40 RELEASE

Thunder and rain clear the air.

	Thunder Shock
	Water Danger

This chapter is about release, either a physical release from captivity, or a release of tension such as that which occurs after a thunderstorm.

Release is a favourable occurrence and therefore good fortune is predicted as the outcome.

40 LINES

1) 6 at the start

a) Without blame.

b) Righteous and without fault.

To be without blame, after a time of tension, is very good and things will probably work out better than you expect.

2) 9 in 2nd throw

a) Catching three foxes in the field.
Gaining a yellow arrow.
Perseverance brings good fortune.

b) Gaining the middle way.

The foxes are probably some sly people who have contributed to your problems. Catching them brings a release from their disturbance to your life.

3) 6 in 3rd throw

a) If a man carries a burden on his back, and then rides around in a carriage, he encourages robbers. Perseverance brings humiliation.

b) It is your behaviour that provokes the trouble.

If you display something tempting in public, and create envy, then you ask for trouble. You should only display wealth if you have a display of strength in the same measure.

4) 9 in 4th throw

a) Releasing the hands and feet. Partnership ending.

b) The place is not right.

In many cases, where you are involved in some kind of relationship, there comes a point where all the best things have been done and a decline is bound to follow. If this is your situation, the advice is to release yourself from the responsibilities so that you can benefit from the extra freedom that will result.

5) 6 in 5th throw

a) A wise man who is holding firmly has the power of release. Good fortune.
This is correct way to deal with unimportant people.

b) They will withdraw when released.

If you are in a strong position you can afford to be lenient. You can let people go and they will go away and not be a problem in the future.

6) 6 at the top

a) The prince releases an arrow at the hawk on the high wall.
He kills it.
Everything is favourable.

b) Releasing a rebellion.

This line represents a highly placed evil person, the hawk, who you can shoot from below. This brings release.
Confucius said about this line:
"The hawk is the object of the hunt; the bow and arrow are the tools and the means. The marksman is a man who must make proper use of these. The superior man contains the means in his own person. He bides his time and then acts. Why then should everything not go well? He acts and is free. Therefore all he has to do is to go forth and he takes his quarry. This is how a man fares who acts after he has made ready the means."