Hexagram 4: Meng

Judgment

亨。匪我求童蒙，童蒙求我。初筮告，再三瀆，瀆則不告。利貞。

Măng (indicates that in the case which it presupposes) there will be progress and success. I do not (go and) seek the youthful and inexperienced, but he comes and seeks me. When he shows (the sincerity that marks) the first recourse to divination, I instruct him. If he apply a second and third time, that is troublesome; and I do not instruct the troublesome. There will be advantage in being firm and correct.

Things open up when the learner comes to the teacher. A first sincere question gets an answer, and asking the same thing again and again shows disrespect, so the teacher stops answering.

Image

山下出泉，蒙；君子以果行育德。

(The trigram representing) a mountain, and beneath it that for a spring issuing forth form Măng. The superior man, in accordance with this, strives to be resolute in his conduct and nourishes his virtue.

Line 1 · 初六

發蒙，利用刑人，用說桎梏，以往吝。

The first line, divided, (has respect to) the dispelling of ignorance. It will be advantageous to use punishment (for that purpose), and to remove the shackles (from the mind). But going on in that way (of punishment) will give occasion for regret.

A beginner who knows nothing may need firm rules to get started, meant to free the person from the shackles of ignorance. Staying harsh once that is done leads to regret.

Line 2 · 九二

包蒙吉，納婦吉，子克家。

The second line, undivided, (shows its subject) exercising forbearance with the ignorant, in which there will be good fortune; and admitting (even the goodness of women, which will also be fortunate. (He may be described also as) a son able to (sustain the burden of) his family.

You can take in many people who are still learning, and the text speaks well of that patience. It is like a child who is able to run the household.

Line 3 · 六三

勿用取女，見金夫，不有躬，无攸利。

The third line, divided, (seems to say) that one should not marry a woman whose emblem it might be, for that, when she sees a man of wealth, she will not keep her person from him, and in no wise will advantage come from her.

A person who loses their footing whenever someone richer or stronger appears makes a poor partner. Nothing good comes of tying yourself to that.

Line 4 · 六四

困蒙，吝。

The fourth line, divided, (shows its subject as if) bound in chains of ignorance. There will be occasion for regret.

Far from anyone who could teach you, you are boxed in by what you do not know, and that leaves you with regret.

Line 5 · 六五

童蒙，吉。

The fifth line, divided, shows its subject as a simple lad without experience. There will be good fortune.

You come as a beginner with an open, unspoiled mind and listen to the right teacher, which is the good reading here.

Line 6 · 上九

擊蒙，不利為寇，利禦寇。

In the topmost line, undivided, we see one smiting the ignorant (youth). But no advantage will come from doing him an injury. Advantage would come from warding off injury from him.

A teacher who hits hard at a learner's ignorance ends up doing harm and gains nothing. The useful role is the one who guards the learner against harm.