find their return must be great; therefore it is received by Fullness. Fullness is greatness.

When greatness reaches its end, one must lose one's dwelling; therefore it is received by Sojourning.

Sojourning without a place of acceptance, therefore it is received by Submission. Submission is entering.

Entering, then one delights; therefore it is received by Exchange. Exchange is joy.

Joy, then one disperses; therefore it is received by Dispersal. Dispersal is separation.

Things cannot be eternally separate, therefore it is received by Joining Segments.

Segmenting and trusting it, therefore it is received by Genuine Integrity.

Those who have that trust must act upon it; therefore it is received by Tiny Excess.

Having gone beyond things, one must cross; therefore it is received by Already Crossing the River.

Things cannot be exhausted; therefore it is received by Not Yet Crossing the River. Thus it ends.