Here the movement goes out of the sphere of danger.  The obstacle has been removed, the difficulties are being resolved.  Deliverance is not yet achieved; it is just in its beginning, and the hexagram represents its various stages.

THE JUDGMENT

DELIVERANCE, The southwest furthers.
If there is no longer anything where one has to go,
Return brings good fortune,
If there is still something where one has to go,
Hastening brings good fortune.

This refers to a time in which tensions and complications begin to be eased.  At such times we ought to make our way back to ordinary conditions as soon as possible; this is the meaning of  "the southwest."  These periods of sudden change have great importance.  Just as rain relieves atmospheric tension, making all the buds burst open, so a time of deliverance from burdensome pressure has a liberating and stimulating effect on life.  One thing is important, however: in such times we must not overdo our triumph.  The point is not to push on farther than is necessary.  Returning to the regular order of life as soon as deliverance is achieved brings good fortune.  If there are any residual matters that ought to be attended to, it should be done as quickly as possible, so that a clean sweep is made and no retardations occur.

THE IMAGE

Thunder and rain set in:
The image of  DELIVERANCE,
Thus the superior man pardons mistakes
And forgives misdeeds.

A thunderstorm has the effect of clearing the air; the superior man produces a similar effect when dealing with mistakes and sins of men that induce a condition of tension.  Through clarity he brings deliverance.  However, when failings come to light, he does not dwell on them; he simply passes over mistakes, the unintentional transgressions, just as thunder dies away.  He forgives misdeeds, the intentional transgressions, just as water washes everything clean.

THE LINES

Six at the beginning means:
Without blame

In keeping with the situation, few words are needed.  The hindrance is past, deliverance has come.  One recuperates in peace and keeps still.  This is the right thing to do in times when difficulties have been overcome.

Nine in the fourth place means:
Deliver yourself from your great toe.
Then the companion comes,
And him you can trust.

In times of standstill it will happen that inferior people attach themselves to a superior man, and through force of daily habit they may grow very close to him and become indispensable, just at the big toe is indispensable to the foot because it makes walking easier.  But when the time of deliverance draws near, with its call to deeds, a man must free himself from such chance acquaintances with whom he has no inner connection.  For otherwise the friends who share his views, on whom he could really rely and together with whom he could accomplish something, mistrust him and stay away.

Six at the top means:
The prince shoots at a hawk on a high wall.
He kills it.  Everything serves to further.

The hawk on a high wall is the symbol of a powerful inferior in a high position who is hindering the deliverance.  He withstands the force of inner influences, because he is hardened in his wickedness.  He must be forcibly removed, and this requires appropriate means, Confucius says about this line:

The hawk is the object of the hunt; bow and arrow are the tools and means.  The marksman is man (who must make proper use of the means to his end).  The superior man contains the means in his own person.  He bides his time and then acts.  Why then should not everything 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.

This hexagram represents a decrease of the lower trigram in favor of the upper, because the third line, originally strong, has moved up to the top, and the top line, originally weak, has replaced it.  What is below is decreased to the benefit of what is above.  This is out-and-out decrease.  If the foundations of a building are decreased in strength and the upper walls are strengthened, the whole structure loses its stability.  Likewise, a decrease in the prosperity of the people in favor of the government is out-and-out decrease.  And the entire theme of the hexagram is directed to showing how this shift of wealth can take place without causing the sources of wealth in the nation and its lower classes to fail.

THE JUDGMENT

DECREASE combined with sincerity
Brings about supreme good fortune
Without blame.
One may be persevering in this.
It furthers one to undertake something.
How is this to be carried out?
One my use two small bowls for the sacrifice.

Decrease does not under all circumstances mean something bad.  Increase and decrease come in their own time.  What matters here is to understand the time and not to try to cover up poverty with empty pretense.  If a time of scanty resources brings out an inner truth, one must not feel ashamed of simplicity.  for simplicity is then the very thing needed to provide inner strength for further undertakings.  Indeed, there need be no concern if the outward beauty of the civilization, even the elaboration of religious forms, should have to suffer because of simplicity.  One must draw on the strength of the inner attitude to compensate for what is lacking in externals; then the power of the content makes up for the simplicity of form.  There is no need of presenting false appearances to God.  Even with slender means, the sentiment of the heart can be expressed.

THE IMAGE

At the foot of the mountain, the lake:
The image of DECREASE.
Thus the superior man controls his anger
And restrains his instincts.

The lake at the foot of the mountain evaporates.  In this way it decreases to the benefit of the mountain, which is enriched by its moisture.  The mountain stands as the symbol of a stubborn strength that can harden into anger.  The lake is the symbol of unchecked gaiety that can develop into passionate drives at the expense of the life forces.  Therefore decrease is necessary; anger must be decreased by keeping still, the instincts must be curbed by restriction.  By this decrease of the lower powers of the psyche, the higher aspects of the soul are enriched.