4 · 蒙
Hexagram 4, 蒙. Original Chinese judgment: 亨。匪我求童蒙，童蒙求我。初筮告，再三瀆，瀆則不告。利貞。 Read the six line statements, commentaries and separately labeled editorial summaries.
Judgment
亨。匪我求童蒙，童蒙求我。初筮告，再三瀆，瀆則不告。利貞。
Line texts
- 初六：發蒙，利用刑人，用說桎梏，以往吝。
- 九二：包蒙吉；納婦吉；子克家。
- 六三：勿用取女；見金夫，不有躬，无攸利。
- 六四：困蒙，吝。
- 六五：童蒙，吉。
- 上九：擊蒙；不利為寇，利禦寇。
Tuan commentary
蒙，山下有險，險而止，蒙。蒙亨，以亨行時中也。匪我求童蒙，童蒙求我，志應也。初筮告，以剛中也。再三瀆，瀆則不告，瀆蒙也。蒙以養正，聖功也。
Great Image commentary
山下出泉，蒙；君子以果行育德。
Small Images · bottom to top
- 利用刑人，以正法也。
- 子克家，剛柔接也。
- 勿用取女，行不順也。
- 困蒙之吝，獨遠實也。
- 童蒙之吉，順以巽也。
- 利用禦寇，上下順也。
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 Meng through danger beneath a mountain, danger in the inner trigram and stillness in the outer trigram. The second yang line can enlighten, while the fifth yin line seeks instruction openly. Learning requires focused, sincere respect grounded in nurturing correctness.
Traditional source · editorial summary in Chinese · Line texts
- At the deeply unenlightened beginning, instruction first needs clear standards and discipline. After correction, however, give room; continued pressure instead brings humiliation.
- Firm strength at the center in the second yang line undertakes enlightening the yin lines. Accommodating differing abilities without excessive demands brings the auspiciousness of embracing the unenlightened and managing the household.
- Yielding yin is neither centered nor correct, readily tempted by external things and losing independence. Marriage is the image; careless conduct brings no benefit.
- Far from firm clarity and without proper correspondence, one is trapped alone in ignorance. Only actively approaching firm, clear virtue offers a chance to avoid humiliation.
- Yielding strength at the center holds the honored position and corresponds below with the second yang line. Like an unenlightened child, it listens to the clear-sighted with undivided openness, and is auspicious.
- Firm strength above can make instruction excessively strict. Do not attack the learner as an enemy; defend against outside temptations and preserve the original integrity.
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
Meng describes a state in which knowledge and experience have yet to develop. Seeking instruction calls for sincerity, and guidance needs principles. Repeated, disrespectful questioning loses the meaning of learning.
Plain-language reading · Line texts
- At the start of learning, establish rules and release constraints. Continuing through punishment alone can leave regret.
- Being able to accommodate the immature and take responsibility within the household shows principled education and support.
- Being drawn only to outward advantages and losing independence and integrity makes such a union unhelpful.
- Trapped in ignorance without help, one is constrained and should first acknowledge one’s limits.
- Humility and sincerity in accepting instruction allow learning to proceed well.
- Correcting ignorance should prevent harm, not become an attack or oppression.