27 · 頤
Hexagram 27, 頤. Original Chinese judgment: 貞吉。觀頤，自求口實。 Read the six line statements, commentaries and separately labeled editorial summaries.
Judgment
貞吉。觀頤，自求口實。
Line texts
- 初九：舍爾靈龜，觀我朵頤，凶。
- 六二：顛頤，拂經，于丘頤，征凶。
- 六三：拂頤，貞凶，十年勿用，无攸利。
- 六四：顛頤，吉，虎視眈眈，其欲逐逐，无咎。
- 六五：拂經，居貞吉，不可涉大川。
- 上九：由頤，厲吉，利涉大川。
Tuan commentary
頤貞吉，養正則吉也。觀頤，觀其所養也；自求口實，觀其自養也。天地養萬物，聖人養賢，以及萬民；頤之時義大矣哉！
Great Image commentary
山下有雷，頤；君子以慎言語，節飲食。
Small Images · bottom to top
- 觀我朵頤，亦不足貴也。
- 六二征凶，行失類也。
- 十年勿用，道大悖也。
- 顛頤之吉，上施光也。
- 居貞之吉，順以從上也。
- 由頤厲吉，大有慶也。
Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese
Working translation of this site’s Chinese summaries based on traditional sources, not verbatim quotations from the commentator or a translation of the classical text. Native-language review is incomplete. Traditional imagery is not medical, legal or other professional advice.
朱熹《周易本義》
Judgment exegesis
Zhu Xi explains Yi through taking food by the mouth, extended to nourishment. Stopping above and movement below, solid at the outer ends and hollow within, form the mouth’s image. Observe both the way of nourishing and whether one’s own means of sustenance are correct.
Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese · Line texts
- Firm yang in the first line can sustain itself, yet abandons its own strengths and desires the fourth yin line, like ignoring a numinous tortoise and watching another’s moving jaws; hence inauspiciousness.
- The second yin line seeks nourishment below from the first yang line, reversing the normal order, or above from the top yang line, which is not its own kind. Both actions lose a proper relationship.
- Yielding yin in the third line lacks centered correctness at the extreme of movement. The way of nourishment is wholly violated; even claiming correctness brings no benefit.
- Yielding strength in a correct fourth position relies on nourishment from its proper first-line correspondence to nourish those below. Focused attention downward and continued seeking make this reversed nourishment auspicious and without blame.
- Yielding yin in the honored fifth position is not correctly placed and cannot nourish others independently, relying on the top yang line. Settling in correctness can be auspicious but does not suffice for risking danger to overcome hardship.
- The top yang line becomes the source through which the fifth nourishes others. High position and heavy responsibility bring danger, but bearing it with yang firmness is still auspicious and beneficial for crossing danger.
Plain-language reading
Working translation of this site’s Chinese editorial reading, not an edition of the classical text, a verbatim quotation from a commentator or a prediction. Native-language review is not yet complete.
Judgment introduction
Yi extends the image of taking food through the mouth to nourishment and care. The text asks us both to observe how others are nourished and to examine what sustains ourselves. What is taken, what is nourished and how nourishment is provided must all accord with the proper way.
Plain-language reading · Line texts
- One has the ability to sustain oneself, yet abandons one's own strengths and envies what others receive, thereby losing self-direction.
- Seeking nourishment below departs from the normal order, while seeking it above reaches beyond a fitting connection; both choices lose a proper relationship.
- The way of nourishment has been wholly abandoned. Merely claiming to remain correct cannot remedy the mistaken direction.
- Receive support through a proper corresponding relationship, then provide nourishment below. Focused, responsible attention can avoid blame.
- In a leading position but unable to nourish others independently, one must rely on strength above. Remaining on the proper course is possible, but this is insufficient for risking oneself to overcome hardship.
- Becoming the source on which many depend for nourishment brings high position and heavy responsibility. If that responsibility can be borne, danger may still be crossed despite the risk.