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VII. SHI (Army).

Shi. Righteous. Lucky and free from blame if he is a venerable man [who commands the army].

Exposition. Shi means multitude. "Righteous" () means justifiable (JE). If one lead multitude to a righteous course one may become a king. [The commander is] firm and modest, and has a patron. He pursues a hazardous course, but is faithful. In this way he brings calamity upon the country, but the people follow [him]. He is, therefore, lucky, and no blame can be laid to his charge.

Interpretation. Water lying underneath the ground is [the emblem of] Shi. Honourable men accordingly countenance the people and befriend the multitude.

Negative I. An army must move with discipline. Unlucky, if not in good order.

Interpretation. An army must move with discipline; if discipline be neglected, it will be unlucky.

Positive II. Occupies the middle position in Shi, it is lucky and free from blame. The king favours him with his words three times.

Interpretation. [Negative II] is lucky in occupying the middle position in Shi, because he enjoys the royal favour. The king favours him with his words three times, because the king desires to win all the countries.

Negative III. An army may carry corpses by cart; unlucky.

Interpretation. That an army may carry corpses by cart, signifies that it will be very unsuccessful.

Negative IV. An army encamps on a retired position; it is free from evils.

Interpretation. An army is free from evils, when

it encamps on a retired position, because it does not overstep the limits of propriety.

Negative V. There are games to hunt; advantageous to remonstrate; free from blame. Good if a venerable man command the army; but unlucky if a youth convey corpses by cart.

Interpretation. [It is good if] a venerable man command the army, because he pursues the path of A youth conveys corpses by cart, because he is

mean.

not equal to the task.

Negative VI. The August king distributes rewards; and he founds states and settles houses. Do not take small-minded men into favour.

Interpretation. "The August king distributes rewards," or in other words he recognizes meritorious services. "Do not take small-minded men into favour," because they always cause disorders in the state.

EXAMPLES.

MR. M. MUTSU'S VIEWS.

Mr. Mutsu, when he was the governor of Kanagawa Ken, planned a great revolution in the system of local taxation, and determined to offer his views to the government. Before doing so, he asked me to tell him through the "Eki" whether his views will be adopted or not. I divined and obtained the change of "Shi (fi" into "Kon (" and I interpreted thus:

"Your views will be adopted and you will be advanced thrice in your office. Hence the Interpretation' to the 'Negative II' says :-'Negative II is lucky in occupying the middle position in Shi, because he enjoys the royal favour. The King favours him with his

words, three times, because the king desires to win all the countries.'

Ultimately, his views were adopted, and the foundation of taxation of our country was thus established. Mr. Mutsu was advanced three times in his office.

SELECTION OF AMBASSADOR FOR CHINA.

During January of 1885, I was at Atami for the purpose of protecting myself against the cold weather. At that time the negotiation regarding the accident of Corea was about to be made with China. The public were all anxious of the proper selection of the ambassador, and the proper termination of the negotiation. As it was an important event of this country, I was restless with anxiety, and on divining the selection of the ambassador, I obtained the "Negative V" of " Shi (fi

)," which says, "There are games to hunt; advantageous to remonstrate; free from blame. Good if a venerable man command the army; but unlucky if a youth convey corpses by cart," and the "Interpretation," "[It is good if] a venerable man command the army, because he pursues the path of mean. A youth conveys corpses by cart, because he is not equal to the task."

99.66

""There are games to hunt means that birds are come to devastate the corns of our field. Now the accident of Corea is really a massacre of our honest subjects by the Chinese, therefore we have here the emblem of the propriety of our rigid inquiry. Thus we have reason for negotiating with the Chinese Government, which is advantageous to remonstrate.' 'Venerable man command the army' means that a man from ' a venerable province' or Chō-shū can undertake and decide it. Venerable' and 'youth' here, are words

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which briefly show the aptness or unaptness of the ambassador. I think Count Itō is the only one in the Cabinet who is regarded by all as the ablest politician and as he was born in Chō-Shu' perhaps he may be the 'Venerable man' in this divination. The present negotiation, though putting on a mask of peace, we must be ready to open war when necessary. The peace can not be expected unless we be determined to do whichever comes out; to fight, or to make peace.

"Then the present negotiation is at the time of 'Tai Kwa,' when, by missing a single step it will burst out. To keep it still, and to sustain both countries in happiness and ease, depend solely upon a proper ambassador. If Count Itō be selected, it is without doubt that he will conduct properly, neither harsh nor slow, and make peace naturally. The phrase 'pursues the path of mean' is of this meaning, path of mean' being words of praise. The path of mean is the aim and idol of the 'Eki ;' it means to be in the middle and proper position. If Count Ito be not, but some others be, elected, most probably we shall have the woe of 'he is not equal to the task.'

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Things turned out so, and Count Itō was chosen at last.

be unlucky.

VIII. HI Friendship).

Hi. Lucky. Enquire and divine, and if [the friend, whom one wishes to be his, is] perfect, persistent, and constant, there will be no blame. Though not yet easy in mind, yet [followers] will come, and one that shall come late, shall

Exposition. Hi is lucky. Hi implies help, and also it signifies the obedience of inferiors to superiors. "Enquire and divine and if [the friend, whom one wishes to be his, is] perfect, persistent, and constant, there will be no blame "because [such a person] is firm and modest. "Though not yet easy in mind, yet [followers] will come," because there is a concord between superiors and inferiors. "One that shall come late shall be unlucky," because he is in a hopeless situation.

Interpretation. Water lying on the earth is [the emblem of] Hi. The great kings of old accordingly established provinces and were on good terms with the feudal princes.

Negative I. When one forms friendship with the truthful, he will be free from blame. When there is truthfulness enough to fill an oblation bottle, good fortunes will indirectly come in the end.

Interpretation. The Negative I of Hi is attended by indirect good fortunes.

Negative II.

Cultivates friendship with a sincere

heart. Lucky, if constant.

Interpretation. [Negative II] cultivates friendship with a sincere heart, that is, he does not deviate from the path of propriety.

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