Hexagram 12 of 64 · King Wen order
否Standstill
Pǐ · ䷋ · above: Heaven ☰ 乾 Qián · below: Earth ☷ 坤 Kūn
A period of disconnect where creative forces are blocked and small-mindedness prevails.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
否之匪人，不利君子貞，大往小來。
In Phî there is the want of good understanding between the (different classes of) men, and its indication is unfavourable to the firm and correct course of the superior man. We see in it the great gone and the little come.
James Legge, The Yî King (1882), the Text. Words in (parentheses) are Legge's own additions.
Commentary on the Judgment 彖傳 (Tuan, the first Wing)
'The want of good understanding between the (different classes of) men in Phi, and its indication as unfavourable to the firm and correct course of the superior man; with the intimation that the great are gone and the little come:'—all this springs from the fact that in it heaven and earth are not in communication with each other, and all things in consequence do not have free course; and that the high and the low (superiors and inferiors) are not in communication with one another, and there are no (well-regulated) states under the sky. The inner (trigram) is made up of the weak and divided lines, and the outer of the strong and undivided: the inner is (the symbol of) weakness, and the outer of strength; the inner (represents) the small man, and the outer the superior man. Thus the way of the small man appears increasing, and that of the superior man decreasing.
The Image 象
天地不交，否；君子以儉德辟難，不可榮以祿。
(The trigrams of) heaven and earth, not in intercommunication, form Phî. The superior man, in accordance with this, restrains (the manifestation of) his virtue, and avoids the calamities (that threaten him). There is no opportunity of conferring on him the glory of emolument.
Legge's Great Image (Appendix II). The Chinese above also carries the Small Images of the six lines.
The six lines 爻辭
Read from the bottom (line 1) to the top (line 6). Each line: the Chinese, Legge's translation, and the Small Image commentary on it.
Line 1 初六
The first line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
拔茅茹，以其彙，貞吉亨。
The first SIX, divided, suggests the idea of grass pulled up, and bringing with it other stalks with whose roots it is connected. With firm correctness (on the part of its subject), there will be good fortune and progress.
Small Image: 'The good fortune through firm goodness, (suggested by) the pulling up of the grass,' arises from the will (of the parties intended) being bent on (serving) the ruler.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 25, Innocence.
Line 2 六二
The second line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
包承。小人吉，大人否亨。
The second SIX, divided, shows its subject patient and obedient. To the small man (comporting himself so) there will be good fortune. If the great man (comport himself) as the distress and obstruction require, he will have success.
Small Image: 'The great man, comporting himself as the distress and obstruction require, will have success:—'he does not allow himself to be disordered by the herd (of small men).
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 6, Conflict.
Line 3 六三
The third line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
包羞。
The third SIX, divided, shows its subject ashamed of the purpose folded (in his breast).
Small Image: That 'his shame is folded in his breast' is owing to the inappropriateness of his position.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 33, Retreat.
Line 4 九四
The fourth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
有命無咎，疇離祉。
The fourth NINE, undivided, shows its subject acting in accordance with the ordination (of Heaven), and committing no error. His companions will come and share in his happiness.
Small Image: 'He acts in accordance with the ordination (of Heaven), and commits no error:'—the purpose of his mind can be carried into effect.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 20, Contemplation.
Line 5 九五
The fifth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
休否，大人吉。其亡其亡，繫于苞桑。
In the fifth NINE, undivided, we see him who brings the distress and obstruction to a close,—the great man and fortunate. (But let him say), 'We may perish! We may perish!' (so shall the state of things become firm, as if) bound to a clump of bushy mulberry trees.
Small Image: The good fortune of the great man' arises from the correctness of his position.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 35, Progress.
Line 6 上九
The sixth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
傾否，先否後喜。
The sixth NINE, undivided, shows the overthrow (and removal of) the condition of distress and obstruction. Before this there was that condition. Hereafter there will be joy.
Small Image: 'The distress and obstruction having reached its end, it is overthrown and removed:'—how could it be prolonged?
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 45, Gathering Together.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦11. Peace 泰
every line changedInverse 綜卦11. Peace 泰
turned upside down
A hexagram is a mirror, not a command: read it to reflect, never to obey. Sources: James Legge (tr.), The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East vol. XVI (Oxford, 1882; 2nd ed. 1899), public domain; the Chinese text from Project Gutenberg ebook #25501 (易經), public domain. The trigram facts and the related hexagrams are computed from the line pattern. The gloss, selection and arrangement are CC-BY-SA-4.0 (PlayfulProcess). Data: github.com/PlayfulProcess/recursive-iching.