Hexagram 36: Ming Yi

Judgment

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.

Hardship is taken for granted here, and what pays is staying steady and correct through it. The advice is to hold your principles while keeping a low profile.

Image

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.

Line 1 · 初九

明夷于飛，垂其翼。君子于行，三日不食，有攸往，主人有言。

The first line, 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).

You are hurt early, like a bird flying with drooping wings. You still leave at once, even if it means three hungry days, and your hosts may talk.

Line 2 · 六二

明夷，夷于左股，用拯馬壯，吉。

The second line, 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.

The injury is to the left thigh, a wound that slows you without stopping you. Rescue comes on a strong horse, and quick action is the right response.

Line 3 · 九三

明夷于南狩，得其大首，不可疾貞。

The third line, 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).

A hunt in the south catches the big leader of the darkness. Do not try to fix everything at once, since long-standing damage cannot be set right in a day.

Line 4 · 六四

入于左腹，獲明夷之心，于出門庭。

The fourth line, 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).

Getting into the inner circle, you see what the dark ruler intends. Once you understand it, you walk out through the gate and the courtyard.

Line 5 · 六五

箕子之明夷，利貞。

The fifth line, divided, shows how the count of Kî fulfilled the condition indicated by Ming Î. It will be advantageous to be firm and correct.

The line names Jizi, a wise adviser who kept the brightness hidden inside an unjust court. Steady, correct conduct, with the light kept alive within, is what pays.

Line 6 · 上六

不明晦，初登于天，後入于地。

The sixth line, 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.

The darkness itself sits at the top. Having begun by climbing to the sky, it ends by falling into the earth.