36 · 明夷
Hexagram 36, 明夷. Original Chinese judgment: 利艱貞。 Read the six line statements, commentaries and separately labeled editorial summaries.
Judgment
利艱貞。
Line texts
- 初九：明夷于飛，垂其翼。君子于行，三日不食，有攸往，主人有言。
- 六二：明夷，夷于左股，用拯馬壯，吉。
- 九三：明夷于南狩，得其大首，不可疾貞。
- 六四：入于左腹，獲明夷之心，出于門庭。
- 六五：箕子之明夷，利貞。
- 上六：不明晦，初登于天，後入于地。
Tuan commentary
明入地中，明夷。內文明而外柔順，以蒙大難，文王以之。利艱貞，晦其明也，內難而能正其志，箕子以之。
Great Image commentary
明入地中，明夷；君子以蒞眾，用晦而明。
Small Images · bottom to top
- 君子于行，義不食也。
- 六二之吉，順以則也。
- 南狩之志，乃大得也。
- 入于左腹，獲心意也。
- 箕子之貞，明不可息也。
- 初登于天，照四國也。後入于地，失則也。
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 Ming Yi as the sun entering earth and light being injured. Inward cultivated clarity and outward yielding conduct, maintaining correctness in hardship while appropriately concealing the light, allow response to the darkest environment.
Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese · Line texts
- The first yang line is like an injured bird with lowered wings; the exemplary person travels far, even without food for three days. Though contrary to the times, what is right requires the journey and cannot be evaded.
- The second yin line has not yet suffered direct injury. Swift rescue, like assistance from a strong horse, can escape harm and be auspicious.
- Firmness in a firm third position stands at the top of clarity under suppression by deepest darkness, with an image of removing harm and reaching the chief wrongdoer. Yet action must not be hurried.
- Yielding correctness in the fourth line has just entered darkness, not deeply. Seeing the light-injurer’s inner mind still permits decisively leaving the doorway and distancing oneself from harm.
- Yielding strength at the center in the fifth line lies near the ruler of deepest darkness, like Jizi in danger within. Upright purpose and concealment of one’s light preserve luminous virtue.
- The top yin line is at the extreme of Kun’s darkness, neither illuminating its own virtue nor sparing others’ light. Beginning in a high, overlooking position, it ultimately harms itself and falls from place.
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
Ming Yi takes the sun entering the earth as an image of injured light. In a darkened environment, preserve cultivated clarity within, while allowing appropriate yielding and concealing one's sharpness outwardly. Holding to correctness preserves the light.
Plain-language reading · Line texts
- Like an injured bird with drooping wings, one acts for what is right despite unsuitable circumstances. Difficulty does not remove responsibility.
- The harm has not yet struck directly. Timely rescue using strong supporting conditions can bring release from injury.
- At the utmost of clarity yet suppressed by darkness, harm can be removed, but not impatiently. Guard against acting too quickly.
- Having just entered the darkened place without becoming deeply trapped, one can discern the other party's inner situation and should leave decisively.
- Close to the source of deepest darkness and in danger within, keep one's purpose upright and conceal the light so that luminous virtue is not extinguished.
- Darkness reaches its extreme: unable to illuminate oneself and also harming others, one ultimately harms oneself and loses one's position.