Is Sincerity the Only Non-Depreciating Social Currency? Dui Hexagram Nine in the Second Place: True Joy from Sincerity Feels Solid and Lasting

For the Nine in the Second Place of Dui / The Joyous, the Line Text reads:

「孚兑，吉，悔亡。」 (Fu Dui, Ji, Hui Wang: Joyous with Sincerity, Good Fortune, Remorse Disappears)

"Fu" (sincerity and trust) means honesty and true heart. "Fu Dui" — joy earned through genuine sincerity. "Ji, Hui Wang" — auspicious, with no regret left.

This line is different from the Nine at the Beginning. The first line is "He Dui" — interacting peacefully with no ulterior motive. The Nine in the Second Place is "Fu Dui" — connecting with a true heart and building trust.

Moving from "peace" to "sincerity", joy reaches a deeper level.

1. The Weight of "Fu" (Sincerity and Trust)

"Fu" appears frequently in the I Ching (Book of Changes) as a core concept. It is not just "kindness" or "goodness" — it is trust: others trusting you, and you trusting others.

"Fu Dui" means your joy is not surface-level politeness, but deep joy rooted in mutual trust.

Wen Laoshi says there are three layers to human relationships:

The first layer is "He" (harmony) — you get along, no conflict, and your inner feelings match your outward demeanor. This is the Nine at the Beginning.

The second layer is "Fu" (sincerity and trust) — you trust each other, can open your hearts, and keep your word. This is the Nine in the Second Place.

The third layer is "Yin" (guidance) — you guide each other, grow together, and help each other succeed. That is an even higher state.

The Nine in the Second Place sits at the second layer. With trust, joy is no longer superficial or temporary — it becomes deep and lasting.

2. Why "Remorse Disappears"

"Hui Wang" — remorse vanishes.

Why do we feel regret? Because we were once insincere, half-hearted, or manipulative, and the relationship suffered as a result.

Now that you interact with true sincerity and trust is built, regret is gone.

Wen Laoshi says the deepest regret many people have in social interactions is: I didn’t treat that person with a true heart back then. If I’d been more sincere, maybe things would have turned out differently.

The Nine in the Second Place leaves no room for that regret. It tells you: start now, be sincere. Joy born of sincerity will never make you regret it.

3. The Difference Between the Nine at the Beginning and the Nine in the Second Place

The Nine at the Beginning is "He" (harmony) — a good attitude, no conflict, peaceful coexistence.

The Nine in the Second Place is "Fu" (sincerity and trust) — trust is built, the relationship deepens, and you can speak from the heart.

One is the starting point, the other is an advanced stage.

But "Fu" is much harder than "He". "He" only requires a good attitude, while "Fu" takes time, action, and showing your sincerity when it matters most.

A hundred kind words are worth less than one act of help when the other person needs it most.

A hundred dinner treats are worth less than taking the fall for someone once when they make a mistake.

Trust is not built through talking — it is built through doing.

4. What Situations Match the Nine in the Second Place of Dui

You’ve worked with a partner for three years. In those three years, you’ve always kept your word, never broken a promise. Now your默契 is so strong you barely need words — a single glance tells you what the other is thinking. This joy is not the "He" of the first line, but the "Fu" of the second line.

You have an old friend you’ve known for over a decade. No matter how long you go without contact, you feel at ease the moment you meet. There’s no need for testing or small talk — you can speak your mind directly. That is also "Fu".

You run a business, and your customers trust you. Not because your prices are low, not because you have strong connections, but because you never cut corners on quality and never water down your promises. Customers know they won’t lose out by working with you. That is still "Fu".

5. Lessons from "Fu Dui" (Joyous with Sincerity)

First, trust is the greatest foundation of joy. Joy without trust is fragile — happy today, it might fall apart tomorrow. Joy with trust is steady — no matter what happens, your relationship holds.

Second, there is only one way to build trust: do what you say. Not with fancy words, not with expensive gifts, not with constant company. It is about doing what you say you will, and delivering on every promise. Day by day, trust grows.

Third, sincerity is the currency that never depreciates. Skills become outdated, resources get used up, connections fade away — but sincerity does not. If you are a reliable person, people will want to work with you wherever you go.

Final Thoughts

「孚兑，吉，悔亡。」 (Fu Dui, Ji, Hui Wang: Joyous with Sincerity, Good Fortune, Remorse Disappears)

This line speaks of a solid kind of joy — joy built on trust.

Wen Laoshi says there are many kinds of joy. Some come fast and go fast; others come slowly but stay for a long time. The difference lies in whether it is rooted in "He" (harmony) or "Fu" (sincerity and trust).

Joy earned through a true heart will never leave you with regret.