Jié — Limitation

Modern Interpretation

Success. Galling limitation must not be persevered in. Limitations are troublesome, but they are effective. Living economically in normal times prepares for times of want. Being sparing saves from humiliation. Limitations are also indispensable in the regulation of world conditions—in nature there are fixed limits for summer and winter, day and night, and these limits give the year its meaning. But in limitation, observe due measure. Galling limitations imposed on one's own nature would be injurious. If you go too far in imposing limitations on others, they will rebel. Set limits even upon limitation.

Modern Interpretation

Water over lake. Create number and measure, examine the nature of virtue and correct conduct. A lake can contain only a definite amount of the infinite quantity of water—this is its peculiarity. In human life, the individual achieves significance through discrimination and setting of limits. Unlimited possibilities are not suited to us; if they existed, life would only dissolve in the boundless. To become strong, life needs the limitations ordained by duty and voluntarily accepted.

「澤上有水，節。」湖能容納的水是有限的，這是它的特性。人生也是這樣——無限的可能性其實不適合我們，有了界限，生命才有形狀。君子用這個道理來「制數度，議德行」——建立標準，思考什麼是對的行為。自願接受的限制，反而讓人更自由。

The sea is king of waters, perceptive, sagely, and wise. A hundred streams return in homage; none rebel or resist. Ever abundant, ever ample.

Blake depicted Isaac Newton hunched on a rock at the sea floor, obsessively measuring geometric diagrams with a compass. The scientist ignores the spiritual cosmos above, limiting his vision to mathematical rationality. Limitation (Jie) describes necessary boundaries—here Blake critiques self-imposed constraints that blind one to larger truths.

The Judgment

Limitations are troublesome, but they are effective. If we live economically in normal times, we are prepared for times of want. To be sparing saves us from humiliation. Limitations are also indispensable in the regulation of world conditions. In nature there are fixed limits for summer and winter, day and night, and these limits give the year its meaning. In the same way, economy, by setting fixed limits upon expenditures, acts to preserve property and prevent injury to the people. But in limitation we must observe due measure. If a man should seek to impose galling limitations upon his own nature, it would be injurious. And if he should go too far in imposing limitations on others, they would rebel. Therefore it is necessary to set limits even upon limitation.

The Image

A lake is something limited. Water is inexhaustible. A lake can contain only a definite amount of the infinite quantity of water; this is its peculiarity. In human life too the individual achieves significance through discrimination and the setting of limits. Therefore what concerns us here is the problem of clearly defining these discriminations, which are, so to speak, the backbone of morality. Unlimited possibilities are not suited to man; if they existed, his life would only dissolve in the boundless. To become strong, a man's life needs the limitations ordained by duty and voluntarily accepted. The individual attains significance as a free spirit only by surrounding himself with these limitations and by determining for himself what his duty is.

First (Bottom) Line

Often a man who would like to undertake something finds himself confronted by insurmountable limitations. Then he must know where to stop. If he rightly understands this and does not go beyond the limits set for him, he accumulates an energy that enables him, when the proper time comes, to act with great force. Discretion is of prime importance in preparing the way for momentous things. Concerning this, Confucius says: Where disorder develops, words are the first steps. If the prince is not discreet, he loses his servant. If the servant is not discreet he loses his life. If germinating things are not handled with discretion, the perfecting of them is impeded. Therefore the superior man is careful to maintain silence and does not go forth.

Second Line

When the time for action has come, the moment must be quickly seized. Just as water first collects in a lake without flowing out, yet is certain to find an outlet when the lake is full, so it is in the life of man. It is a good thing to hesitate so long as the time for action has not come, but no longer. Once the obstacles to action have been removed, anxious hesitation is a mistake that is bound to bring disaster, because one misses one's opportunity.

Third Line

If an individual is bent only on pleasures and enjoyment, it is easy for him to lose his sense of the limits that are necessary. If he gives himself over to extravagance, he will have to suffer the consequences, with accompanying regret. He must not seek to lay the blame on others. Only when we realize that our mistakes are of our own making will such disagreeable experiences free us of errors.

Fourth Line

Every limitation has its value, but a limitation that requires persistent effort entails a cost of too much energy. When, however, the limitation is a natural one (as for example, the limitation by which water flows only downhill), it necessarily leads to success, for then it means a saving of energy. The energy that otherwise would be consumed in a vain struggle with the object, is applied wholly to the benefit of the matter in hand, and success is assured.

Fifth Line

The limitation must be carried out in the right way if it is to be effective. If we seek to impose restrictions on others only, while evading them ourselves, these restrictions will always be resented and will provoke resistance. If, however, a man in a leading position applies the limitation first to himself, demanding little from those associated with him, and with modest means manages to achieve something, good fortune is the result. Where such an example occurs, it meets with emulation, so that whatever is undertaken must succeed.

Sixth (Top) Line

If one is too severe in setting up restrictions, people will not endure them. The more consistent such severity, the worse it is, for in the long run a reaction is unavoidable. In the same way, the tormented body will rebel against excessive asceticism. On the other hand, although ruthless severity is not to be applied persistently and systematically, there may be times when it is the only means of safeguarding against guilt and remorse. In such situations ruthlessness toward oneself is the only means of saving one's soul, which otherwise would succumb to irresolution and temptation.