The Five-Phase I Ching

(Copyright © 2003 C. J. Lofting)

Five-Phase and the I Ching - WATER | CONSUMPTION | KIDNEY

The nature of consumption as represented in the I Ching in the trigram of Water. Consumption is controlled by Filtration and controls Distribution. It is supported by Exchange and supports Production.

The overall focus of Water as a trigram in the I Ching is that of containment and from that control. The format of this containment is through such areas as education (put on the social mask) as well as establish formal boundaries of social interactions and in doing so reflect the imposition of an 'us' vs 'them' environment - there is sense of determining the flow of things (as in such hexagrams as the Army, a focus on state-asserted uniformity as well as that of education and conflict resolutions through mediations etc).

The generic, IDM related, properties of the trigram are "Contractive Bounding", properties that reflect the taking in and focus on what is within that boundary - as in the consumption of what is exchanged, the 'living of a life'. [Help in understanding hexagram layouts]

The hexagrams of the phase of WATER are:

WATER - The Realm of Consumption [Water, the Abysmal]

"[God] toils in the sign of the Abysmal"

Hexagram 40 reflects the concept of production in a context of consumption. This hexagram has an overall focus on tension release through loosening structure -

40 Deliverance
Relaxed Structuring
Within a context of containment we utilise (sudden) awareness.

"HSIEH : loosen, disjoin, untie, sever, scatter; analyse, explain, understand; release, dispel sorrow; eliminate effects, solve problems; resolution, deliverance. The ideogram: horns and knife, cutting into forward thrust."ERANOS p444

The trigram of Water reflects Consumption. The trigram of Thunder reflects raw Production. Consumption (containment aspect) expressed through 'sudden' production is expressed as a sudden relaxation of tension.

Changing Line Matrix

(numbers read bottom right to top left, lowest energy to highest)

Five Phase Dynamic Ordering

(read bottom right to top left)

37 53 09 57 42 20 61 59
METAL (competitive Exchange)
45 49 31 58 47 43 17 28
WATER (Consumption)

13 33 01 44 25 12 10 06
METAL (cooperative Exchange)
20 37 53 61 59 09 42 57
METAL (competitive Exchange)

22 52 26 18 27 23 41 04
FIRE (Distribution)
12 13 33 10 06 01 25 44
METAL (cooperative Exchange)

30 56 14 50 21 35 38 64
WOOD (original Production)
02 36 15 19 07 11 24 46
EARTH (personal Filtration)

63 39 05 48 03 08 60 29
WOOD (refined Production)
16 55 62 54 40 34 51 32
EARTH (social Filtration)

49 31 43 28 17 45 58 47
WATER (Consumption)
23 22 52 41 04 26 27 18
FIRE (Distribution)

36 15 11 46 24 02 19 07
EARTH (personal Filtration)
08 63 39 60 29 05 03 48
WOOD (refined Production)

55 62 34 32 51 16 54 40
EARTH (social Filtration)
35 30 56 38 64 14 21 50
WOOD (original Production)

Hexagram 59 reflects the concept of a requirement of effort in production through the making of things 'clear' -

59 Dispersion (Dissolution)
Dispelling Illusions
In a context of containment we utilise influence

"HUAN : scatter clouds or crowds; break up obstacles; dispel illusions, fears and suspicions; clear up misunderstandings; dissolve, evaporate, disintegrate, fade, vanish; fog lifting or clearing away."ERANOS p622

The trigram of Water reflects Consumption. The trigram of Wind reflects Production (through re-production, cultivation). This relationship is expressed as dispelling illusions as well as the concept of what is consumed not being final, it gets broken down, used, and so 'evaporates' and the 'need' for more continues.

Changing Line Matrix

(numbers read bottom right to top left, lowest energy to highest)

Five Phase Dynamic Ordering

(read bottom right to top left)

55 62 34 32 51 16 54 40
METAL (competitive Exchange)
23 22 52 41 04 26 27 18
WATER (Consumption)

36 15 11 46 24 02 19 07
METAL (cooperative Exchange)
16 55 62 54 40 34 51 32
METAL (competitive Exchange)

49 31 43 28 17 45 58 47
FIRE (Distribution)
02 36 15 19 07 11 24 46
METAL (cooperative Exchange)

63 39 05 48 03 08 60 29
WOOD (original Production)
12 13 33 10 06 01 25 44
EARTH (personal Filtration)

30 56 14 50 21 35 38 64
WOOD (refined Production)
20 37 53 61 59 09 42 57
EARTH (social Filtration)

22 52 26 18 27 23 41 04
WATER (Consumption)
45 49 31 58 47 43 17 28
FIRE (Distribution)

13 33 01 44 25 12 10 06
EARTH (personal Filtration)
35 30 56 38 64 14 21 50
WOOD (refined Production)

37 53 09 57 42 20 61 59
EARTH (social Filtration)
08 63 39 60 29 05 03 48
WOOD (original Production)

Hexagram 64 reflects a focus on remaining open, the process of distribution and consumption never stops -

64 Before Completion
Mis-Sequencing, Remain Open
In a context of containment we utilise setting a direction (an ideology).

"WEI CHI -

WEI : temporal negative; incomplete, has not occurred...

CHI : cross a river at a ford or shallow place; overcome an obstacle, embark on a course of action; help, relieve, cease. The ideogram: water and level, running smooth over a flat bottom."ERANOS p665

The trigram of Water reflects Consumption. The trigram of Fire reflects Distribution. Consumption through distribution is expressed as lacking completion, as remaining open.

KO Cycle - A circumstance is replaced and so destroyed.

Changing Line Matrix

(numbers read bottom right to top left, lowest energy to highest)

Five Phase Dynamic Ordering

(read bottom right to top left)

63 39 05 48 03 08 60 29
METAL (competitive Exchange)
12 13 33 10 06 01 25 44
WATER (Consumption)

49 31 43 28 17 45 58 47
METAL (cooperative Exchange)
08 63 39 60 29 05 03 48
METAL (competitive Exchange)

36 15 11 46 24 02 19 07
FIRE (Distribution)
45 49 31 58 47 43 17 28
METAL (cooperative Exchange)

55 62 34 32 51 16 54 40
WOOD (original Production)
23 22 52 41 04 26 27 18
EARTH (personal Filtration)

37 53 09 57 42 20 61 59
WOOD (refined Production)
35 30 56 38 64 14 21 50
EARTH (social Filtration)

13 33 01 44 25 12 10 06
WATER (Consumption)
02 36 15 19 07 11 24 46
FIRE (Distribution)

22 52 26 18 27 23 41 04
EARTH (personal Filtration)
20 37 53 61 59 09 42 57
WOOD (refined Production)

30 56 14 50 21 35 38 64
EARTH (social Filtration)
16 55 62 54 40 34 51 32
WOOD (original Production)

Hexagram 07 reflects the filtering process in consumption, here in the form of establishing uniformity through establishing formal structures -

07 The Army
Uniforming
In a context of containment we utilise trust.

"SHIH : troops; an organized unit, a metropolis; leader, general, model, master; organize, make functional; take as a model, imitate. The ideogram: heap and whole, organize confusion into functional units." ERANOS p151

The trigram of Water reflects Consumption. The trigram of Earth reflects Filtration (through faith). The focus is on the containment (a function of consumption) expressed through devotion as filtration - and so the concept of an Army, a sense of social Uniformity.

KO reversal - The expression exhausts that from which it came.

Changing Line Matrix

(numbers read bottom right to top left, lowest energy to highest)

Five Phase Dynamic Ordering

(read bottom right to top left)

13 33 01 44 25 12 10 06
METAL (competitive Exchange)
08 63 39 60 29 05 03 48
WATER (Consumption)

37 53 09 57 42 20 61 59
METAL (cooperative Exchange)
12 13 33 10 06 01 25 44
METAL (competitive Exchange)

30 56 14 50 21 35 38 64
FIRE (Distribution)
20 37 53 61 59 09 42 57
METAL (cooperative Exchange)

22 52 26 18 27 23 41 04
WOOD (original Production)
16 55 62 54 40 34 51 32
EARTH (personal Filtration)

49 31 43 28 17 45 58 47
WOOD (refined Production)
02 36 15 19 07 11 24 46
EARTH (social Filtration)

63 39 05 48 03 08 60 29
WATER (Consumption)
35 30 56 38 64 14 21 50
FIRE (Distribution)

55 62 34 32 51 16 54 40
EARTH (personal Filtration)
45 49 31 58 47 43 17 28
WOOD (refined Production)

36 15 11 46 24 02 19 07
EARTH (social Filtration)
23 22 52 41 04 26 27 18
WOOD (original Production)

Hexagram 04 continues the filtering process through the 'masking' of new members of the collective, ensuring their socialisation of education - their consumption of the social creed ensures 'correct' behaviours -

04 Youthful Folly
Masking, Educating, Socialising
In a context of containment we utilise discernment.

"MENG : cover, pull over, hide, conceal; lid or cover; clouded awareness, dull; ignorance, immaturity; unseen beginnings. The ideogram: plant and covered, hidden growth"ERANOS p124

The trigram of Water reflects Consumption. The trigram of Mountain reflects Filtration-through-discernment. Consumption through filtration is expressed as masking, the 'containment' of the youth - socialisation - learning 'good' habits.

KO reversal. The expression injures that from which it came.

Changing Line Matrix

(numbers read bottom right to top left, lowest energy to highest)

Five Phase Dynamic Ordering

(read bottom right to top left)

49 31 43 28 17 45 58 47
METAL (competitive Exchange)
20 37 53 61 59 09 42 57
WATER (Consumption)

63 39 05 48 03 08 60 29
METAL (cooperative Exchange)
45 49 31 58 47 43 17 28
METAL (competitive Exchange)

55 62 34 32 51 16 54 40
FIRE (Distribution)
08 63 39 60 29 05 03 48
METAL (cooperative Exchange)

36 15 11 46 24 02 19 07
WOOD (original Production)
35 30 56 38 64 14 21 50
EARTH (personal Filtration)

13 33 01 44 25 12 10 06
WOOD (refined Production)
23 22 52 41 04 26 27 18
EARTH (social Filtration)

37 53 09 57 42 20 61 59
WATER (Consumption)
16 55 62 54 40 34 51 32
FIRE (Distribution)

30 56 14 50 21 35 38 64
EARTH (personal Filtration)
12 13 33 10 06 01 25 44
WOOD (refined Production)

22 52 26 18 27 23 41 04
EARTH (social Filtration)
02 36 15 19 07 11 24 46
WOOD (original Production)

Hexagram 47 reflects a focus of exchange in a context of consumption. This focus is reflected in the enclosure of consumption that forces one to 'send ones roots deep' into the context and so become more committed to that context -

47 Oppression (Exhaustion)
Confining, Enforced Waiting, Set-Down Roots
In a context of containment we utilise itensity.

"K'UN : enclose, restrict, limit; oppressed; impoverished; distress; afflicted, exhausted, disheartened, weary. The ideogram: an enclosed tree" ERANOS p516

The trigram of Water reflects Consumption. The trigram of Lake reflects cooperative Exchange. Consumption (containment aspect) through cooperative Exchange is expressed as 'setting down roots'. This is also reflective of being forced to set-down roots and so the focus on restriction of freedom. BUT the Consumption-*Cooperative*Exchange relationship suggests there is more of an element of cooperation in the act rather than opposition.

SHENG reversal. The expression exhausts that from which it came.

Changing Line Matrix

(numbers read bottom right to top left, lowest energy to highest)

Five Phase Dynamic Ordering

(read bottom right to top left)

22 52 26 18 27 23 41 04
METAL (competitive Exchange)
16 55 62 54 40 34 51 32
WATER (Consumption)

30 56 14 50 21 35 38 64
METAL (cooperative Exchange)
35 30 56 38 64 14 21 50
METAL (competitive Exchange)

37 53 09 57 42 20 61 59
FIRE (Distribution)
35 30 56 38 64 14 21 50
METAL (cooperative Exchange)

13 33 01 44 25 12 10 06
WOOD (original Production)
08 63 39 60 29 05 03 48
EARTH (personal Filtration)

36 15 11 46 24 02 19 07
WOOD (refined Production)
45 49 31 58 47 43 17 28
EARTH (social Filtration)

55 62 34 32 51 16 54 40
WATER (Consumption)
20 37 53 61 59 09 42 57
FIRE (Distribution)

63 39 05 48 03 08 60 29
EARTH (personal Filtration)
02 36 15 19 07 11 24 46
WOOD (refined Production)

49 31 43 28 17 45 58 47
EARTH (social Filtration)
12 13 33 10 06 01 25 44
WOOD (original Production)

Hexagram 06 reflects a focus on exchange in the context of consumption in the form of conflict resolution through compromise (and so the focus of 'opposition' in exchange in the heaven trigram - the focus, and consequences, of single-mindedness) -

06 Conflict
Compromising
In a context of containment we utilise singlemindedness

"SUNG : dispute, plead in court, contend before a ruler, demand justice; wrangles, quarrels, litigation. The ideogram: words and public, public disputation."ERANOS p142

The trigram of Water reflects Consumption. The trigram of Heaven reflects Exchange (through competition, opposition). This relationship reflects competitive exchange in a context of consumption in the form of legal actions and so a focus on compromise.

SHENG reversal. The expression exhausts that from which it came.

Changing Line Matrix

(numbers read bottom right to top left, lowest energy to highest)

Five Phase Dynamic Ordering

(read bottom right to top left)

36 15 11 46 24 02 19 07
METAL (competitive Exchange)
35 30 56 38 64 14 21 50
WATER (Consumption)

55 62 34 32 51 16 54 40
METAL (cooperative Exchange)
02 36 15 19 07 11 24 46
METAL (competitive Exchange)

63 39 05 48 03 08 60 29
FIRE (Distribution)
16 55 62 54 40 34 51 32
METAL (cooperative Exchange)

49 31 43 28 17 45 58 47
WOOD (original Production)
20 37 53 61 59 09 42 57
EARTH (personal Filtration)

22 52 26 18 27 23 41 04
WOOD (refined Production)
12 13 33 10 06 01 25 44
EARTH (social Filtration)

30 56 14 50 21 35 38 64
WATER (Consumption)
08 63 39 60 29 05 03 48
FIRE (Distribution)

37 53 09 57 42 20 61 59
EARTH (personal Filtration)
23 22 52 41 04 26 27 18
WOOD (refined Production)

13 33 01 44 25 12 10 06
EARTH (social Filtration)
45 49 31 58 47 43 17 28
WOOD (original Production)

Hexagram 29 reflects the ultimate in consumption, the containment of what nourishes and so the control of that nourishment, the regulation of nourishment and so the extraction of the full bounty that has been taken for consumption -

29 The Abysmal, Water.
Containing, Control
In a context of containment we utilise control.

"HSI K'AN -

HSI : Practice, rehearse, train, coach; again and again; familiar with, skilled; repeat a lesson, drive, impulse. The ideogram portrays wings and a cap. It suggests thoughts carried forward by repeated movements...

K'AN : dangerous place; hole, cavity, hollow; pit, snare, trap, grave, precipice; critical time, test; risky. The ideogram: earth and pit" ERANOS p344

The trigram of Water reflects Consumption. Consumption reflects enclosure, containment, and becomes 'mindless', 'instinctive', 'rote' and so controlling.

Self-referencing and so reinforcing.

Changing Line Matrix

(numbers read bottom right to top left, lowest energy to highest)

Five Phase Dynamic Ordering

(read bottom right to top left)

30 56 14 50 21 35 38 64
METAL (competitive Exchange)
02 36 15 19 07 11 24 46
WATER (Consumption)

22 52 26 18 27 23 41 04
METAL (cooperative Exchange)
35 30 56 38 64 14 21 50
METAL (competitive Exchange)

13 33 01 44 25 12 10 06
FIRE (Distribution)
23 22 52 41 04 26 27 18
METAL (cooperative Exchange)

37 53 09 57 42 20 61 59
WOOD (original Production)
45 49 31 58 47 43 17 28
EARTH (personal Filtration)

55 62 34 32 51 16 54 40
WOOD (refined Production)
08 63 39 60 29 05 03 48
EARTH (social Filtration)

36 15 11 46 24 02 19 07
WATER (Consumption)
12 13 33 10 06 01 25 44
FIRE (Distribution)

49 31 43 28 17 45 58 47
EARTH (personal Filtration)
16 55 62 54 40 34 51 32
WOOD (refined Production)

63 39 05 48 03 08 60 29
EARTH (social Filtration)
20 37 53 61 59 09 42 57
WOOD (original Production)

Changing Line Matrix (numbers read bottom right to top left, lowest energy to highest)		Five Phase Dynamic Ordering (read bottom right to top left)
37 53 09 57 42 20 61 59	METAL (competitive Exchange)	45 49 31 58 47 43 17 28	WATER (Consumption)
13 33 01 44 25 12 10 06	METAL (cooperative Exchange)	20 37 53 61 59 09 42 57	METAL (competitive Exchange)
22 52 26 18 27 23 41 04	FIRE (Distribution)	12 13 33 10 06 01 25 44	METAL (cooperative Exchange)
30 56 14 50 21 35 38 64	WOOD (original Production)	02 36 15 19 07 11 24 46	EARTH (personal Filtration)
63 39 05 48 03 08 60 29	WOOD (refined Production)	16 55 62 54 40 34 51 32	EARTH (social Filtration)
49 31 43 28 17 45 58 47	WATER (Consumption)	23 22 52 41 04 26 27 18	FIRE (Distribution)
36 15 11 46 24 02 19 07	EARTH (personal Filtration)	08 63 39 60 29 05 03 48	WOOD (refined Production)
55 62 34 32 51 16 54 40	EARTH (social Filtration)	35 30 56 38 64 14 21 50	WOOD (original Production)

Changing Line Matrix (numbers read bottom right to top left, lowest energy to highest)		Five Phase Dynamic Ordering (read bottom right to top left)
55 62 34 32 51 16 54 40	METAL (competitive Exchange)	23 22 52 41 04 26 27 18	WATER (Consumption)
36 15 11 46 24 02 19 07	METAL (cooperative Exchange)	16 55 62 54 40 34 51 32	METAL (competitive Exchange)
49 31 43 28 17 45 58 47	FIRE (Distribution)	02 36 15 19 07 11 24 46	METAL (cooperative Exchange)
63 39 05 48 03 08 60 29	WOOD (original Production)	12 13 33 10 06 01 25 44	EARTH (personal Filtration)
30 56 14 50 21 35 38 64	WOOD (refined Production)	20 37 53 61 59 09 42 57	EARTH (social Filtration)
22 52 26 18 27 23 41 04	WATER (Consumption)	45 49 31 58 47 43 17 28	FIRE (Distribution)
13 33 01 44 25 12 10 06	EARTH (personal Filtration)	35 30 56 38 64 14 21 50	WOOD (refined Production)
37 53 09 57 42 20 61 59	EARTH (social Filtration)	08 63 39 60 29 05 03 48	WOOD (original Production)