Hexagram 36 of 64 · King Wen order
明夷Darkening of the Light
Míng Yí · ䷣ · above: Earth ☷ 坤 Kūn · below: Fire ☲ 離 Lí
A time of difficulty or oppression where one must hide one's brilliance to survive.A one-line gloss written for this site (AI-assisted). Everything below it is the classical text.
The Judgment 卦辭
利艱貞。
Ming Î indicates that (in the circumstances which it denotes) it will be advantageous to realise the difficulty (of the position), and maintain firm correctness.
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 symbol of) the Earth and that of Brightness entering into the midst of it give the idea of Ming I (Brightness wounded or obscured).
2. The inner (trigram) denotes being accomplished and bright; the outer, being pliant and submissive. The case of king Wan was that of one who with these qualities was yet involved in great difficulties.
3. 'It will be advantageous to realise the difficulty (of the position), and maintain firm correctness:—that is, (the individual concerned) should obscure his brightness. The case of the count of Ki was that of one who, amidst the difficulties of his House, was able (thus) to maintain his aim and mind correct.
The Image 象
明入地中，明夷；君子以蒞眾，用晦而明。
(The trigram representing) the earth and that for the bright (sun) entering within it form Ming Î. The superior man, in accordance with this, conducts his management of men;—he shows his intelligence by keeping it obscured.
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)
明夷于飛，垂其翼。君子于行，三日不食，有攸往，主人有言。
The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject, (in the condition indicated by) Ming Î, flying, but with drooping wings. When the superior man (is revolving) his going away, he may be for three days without eating. Wherever he goes, the people there may speak (derisively of him).
Small Image: 'The superior man (is revolving his) going away:'—(in such a case) he feels it right not to eat.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 15, Modesty.
Line 2 六二
The second line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
明夷，夷于左股，用拯馬壯，吉。
The second SIX, divided, shows its subject, (in the condition indicated by) Ming Î, wounded in the left thigh. He saves himself by the strength of a (swift) horse; and is fortunate.
Small Image: 'The good fortune of (the subject of) the second SIX, divided,' is due to the proper fashion of his acting according to his circumstances.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 11, Peace.
Line 3 九三
The third line from the bottom, yang (solid, nine)
明夷于南狩，得其大首，不可疾貞。
The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject, (in the condition indicated by) Ming Î, hunting in the south, and taking the great chief (of the darkness). He should not be eager to make (all) correct (at once).
Small Image: With the aim represented by 'hunting in the south' a great achievement is accomplished.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 24, Return.
Line 4 六四
The fourth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
入于左腹，獲明夷之心，于出門庭。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject (just) entered into the left side of the belly (of the dark land). (But) he is able to carry out the mind appropriate (in the condition indicated by) Ming Î, quitting the gate and courtyard (of the lord of darkness).
Small Image: 'He has (just) entered into the left side of the belly (of the dark land):'—he is still able to carry out the idea in his (inner) mind.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 55, Abundance.
Line 5 六五
The fifth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
箕子之明夷，利貞。
The fifth SIX, divided, shows how the count of Kî fulfilled the condition indicated by Ming Î. It will be advantageous to be firm and correct.
Small Image: 'With the firm correctness of the count of Ki,' his brightness could not be (quite) extinguished.
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 63, After Completion.
Line 6 上六
The sixth line from the bottom, yin (broken, six)
不明晦，初登于天，後入于地。
The sixth SIX, divided, shows the case where there is no light, but (only) obscurity. (Its subject) had at first ascended to (the top of) the sky; his future shall be to go into the earth.
Small Image: 'He had at first ascended to (the top of) the sky:'—he might have enlightened the four quarters of the kingdom. 'His future shall be to go into the earth:'—he has failed to fulfil the model (of a ruler).
If this line changes, it becomes Hexagram 22, Grace.
Related hexagrams
lines 2-4 below, 3-5 aboveOpposite 錯卦6. Conflict 訟
every line changedInverse 綜卦35. Progress 晉
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.