颐 Yí Nourishment (Food) [hexagram 27]

Mouth, jaws

Mountain over Thunder

Earth element

大过 Dà guò [28] Excessive; Great Exceeding

Opposite

颐 Yí [27] Nourishment; Food

Inverse

坤 Kūn [2] Acceptance; Responding

Mutual

Lunar month: 11 ; Host (controlling) line : 6

For all about the history of the I Ching / Yi Jing click here and for a description of the methods of divination click here. To get your own reading of the Yi Jing online click here. For a guide to what all this means click:

Show Key

The Descision

Persistence with nourishment brings good fortune. Study the diet; be mindful of what is eaten.

‘Persistence with nourishment brings good fortune’ – when nutrition is correct all will go well. ‘Study the diet’ – taking care of those to be nourished. ‘Be mindful of what is eaten’ – pay attention of your own nourishment. Heaven and Earth nourish us all. The wise nourish people of talent and virtue in order to help everybody. Appropriate nourishment can achieve greatness!

无妄: 元亨, 利贞. 其匪正有眚, 不利有攸往. Wú wàng: yuán hēng, lì zhēn. qí fěi zhèng yǒu shěng, bù lì yǒu yōu wǎng.

彖传: 无妄, 刚自外来, 而为主于内. 动而健, 刚中而应, 大亨以正, 天之命也. 其匪正有眚, 不利有攸往. 无妄之往, 何之矣？天命不佑, 行矣哉？ Tuàn zhuàn: Wú wàng, gāng zì wài lái, ér wéi zhǔ yú nèi. Dòng ér jiàn, gāng zhōng ér yīng, dà hēng yǐ zhèng, tiān zhī mìng yě. Qí fěi zhèng yǒu shěng, bù lì yǒu yōu wǎng. Wú wàng zhī wǎng, hé zhī yǐ? Tiān mìng bù yòu, xíng yǐ zāi?

The Image

‘Nourishment’ is formed by Mountain over Thunder. The wise are heedful of what is said and also moderate in eating and drinking.

象传: 天下雷行, 物与无妄; 先王以茂对时, 育万物. Xiàng zhuàn: Tiān xià léi xíng, wù yǔ wú wàng; xiān wáng yǐ mào duì shí, yù wàn wù.

剥 Bō [23] Disintegration; Splitting apart

Line Change 1

Putting aside the magic turtle, staring with gaping mouth. Misfortune.

‘Staring with gaping mouth’ – an ungainly spectacle.

初九: 无妄, 往吉. Chū jiǔ: wú wàng, wǎng jí.

象传: 无妄之往, 得志也. Xiàng zhuàn: Wú wàng zhī wǎng, dé zhì yě.

损 Sǔn [41] Decrease; Diminution

Line Change 2

Seeking nourishment from below is inappropriate while seeking nourishment from above – leading to misfortune.

Second ‘six’ leads to trouble – attempting progress without the help of others.

六二: 不耕获, 不菑畲, 则利有攸往. Liù èr: bù gēng huò, bù zī yú, zé lì yǒu yōu wǎng.

象传: 不耕获, 未富也. Xiàng zhuàn: Bù gēng huò, wèi fù yě.

贲 Bì [22] Elegance; Grace

Line Change 3

Ignoring hunger despite persistence leads to misfortune. Inactivity for ten years will serve no purpose.

‘Inactivity for ten years’ – is contrary to the proper way.

六三: 无妄之灾, 或系之牛, 行人之得, 邑人之灾. Liù sān: wú wàng zhī zāi, huò xì zhī niú, xíng

象传: 行人得牛, 邑人灾也. Xiàng zhuàn: Xíng rén de niú, yì rén zāi yě.

噬嗑 Shì kè [21] Gnawing; Eradication

Line Change 4

Seeking nourishment from below – fortunate. Following a tiger’s glare with relentless craving. There is no blame.

Fortune from ‘seeking nourishment from below’ shows the power of a superior position.

九四: 可贞, 无咎. Jiǔ sì: kě zhēn, wú jiù.

象传: 可贞无咎, 固有之也. Xiàng zhuàn: Kě zhēn wú jiù, gù yǒu zhī yě.

益 Yì [42] Increase; Gain

Line Change 5

Turning aside from the usual way but if steadfast all will be well. A great journey should not be undertaken.

‘If steadfast all will be well’ – because it is appropriate to follow the one above.

九五: 无妄之疾, 勿药有喜. Jiǔ wǔ: wú wàng zhī jí, wù yào yǒu xǐ.

象传: 无妄之药, 不可试也. Xiàng zhuàn: Wú wàng zhī yào, bù kě shì yě.

复 Fù [24] Returning; Turning back

Line Change 6

At the source of nourishment, some peril but fortunate. A great journey will be advantageous.

The good fortune, despite the adversity ‘at the source of nourishment’ is a cause for celebration.

上九: 无妄, 行有眚, 无攸利. Shàng jiǔ: wú wàng, xíng yǒu shěng, wú yōu lì.

象传: 无妄之行, 穷之灾也. Xiàng zhuàn: Wú wàng zhī xíng, qióng zhī zāi yě.

This is a brand new translation of the core text of the Book of Changes including the modern simplified characters and pinyin.
The full set of 64 English translations is available in our new book 'Book of Changes - Deciphered' ➚.

颐 Yí Nourishment (Food) [hexagram 27]

The Descision

The Image

See also