Hexagram 22 of 64 · King Wen order
賁Grace
Bì · ䷕ · above: Mountain ☶ 艮 Gèn · below: Fire ☲ 離 Lí
Beauty and form that adorn reality, reminding us that while aesthetics matter, they must not replace substance.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
亨。小利有所往。
Pî indicates that there should be free course (in what it denotes). There will be little advantage (however) if it be allowed to advance (and take the lead).
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. (When it is said that) Pi indicates that there should be free course (in what it denotes):—
2. (We see) the weak line coming and ornamenting the strong lines (of the lower trigram), and hence (it is said that ornament) 'should have free course.' On the other hand, the strong line above ornaments the weak ones (of the upper trigram), and hence (it is said) that 'there will be little advantage, if (ornament) be allowed to advance (and take the lead).' (This is illustrated in the) appearances that ornament the sky.
3. Elegance and intelligence (denoted by the lower trigram) regulated by the arrest (denoted by the upper) suggest the observances that adorn human (society).
4. We look at the ornamental figures of the sky, and thereby ascertain the changes of the seasons. We look at the ornamental observances of society, and understand how the processes of transformation are accomplished all under heaven.
The Image 象
山下有火，賁；君子以明庶政，無敢折獄。
(The trigram representing) a mountain and that for fire under it form Pî. The superior man, in accordance with this, throws a brilliancy around his various processes of government, but does not dare (in a similar way) to decide cases of criminal litigation.
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 初九
The first line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
賁其趾，舍車而徒。
The first NINE, undivided, shows one adorning (the way of) his feet. He can discard a carriage and walk on foot.
Small Image: 'He can discard a carriage and walk on foot:'—righteousness requires that he should not ride.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 52, Keeping Still, Mountain.
Line 2 六二
The second line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
賁其須。
The second SIX, divided, shows one adorning his beard.
Small Image: 'He adorns his beard:'—he rouses himself to action (only) along with the (subject of the) line above.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 26, The Taming Power of the Great.
Line 3 九三
The third line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
賁如濡如，永貞吉。
The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject with the appearance of being adorned and bedewed (with rich favours). But let him ever maintain his firm correctness, and there will be good fortune.
Small Image: 'The good fortune consequent on his ever maintaining firm correctness' is due to this,—that to the end no one will insult him.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 27, The Corners of the Mouth.
Line 4 六四
The fourth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
賁如皤如，白馬翰如，匪寇婚媾。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows one looking as if adorned, but only in white. As if (mounted on) a white horse, and furnished with wings, (he seeks union with the subject of the first line), while (the intervening third pursues), not as a robber, but intent on a matrimonial alliance.
Small Image: 'The place occupied by the fourth six, (divided),' affords ground for doubt (as to its subject); but '(as the subject of the third pursues) not as a robber, but as intent on a matrimonial alliance,' he will in the end have no grudge against him.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 30, The Clinging, Fire.
Line 5 六五
The fifth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
賁于丘園，束帛戔戔，吝，終吉。
The fifth SIX, divided, shows its subject adorned by (the occupants of) the heights and gardens. He bears his roll of silk, small and slight. He may appear stingy; but there will be good fortune in the end.
Small Image: 'The good fortune falling to the fifth six, (divided); affords occasion for joy.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 37, The Family.
Line 6 上九
The sixth line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
白賁，無咎。
The sixth NINE, undivided, shows one with white as his (only) ornament. There will be no error.
Small Image: 'The freedom from error attached to (the subject of) the topmost line, with no ornament but the (simple white),' shows how he has attained his aim.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 36, Darkening of the Light.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦47. Oppression 困
every line changedInverse 綜卦21. Biting Through 噬嗑
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.