The Abyss

The Abyss, known in Chinese as Kan, is one of the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching, the ancient Chinese oracle that permeates the world of this novel. It represents danger, the water that flows into a deep gorge, and the necessity of maintaining inner integrity when faced with overwhelming peril. In the narrative, the hexagram is invoked at a moment of extreme moral and political crisis, and its imagery of darkness and entrapment mirrors the spiritual state of Nobusuke Tagomi as he confronts the consequences of his actions.

The Hexagram and Its Meaning

The Abyss is traditionally associated with the element of water, which can be treacherous and unpredictable. In the I Ching, it is a symbol of danger that must be navigated with caution and sincerity. The hexagram's image is that of water flowing over a precipice, creating a chasm that threatens to engulf the unwary. Its judgment warns of peril, but also suggests that by maintaining one's inner truth and not yielding to fear, one can survive the ordeal. In the context of the novel, the hexagram serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that lurk in the political and moral landscape of this alternate history, where the Axis powers have won World War II and the world is divided between the German Reich and the Japanese Empire.

Tagomi's Invocation

The Abyss is explicitly mentioned by Nobusuke Tagomi during his tense encounter with the German consul, Hugo Reiss, in the aftermath of the SD raid on the Nippon Times Building. Tagomi, who has just killed two SD agents to protect Rudolf Wegener and General Tedeki, is overwhelmed by guilt and horror at the violence he has committed. When Reiss attempts to smooth over the incident as a mere misunderstanding, Tagomi responds with a bitter denunciation of the Reich's moral decay. He says, "You know the hexagram The Abyss? Speaking as a private person, not as representative of Japan officialdom, I declare: heart sick with horror. Bloodbath coming beyond all compare." This invocation is not a casual reference; it is a deliberate use of the oracle's language to articulate the depth of his despair and his conviction that the world is descending into an abyss of evil.

The Abyss as a Reflection of Tagomi's State

The hexagram's meaning resonates deeply with Tagomi's personal crisis. He has been forced to take lives, an act that violates his Buddhist-influenced beliefs and leaves him spiritually shattered. The Abyss, with its imagery of a bottomless pit, becomes a metaphor for his own psychological state—a descent into darkness from which he fears he may never emerge. His subsequent heart attack, which occurs shortly after his confrontation with Reiss, can be seen as a physical manifestation of this inner turmoil. The novel describes how, as he falls, he clutches the silver triangle that Robert Childan had given him, a symbol of hope and renewal, but it does not save him. The Abyss, it seems, has claimed him.

The Abyss and the Novel's Themes

The Abyss is not merely a personal symbol for Tagomi; it also reflects the broader themes of the novel. The world of The Man in the High Castle is one of moral ambiguity and existential dread, where the characters are trapped in a reality shaped by the triumph of fascism. The hexagram's warning of danger and the need for inner truth speaks to the novel's exploration of authenticity and the search for meaning in a world that seems to have lost its way. Tagomi's invocation of The Abyss is a moment of profound insight, a recognition that the forces of evil are not external but are woven into the fabric of existence itself. It is a reminder that, in the face of such darkness, one must hold fast to one's own integrity, even if it means facing the abyss alone.