An I-Ching Perspective on China’s Approach to Gaza

Editor’s note: This essay was originally posted on Oct. 15 on Master Tam’s website but the circumstances have changed rapidly. What was written has begun to emerge.

近日世事劇變，以色列與巴勒斯坦交惡，在加沙開戰，這場戰事的影響，對中國來說大於俄烏戰爭，當此之時，恰巧馮公夏前輩著述，筆者補訂的《周易卜筮研究》，由復旦大學出版社出版，筆者因即用這書來占一卦，依世事的變化，中國應如何應對。

The Gaza conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians, from the Chinese perspective, its impact is much greater than the conflict between the Russians and the Ukrainians. It so happened I was working on a revised edition of “A Study of I-Ching Divinations” (周易卜筮研究) by Master Feng Fongxia (馮公夏), published by the Fudan University Press, I decided to make use of the book to make an observation of the changes in world events, and to observe how best China should approach the matter.

占得「重單單，重交單」，是為火天大有卦，變為巽卦。依照馮公的解釋，大有是「大而亨通」，如果參考《雜卦傳》，則說「大有，眾也」，可以解釋為得眾。所以中國在這場變局中，會很順利便得到眾國擁護。

The hexagram was Fire above Heaven (Da You or “The Great Harvest”), changing into the Xun hexagram (Wind over Wind). According to Master Feng, Da You is “Great and Properous and Smooth” (大而亨通). However, the “Commentary of Assorted Hexagrams” (雜卦傳) says, “By Da You, masses” (大有，眾也). Therefore, it can be interpreted as “winning the public.” In this changing situation, China could easily be getting the support of many countries.

可是，要怎樣從事呢？那便要看變卦了，變為巽卦，馮公解釋為「通達，順應」。筆者依《雜卦傳》作補充，《雜卦傳》說：「巽，伏也。」那就是吹在地面上的風，而不是山風、海風。這是很重要克應，中國雖然得眾，但卻不宜高調，那就是「伏」，風伏於地面，其力量很強，我們看看颱風便知道了，颱風由天吹下地面，可以掃平地面上的事物，所以中國在這場變動中，不適宜高調支持巴勒斯坦，現在中國提出和平來息爭，那就很合適了，變卦是事情的結局，中國愈低調，成就會愈大，歐美等國支持以色列，最後都要向中國低頭。

However, how should one approach this? We can observe the hexagram it has changed into, the Xun hexagram. According to Master Feng, it is said to be “smooth access, in accordance” (通達，順應). The “Commentary of Assorted Hexagrams” says, “Xun, understated” (巽，伏也), which of course refers to the wind on the ground, and not the wind at the mountain or over the ocean. This is key, while China is winning the support of many, it is inappropriate to have a high profile (hence “submission” or 伏). The wind blowing on the ground can be very powerful. This becomes clear from observing typhoons and hurricanes. Blowing from heaven to earth can obliterate things on the ground. In this situation, it is inappropriate for China to openly support the Palestinians. China proposing a ceasefire is very appropriate, which is the outcome as per the changing hexagram. The more low profile China maintains, the outcome is greater. The Western countries who have supported Israel will eventually submit to the Chinese proposal.

占得大有卦有三個變爻，就是事情發展的過程。

The Da You hexagram (changing into the Xun hexgram) also carries with it three changing lines (變爻). They illustrate the process of this development.

第一個變爻是大有初九爻，爻辭說：「无交害，匪咎，艱則无咎。」馮公解釋是，人不能互相交害，這事做起來很艱難，但沒有錯。依這樣解釋，中國提出的和平思想，很難得到人響應，但只要堅持下去，終於能夠通達。

The first line change says, “No relationship with what is harmful. There is no blame. Difficult, but without blame” (无交害，匪咎，艱則无咎). According to Master Feng, people should not hurt each other. This matter may be difficult, but it is not wrong. By this explanation, China’s proposal for peace may not get the support of others, but if one persists, it will eventually reach out to other people.

第二個變爻是大有九四爻，爻辭說：「匪其彭，无咎。」意思是排除（匪）有害的人或事（彭），就不會錯。因此中國應對世局既可排除美國幫助以色列的影響，亦可平息中東諸國的忿恨。這樣做當然很艱難，但終於能夠排除有害，那就成就了大業。

The second line change is in the fourth line. It says, “Not inflated, no blame” (匪其彭，无咎). It means that to diminish or to eliminate what is harmful, there is no fault. China’s approach to the world is to minimize US influence to Israel to escalate, as well as quelling the anger brewing among the Middle Eastern countries. This approach is clearly very difficult, but it will also ultimately eliminate the harm, which is a great accomplishment.

第三個變爻是大有六五爻，爻辭說：「厥孚交如，威如，吉。」簡單來說，就是中國能夠得到公信，因此樹立了威信。

The third line change is in the fifth line. It says, “He whose truth is accessible, dignified. Good fortune” (厥孚交如，威如，吉). Simply said, China will win the public trust, thereby establishing a good reputation.

再依巽卦來看這三個爻，初六爻辭：「進退，利武人之貞。」結合大有爻辭來說，那就是如果要得到無交害，雖然艱難，但事態雖有進有退，但從事的態度應有如武人之決斷，即是有如大將臨陣時的決斷。

Now we will look in reverse in the same three lines within the second hexagram. The first line says, “Coming and going, beneficial for the perseverance of a warrior.” In conjunction with the first hexagram, then to achieve “no relationship with what is harmful,” in spite of the difficulty, and the coming and going of the situation, one’s approach should be as determined as a warrior as if facing life and death.

六四爻辭：「悔亡，田獲三品。」結合大有爻辭，那就是於排除有害時，遇到困難不後悔，那就會得到收獲。

The fourth line says, “Regrets dissolve, three kinds of game are caught” (悔亡，田獲三品). In conjunction with the first hexagram, then, in the process of eliminating what is harmful, in spite of the difficulty, there will be no regrets. There will be harvest.

九五爻辭：「貞吉。悔亡，无不利。无初有終，先庚三日，後庚三日。吉。」配合大有爻辭，那就是整件事情起初雖然沒有成算，但最後結局得如所願。「先庚三日，後庚三日」，是像徵我們的成算似乎太早，實際上不早，一遇時變就可以成功了。

The fifth line says, “Perseverance brings good fortune. Regret vanishes, nothing is not beneficial. No beginning but with an end. Before the change, three days; after the change, three days. Good fortune.” (貞吉。悔亡，无不利。无初有終，先庚三日，後庚三日。吉。) In conjunction with the first hexagram, then it appears that even if things don’t appear positive at the beginning, the outcome is as one wishes. “Before the change, three days; after the change, three days.” Things may appear that we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves too soon. But it is never too soon, because change happens in an instant, success is within reach.

由此占可以得出結論，這次變局能令中國得到盛譽，其實中國只要舉出巴勒斯坦已經受了七十年的苦，居住在加沙的巴勒斯坦人，比居住於地獄還不如，所以這次巴勒斯坦向以色列發幾千火箭炮只是洩忿，如果以色列答應善待加沙的人，相信加沙亦會以善回報以色列，從此天下太平。現在以色列是想滅亡巴勒斯坦，奪取整個加沙，將巴勒斯坦人趕去埃及，這樣做就跟中東結仇甚深。如果退一步，讓一步，就得到百年平靜，何樂不為！

From this divination, this situation in the Middle East will lead to a good reputation for China. In truth, China only need to highlight the suffering of the Palestinians for the past 70 years, living in Gaza is worse than living in hell. The Hamas attack was an expression of anger. If the Israelis treat the people in Gaza with love and peace, Gaza will also reciprocate with love and peace — this way we will have true peace. Now that Israel wants ownership for the entire Gaza strip, chasing the Palestinians to Egypt, the act will only lead to hatred with the entire Middle East. Taking a step back will lead to centuries of peace, so why not?