Jié Regulation Restriction [hexagram 60]

Yin line Yang - controlling line Yin line Yin line Yang line Yang line

Mediation, section, regular division

Water over Lake
Water Water element

Fire Mountain
[56] Wandering; Journeying
Opposite
Wind/Wood Water
Huàn [59] Dissolution; Dispersion
Inverse
Mountain Thunder
[27] Nutrition; Nourishment
Mutual

Lunar month: 7 ; Host or Controlling line : 5
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: . , . Jiē: hēng. kǔjiē, bù kě zhēn.

Jie intimates that (under its conditions) there will be progress and attainment. (But) if the regulations (which it prescribes) be severe and difficult, they cannot be permanent.

: , , , . , . , , . , , 伤财, . Tuàn zhuàn: Jiē, hēng, gāng róu fēn, ér gāng dé zhòng. kǔjiē bù kě zhēn, qí dào qióng yě. shuì yǐ háng xiǎn, dāng wèi yǐjiē, zhōng zhèng yǐ tōng. tiān dìjiē ér sì shí chéng, jiē yǐ zhì dù, bù shāng cái, bù hài mín.

‘Jie intimates progress and attainment:’ - the strong and weak (lines) are equally divided, and the strong lines occupy the central places. ‘If the regulations (which Jie prescribes) be severe and difficult, they cannot be permanent:’ - its course (of action) will in that case come to an end. (We have the feeling of) pleasure and satisfaction directing the course amidst peril. (We have) all regulations controlled (by authority) in its proper place. (We have) free action proceeding from the central and correct position. Heaven and earth observe their regular terms, and we have the four seasons complete. (If rulers) frame their measures according to (the due) regulations, the resources (of the state) suffer no injury, and the people receive no hurt.

: , ; 制数, 议. Xiàng zhuàn: Zé shǎng yǒu shuǐ, jiē; jūn zǐ yǐ zhì shǔ dù, yì dé xíng.

(The trigram representing) a lake, and above it that for water, form Jie. The superior man, in accordance with this, constructs his (methods of) numbering and measurement, and discusses (points of) virtue and conduct.

young yin young yang young yin young yin young yang changing yang
I Ching transform
Water
Water
Kǎn [29] Flow; Darkness
Change
: 庭, Chū jiǔ: bù chū hù tíng, wú jiù

The first ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject not quitting the courtyard outside his door. There will be no error.

: 庭, . Xiàng zhuàn: Bù chū hù tíng, zhī tōng sāi yě.

‘He does not quit the courtyard outside his door:’ - he knows when he has free course and when he is obstructed.

young yin young yang young yin young yin changing yang young yang
I Ching transform
Water
Thunder
Zhūn [3] Inhibition; Beginning
Change
: 庭, . Jiǔ èr: bù chū mén tíng, xiōng.

The second ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject not quitting the courtyard inside his gate. There will be evil.

: 庭, . Xiàng zhuàn: Bù chū mén tíng, shī shí jí yě.

‘He does not quit the courtyard inside his gate. There will be evil:’ - he loses the time (for action) to an extreme degree.

young yin young yang young yin changing yin young yang young yang
I Ching transform
Water
Heaven
[5] Halting; Needing
Change
: , , . Liù sān: bù jiē ruò, zé jiē ruò, wú jiù.

The third ‘six’, divided, shows its subject with no appearance of observing the (proper) regulations, in which case we shall see him lamenting. But there will be no one to blame (but himself).

: 嗟, . Xiàng zhuàn: Bù jiē zhī jiē, yòu shéi jiù yě.

In ‘the lamentation for not observing the (proper) regulations,’ who should there be to blame?

young yin young yang changing yin young yin young yang young yang
I Ching transform
Lake
Lake
Duì [58] Serenity; Joy
Change
: , . Liù sì: ān jiē, hēng.

The fourth ‘six’, divided, shows its subject quietly and naturally (attentive to all) regulations. There will be progress and success.

: , 承. Xiàng zhuàn: Ān jiē zhī hēng, chéng shǎng dào yě.

‘The progress and success of the quiet and natural (attention) to all regulations’ is due to the deference which accepts the ways of (the ruler) above.

young yin changing yang young yin young yin young yang young yang
I Ching transform
Earth
Lake
Lín [19] Convergence; Approach
Change
: , ; Jiǔ wǔ: gān jiē, jí; wǎng yǒu shàng

The fifth ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject sweetly and acceptably enacting his regulations. There will be good fortune. The onward progress with them will afford ground for admiration.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Gān jiē zhī jí, jū wèi zhōng yě.

‘The good fortune arising from the regulations enacted sweetly and acceptably’ is due to (the line) occupying the place (of authority) and being in the centre.

changing yin young yang young yin young yin young yang young yang
I Ching transform
Wind/Wood
Lake
Zhōng fú [61] Truth; Sincerity
Change
: , , . Shǎng liù: kǔ jiē, zhēn xiōng, huǐ wáng.

The topmost ‘six’, divided, shows its subject enacting regulations severe and difficult. Even with firmness and correctness there will be evil. But though there will be cause for repentance, it will (by and by) disappear.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Kǔ jiē zhēn xiōng, qí dào qióng yě.

‘The regulations are severe and difficult. Even with firm correctness there will be evil:’ - the course (indicated by the hexagram) is come to an end.

This translation of the YiJing classic text uses the original Chinese including the Xiàng zhuàn commentary converted to modern simplified characters and pinyin. The English translation is based on William Legge (1899) which is now out of copyright. We have changed some wording and converted to American spelling. We hope to replace this with a more modern translation.

See also