噬嗑 Shì kè Gnawing (Eradication) [hexagram 21]

Crowds, courts

Fire over Thunder

Fire element

井 Jǐng [48] The well; Replenish

Opposite

贲 Bì [22] Elegance; Grace

Inverse

蹇 Jiǎn [39] Obstruction; Hardship

Mutual

Lunar month: 10 ; Host (controlling) line : 5

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The Descision

Chewing brings success but the law must be applied.

Chewing on something in the mouth is known as eradication; biting through brings success. The strong and weak are equally divided. Movement below and brightness above are united by thunder and brilliant lightning. The weakness from above rules from on high but even though this is an inappropriate position the laws must still be applied.

噬嗑: 亨. 利用狱. Shì kè: hēng. lì yòng yù.

彖传: 颐中有物, 曰噬嗑, 噬嗑而亨. 刚柔分, 动而明, 雷电合而章. 柔得中而上行, 虽不当位, 利用狱也. Tuàn zhuàn: Yí zhōng yǒu wù, yuē shì kè, shì kè ér hēng. gāng róu fēn, dòng ér míng, léi diàn hé ér zhāng. róu dé zhòng ér shàng xíng, suī bù dàng wèi, lì yòng yù yě.

The Image

Thunder and lightning form ‘chewing’. Accordingly, the ancients chose appropriate punishments and promulgate the laws.

象传: 雷电噬嗑; 先王以明罚敕法. Xiàng zhuàn: Léi diàn shì kè; xiān wáng yǐ míng fá chì fǎ.

晋 Jìn [35] Forward progress; Gain ground

Line Change 1

Legs held in stocks; toes hidden. Blameless.

‘Legs held in stocks; toes hidden’ – progress is impossible.

初九: 屦校灭趾, 无咎. Chū jiǔ: jù xiào miè zhǐ, wú jiù.

象传: 屦校灭趾, 不行也. Xiàng zhuàn: Jù xiào miè zhǐ, bù xíng yě.

睽 Kuí [38] Opposition; Diversity

Line Change 2

Chewing tender meat, burying the nose. Blameless.

‘Chewing tender meat, burying the nose’ – the weak supports the strong.

六二: 噬肤灭鼻, 无咎. Liù èr: shì fū miè bí, wú jiù.

象传: 噬肤灭鼻, 乘刚也. Xiàng zhuàn: Shì fū miè bí, chéng gāng yě.

离 Lí [30] Shining; Brightness

Line Change 3

Chewing dried meat; finding something noxious; somewhat disagreeable but not disastrous.

‘Finding something noxious’ – not an appropriate position.

六三: 噬腊肉, 遇毒; 小吝, 无咎. Liù sān: shì là ròu, yù dú; xiǎo lìn, wú jiù.

象传: 遇毒, 位不当也. Xiàng zhuàn: Yù dú, wèi bù dàng yě.

颐 Yí [27] Nourishment; Food

Line Change 4

Chewing dried gristle; finding metal pieces. Consider carefully the true difficulty of the task and if resolute all will go well.

‘Consider carefully the true difficulty of the task and if resolute all will go well’ – the goal has yet to be achieved.

九四: 噬乾胏, 得金矢, 利艰贞, 吉. Jiǔ sì: shì qián zǐ, dé jīn shǐ, lì jiān zhēn, jí.

象传: 利艰贞吉, 未光也. Xiàng zhuàn: Lì jiān zhēn jí, wèi guāng yě.

无妄 Wú wàng [25] Honesty; Without Pretense

Line Change 5

Chewing dried meat but finding gold. Remain steadfast in adversity and there is no misfortune.

‘Remain steadfast in adversity and there is no misfortune’ – taking the appropriate action.

六五: 噬乾肉, 得黄金, 贞厉, 无咎. Liù wǔ: shì qián ròu, dé huáng jīn, zhēn lì, wú jiù.

象传: 贞厉无咎, 得当也. Xiàng zhuàn: Zhēn lì wú jiù, dé dàng yě.

震 Zhèn [51] Energizing; Arousal

Line Change 6

Wearing the wooden cangue with ears covered. Misfortune.

‘Wearing the wooden cangue with ears covered’ – unable to follow sound advice.

上九: 何校灭耳, 凶. Shàng jiǔ: hé xiào miè ěr, xiōng.

象传: 何校灭耳, 聪不明也. Xiàng zhuàn: Hé xiào miè ěr, cōng bù míng yě.

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噬嗑 Shì kè Gnawing (Eradication) [hexagram 21]

The Descision

The Image

See also