The Joyous Lake
The Replenishing Lakes
Gladness with firmness behind it: the cheer that makes hard duty bearable, renewed by sharing.
Hexagram 58 doubles the trigram Dui, lake resting upon lake, and it carries the element in its name because both halves are the same figure. Dui is a yielding line above two firm ones, which the Wilhelm tradition reads as strength within and gentleness in outward expression; the Judgement gives success, with perseverance favourable. Two lakes joined together do not readily dry up, each replenishing the other, and the Image accordingly has the superior man join with his friends for discussion and practice. Joy here is not indulgence but the good cheer that makes instruction and hard duty bearable.
Light
Signifies gladness, open speech, friendship, and shared learning. It stands for the encouragement that makes heavy work light and for a cheerfulness that has firmness behind it.
Shadow
Can represent flattery, frivolity, and pleasure sought for its own sake. It may mark a good humour with nothing solid beneath it, or agreeableness used to avoid what must be said.
