Yang-Rén-Yang-Yang
The yang leaps — in the abyss, in the marsh, in the field, on the peak.
Things stand on tiptoe to go after it.
1
The sun takes her while it is still dark.
The moon goes after it, unseen.
This is the ground the answering is laid on.
2
Just up, and already glowing.
Whoever is like you comes along behind.
Nobody yet knows which way this goes.
3
Nobody has to work on him.
He goes after it of his own accord.
There was nothing to correct.
4
Calling out for followers is not a good sound.
The woman holds up the basket; there is nothing in it.
Who is going to come to that?
5
Water goes down into the hollow.
It fills the hollow and stops.
It does not go past what it came to.
6
He goes after what the eye wants.
He loses what the belly had.
The wanting was doing the leading.
7
He brushes the bad away and goes after the good.
Realgar eats the dead flesh off a wound.
The burning is the saving.
8
He goes after what is not good.
The harm takes off, and it cannot be run down.
There is no court where this gets argued.
9
He follows, and follows well.
Later, he goes up the steps.
Everything he gets, he gets late.
THE IMAGE
A harmonious flock of wild geese flying in perfect V-formation across a luminous sunset sky behind their leader, above a winding mountain river that flows naturally along valley contours.
THE COMMENTARY
Something is asking to be followed. It may be a person, an example, a desire, a principle, a developing opportunity, or simply the direction in which circumstances are already moving.
Following is not inherently submissive. Much depends on what leads and why you are willing to go after it. The oracle asks whether your movement comes from recognition, imitation, appetite, trust, or the wish to belong.
Choose the thing worth following before worrying about how quickly to follow it. What you join will shape your path, and repeated following eventually becomes a way of life.
This figure is one of 81 in Taixuanjing for Today, a book by Joe Perez that renders Yang Xiong’s Canon of Supreme Mystery in original verse, with expanded commentary, essays, and full instructions for casting the oracle yourself.