Hexagram 55
Feng / Abundance (Fullness)
䷶
豐 · Fēng
Upper: Thunder (Zhen) · Lower: Fire (Li)
Abundance (Fullness) — thunder above fire, brilliant power at maximum. The high noon of any cycle; abundance held with awareness that fullness precedes decline.
Core theme
Abundance; fullness at the moment of greatest light; the noon when sun shines maximally before declining
Overview
Feng depicts the situation of maximum abundance. Thunder above fire — the brilliant active power at its highest expression. The hexagram represents the noon hour of any cycle — the moment of greatest light, fullness, capability. Generally favorable but with substantial awareness of the cyclical wisdom: maximum precedes decline.
The Wilhelm/Baynes commentary captures the precise wisdom. The Judgment's reference to the sun at midday — "It furthers one to be like the sun at midday" — promises substantial favor but acknowledges that the position is dynamic. The sun reaches maximum and then begins descent; abundance reaches fullness and then begins waning. The wise practitioner uses the noon well rather than treating it as permanent.
The Judgment
Abundance has success. The king attains abundance. Be not sad. Be like the sun at midday.
The Image
Both thunder and lightning come: the image of Abundance. Thus the superior person decides lawsuits and carries out punishments.
Meaning
Feng teaches the wisdom of fullness. The Judgment's encouragement — be not sad, be like the sun at midday — addresses the practitioner directly. Don't be sad about the cyclical nature of abundance; use the noon well; embrace the maximum while it is present.
The Image's instruction reflects the active use of fullness. With both thunder (decisive power) and lightning (clear perception), the leader can decide lawsuits and carry out punishments — the work that requires both clarity and decisive action. Fullness enables substantial work; use the conditions for what they support.
Application — when this hexagram appears
When this hexagram appears: maximum abundance is available. The practitioner should use the fullness well.
The practitioner should: (1) recognize the noon-quality of the moment; (2) use the abundance for substantial work that the conditions support; (3) extend the abundance generously; (4) maintain awareness that fullness precedes decline; (5) prepare for the eventual waning while using the noon.
The six lines (changing-line commentary)
Line 1 (bottom)
When a man meets his destined ruler, they can be together ten days, and it is not a mistake. Going meets with recognition. Right meeting at right time produces substantial benefit. Ten days together is appropriate; going meets with recognition.
Line 2
The curtain is of such fullness that the polestars can be seen at noon. Through going one meets with mistrust and hate. If one rouses him through truth, good fortune comes. Strange daytime darkness — polestars visible at noon (eclipse-like condition). Going produces mistrust and hate. But truth-rousing produces good fortune. Sometimes within abundance there is darkening; truth maintains the way through.
Line 3
The underbrush is of such abundance that the small stars can be seen at noon. He breaks his right arm. No blame. Even greater darkening. Right arm broken — substantial loss. But no blame; the situation is what it is; accept the loss without self-blame.
Line 4
The curtain is of such fullness that the polestars can be seen at noon. He meets his ruler, who is of like kind. Good fortune. Same darkening as line 2 but with meeting one's like-minded ruler. Good fortune from this proper alliance during difficult fullness.
Line 5
Lines are coming. Blessing and fame draw near. Good fortune. Substantial recognition arriving. Lines (decisive marks of distinction) are coming; blessing and fame approach. Good fortune from this favorable arrival.
Line 6 (top)
His house is in a state of abundance. He screens off his family. He peers through the gate and no longer perceives anyone. For three years he sees nothing. Misfortune. Failure mode: abundance hoarded behind closed doors. The practitioner withdraws into private fullness, screens off family, no longer sees anyone, three years of isolation. Misfortune from this failure to extend the abundance.
Timing
Periods of maximum fullness; midsummer; full moon; the peak phases of cycles. Career height; relationship fullness moments.
FAQ
What's 'be like the sun at midday'?
Embrace the maximum fullness while it is present. Don't shrink from the fullness; don't grasp at it as permanent; just be the noon while you are the noon. The sun at midday shines fully without anxiety about evening; the hexagram's encouragement is to bring this same quality to your fullness moment.
Why polestars at noon?
Eclipse-like image. Polestars (only visible at night) can be seen at noon — strange daytime darkness within the fullness. The image suggests that even at maximum, conditions can produce unusual effects. Some Feng moments involve unexpected darkening within the brightness; address through truth-rousing (line 2) or through alliance with like-minded leadership (line 4).
Should I worry about the decline?
Don't be sad about it (the Judgment specifically says 'be not sad'). The cyclical nature is real but anxiety about it doesn't help. Use the noon well; the decline will come in its time; enjoying the fullness while it is present and using it well is the wisdom, not anxiety about its eventual passage.
What about line 6's hoarding?
The hexagram's failure mode. Abundance hoarded behind closed doors — screening off family, peering through gate, three years of isolation. Misfortune from this failure to extend the abundance. The wisdom: abundance is for spreading; hoarded fullness becomes problematic.
How is this different from Da You (14)?
Da You (14) is possession in great measure — abundance held under wise governance. Feng (55) is fullness — the noon-moment of maximum brightness. Da You emphasizes governance of substantial possession; Feng emphasizes timing of maximum brightness. Different specific framings of abundance with related but distinct wisdom.
Astrological correspondence
Elements
wood, fire
Thunder (Zhen) above Fire (Li) — the trigram pair carries Chinese five-phase (wuxing) elemental correspondences that anchor the hexagram in elemental cycles.