Méng Initiation Immaturity [hexagram 4]

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

Inexperience
Mountain over
Water
Earth Earth element

Lake Fire
[49] Revolution; Renewal
Opposite
Water Wood
Zhūn [3] Inhibition; Beginning
Inverse
Earth Wood
[24] Return; Turning back
Mutual

Lunar month: 1 ; Host or Controlling line : 2
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: . , . , 渎, 渎. .Méng: hēng. Fěi wǒ qiú tóng méng, tóng méng qiú wǒ. Chū shì gào, zài sān dú, dú zé bù gào. lì zhē.

Meng (indicates that in the case which it presupposes) there will be progress and success. I do not (go and) seek the youthful and inexperienced, but he comes and seeks me. When he shows (the sincerity that marks) the first recourse to divination, I instruct him. If he apply a second and third time, that is troublesome; and I do not instruct the troublesome. There will be advantage in being firm and correct.

: , , , . , . , , . , . 渎, 渎, 渎. , . Tuàn zhuàn: Méng, shān xià yǒu xiǎn, xiǎn ér zhǐ, méng. méng hēng, yǐ hēng háng shí zhōng yě. fěi wǒ qiú tóng méng, tóng méng qiú wǒ, zhì yìng yě. chū shì gào, yǐ gāng zhōng yě. zài sān dú, dú zé bù gào, dúméng yě. Méng yǐ yǎng zhēng, shèng gōng yě.

In Meng we have (the trigram for) a mountain, and below it that of a rugged defile with a stream in it. The conditions of peril and arrest of progress (suggested by these) give (the idea in) Meng. ‘Meng indicates that there will be progress and success:’ - for there is development at work in it, and its time of action is exactly what is right. ‘I do not seek the youthful and inexperienced; he seeks me:’ - so does will respond to will. ‘When he shows (the sincerity that marks) the first recourse to divination, I instruct him:’ - for possessing the qualities of the undivided line and being in the central place, (the subject of the second line thus speaks). ‘A second and third application create annoyance, and I do not instruct so as to create annoyance:’ - annoyance (he means) to the ignorant. (The method of dealing with) the young and ignorant is to nourish the correct (nature belonging to them); - this accomplishes the service of the sage.

: , ; . Xiàng zhuàn: Shān xià chū quán, méng; jūn zǐ yǐ guǒ háng yù dé.

(The trigram representing) a mountain, and beneath it that for a spring issuing forth form Meng. The superior man, in accordance with this, strives to be resolute in his conduct and nourishes his virtue.

young yang young yin young yin young yin young yang changing yin
I Ching transform
Mountain
Lake
Sǔn [41] Diminution; Reduction
Change
: , , 桎梏, 吝. Chū liù: fā méng, lì yòng xíng rén, yòng shuì zhì gù, yǐ wǎng lìn.

The first ‘six’, divided, (has respect to) the dispelling of ignorance. It will be advantageous to use punishment (for that purpose), and to remove the shackles (from the mind). But going on in that way (of punishment) will give occasion for regret.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Lì yòng xíng rén, yǐ zhèng fǎ yě.

‘It will be advantageous to use punishment:’ - the object being to bring under the influence of correcting law.

young yang young yin young yin young yin changing yang young yin
I Ching transform
Mountain
Earth
[23] Dispersion; Peeling off
Change
: ; 纳; . Jiǔ èr: bāo méng jí; nà fù jí; zǐ kè jiā.

The second ‘nine’, undivided, (shows its subject) exercising forbearance with the ignorant, in which there will be good fortune; and admitting (even the goodness of women, which will also be fortunate. (He may be described also as) a son able to (sustain the burden of) his family.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Zǐ kè jiā, gāng róu jiē yě.

‘A son able to (sustain the burden of) his family:’ - as appears from the reciprocation between this strong line and the weak (fifth line).

young yang young yin young yin changing yin young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Mountain
Wind
[18] Corruption; Decay
Change
: ; , 躬, . Liù sān: wù yòng qǔ nǚ; jiàn jīn fū, bù yǒu gōng, wú yōu lì.

The third ‘six’, divided, (seems to say) that one should not marry a woman whose emblem it might be, for that, when she sees a man of wealth, she will not keep her person from him, and in no wise will advantage come from her.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Wù yòng qǔ nǚ, háng bù shùn yě.

‘A woman (such as is here represented) should not be taken in marriage:’ - her conduct is not agreeable to what is right.

young yang young yin changing yin young yin young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Fire
Water
Wèi jì [64] Unfinished; Almost complete
Change
: 困, 吝. Liù sì: kùn méng, lìn.

The fourth ‘six’, divided, (shows its subject as if) bound in chains of ignorance. There will be occasion for regret.

: 困吝, . Xiàng zhuàn: Kùn méng zhī lìn, dú yuǎn shí yě.

‘The regret arising from ignorance bound in chains’ is due to the special distance of (the subject of this line) from the solidity (shown in lines 2 and 6).

young yang changing yin young yin young yin young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Wind
Water
Huàn [59] Dissolution; Dispersion
Change
: , . Liù wǔ: tóng méng, jí.

The fifth ‘six’, divided, shows its subject as a simple lad without experience. There will be good fortune.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Tóng méng zhī jí, shùn yǐ xùn yě.

‘The good fortune belonging to the simple lad without experience’ comes from his docility going on to humility.

changing yang young yin young yin young yin young yang young yin
I Ching transform
Earth
Water
Shī [7] Mass action; Multitude
Change
: 击; 寇, 御寇. Shǎng jiǔ: jī méng; bù lì wéi kòu, lì yù kòu.

In the topmost ‘nine’, undivided, we see one smiting the ignorant (youth). But no advantage will come from doing him an injury. Advantage would come from warding off injury from him.

: 御寇, . Xiàng zhuàn: Lì yòng yù kòu, shàng xià shùn yě.

‘Advantage will come from warding off injury:’ - (the subject of this line) above and (the ignorant) below, all do and are done to in accordance with their nature.

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