Hexagram 20 of 64 · King Wen order
觀Contemplation
Guān · ䷓ · above: Wind ☴ 巽 Xùn · below: Earth ☷ 坤 Kūn
Observing the world and oneself with a focus on spiritual depth and setting an example for others.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
盥而不薦，有孚顒若。
Kwân shows (how he whom it represents should be like) the worshipper who has washed his hands, but not (yet) presented his offerings;—with sincerity and an appearance of dignity (commanding reverent regard).
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)
1. The great Manifester occupies an upper place (in the figure), which consists of (the trigrams whose attributes are) docility and flexibility. He is in the central position and his correct place, and thus exhibits (his lessons) to all under heaven.
2. 'Kwan shows its subject like a worshipper who has washed his hands, but not (yet) presented his offerings;—with sincerity and an appearance of dignity (commanding reverent regard):'—(all) beneath look to him and are transformed.
3. When we contemplate the spirit-like way of Heaven, we see how the four seasons proceed without error. The sages, in accordance with (this) spirit-like way, laid down their instructions, and all under heaven yield submission to them.
The Image 象
風行地上，觀；先王以省方，觀民設教。
(The trigram representing) the earth, and that for wind moving above it, form Kwan. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, examined the (different) regions (of the kingdom), to see the (ways of the) people, and set forth their instructions.
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)
童觀，小人無咎，君子吝。
The first SIX, divided, shows the looking of a lad;—not blamable in men of inferior rank, but matter for regret in superior men.
Small Image: 'The looking of a lad shown by the first six, (divided); indicates the way of the inferior people.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 42, Increase.
Line 2 六二
The second line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
窺觀，利女貞。
The second SIX, divided, shows one peeping out from a door. It would be advantageous if it were (merely) the firm correctness of a female.
Small Image: 'The firm correctness of a woman, in peeping out from a door' is also a thing to be ashamed of (in a superior man).
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 59, Dispersion.
Line 3 六三
The third line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
觀我生，進退。
The third SIX, divided, shows one looking at (the course of) his own life, to advance or recede (accordingly).
Small Image: 'He looks at (the course of his own life, to advance or recede (accordingly):'—he will not err in the path (to be pursued).
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 53, Development.
Line 4 六四
The fourth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
觀國之光，利用賓于王。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows one contemplating the glory of the kingdom. It will be advantageous for him, being such as he is, (to seek) to be a guest of the king.
Small Image: 'He contemplates the glory of the kingdom:'(thence) arises the wish to be a guest (at court).
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 12, Standstill.
Line 5 九五
The fifth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
觀我生，君子無咎。
The fifth NINE, undivided, shows its subject contemplating his own life(-course). A superior man, he will (thus) fall into no error.
Small Image: 'He contemplates his own life(-course):'—he should (for this purpose) contemplate (the condition of) the people.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 23, Splitting Apart.
Line 6 上九
The sixth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
觀其生，君子無咎。
The sixth NINE, undivided, shows its subject contemplating his character to see if it be indeed that of a superior man. He will not fall into error.
Small Image: 'He contemplates his own character:'—he cannot even yet let his mind be at rest.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 8, Holding Together.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦34. The Power of the Great 大壯
every line changedInverse 綜卦19. Approach 臨
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.