噬嗑 Shì kè Gnawing Eradicating [hexagram 21]

Yang line Yin - controlling line Yang line Yin line Yin line Yang line

Crowds, courts
Fire over
Wood
Fire Fire element

Water Wind
Jǐng [48] Source; Replenish
Opposite
Mountain Fire
[22] Pattern; Elegance
Inverse
Water Mountain
Jiǎn [39] Obstruction; Hardship
Mutual

Lunar month: 10 ; Host or Controlling line : 5
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噬嗑: . 狱. Shì kè: hēng. lì yòng yù.

Shi He indicates successful progress (in the condition of things which it supposes). It will be advantageous to use legal constraints.

: 颐, 噬嗑, 噬嗑. , , 章. , , . Tuàn zhuàn: Yí zhōng yǒu wù, yuē shì kè, shì kè ér hēng. gāng róu fēn, dòng ér míng, léi diàn hé ér zhāng. róu dé zhòng ér shàng xíng, suī bù dàng wèi, lì yòng yù yě.

The existence of something between the jaws gives rise to the name Shi He (Union by means of biting through the intervening article). The Union by means of biting through the intervening article indicates 'the successful progress (denoted by the hexagram).' The strong and weak (lines) are equally divided (in the figure). Movement is denoted (by the lower trigram), and bright intelligence (by the upper); thunder and lightning uniting in them, and having brilliant manifestation. The weak (fifth) line is in the center, and acts in its high position. Although it is not in its proper position, this is advantageous for the use of legal constraints.

: 噬嗑; 罚敕. Xiàng zhuàn: Léi diàn shì kè; xiān wáng yǐ míng fá chì fǎ.

(The trigrams representing) thunder and lightning form Shi He. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, framed their penalties with intelligence, and promulgated their laws.

young yang young yin young yang young yin young yin changing yang
I Ching transform
Fire
Earth
Jìn [35] Rapid advance; Gain ground
Change
: 屦趾, . Chū jiǔ: jù xiào miè zhǐ, wú jiù.

The first ‘nine’, undivided, shows one with his feet in the stocks and deprived of his toes. There will be no error.

: 屦趾, . Xiàng zhuàn: Jù xiào miè zhǐ, bù xíng yě.

'His feet are in the stocks, and he is deprived of his toes:' - there is no walking (to do evil).

young yang young yin young yang young yin changing yin young yang
I Ching transform
Fire
Lake
Kuí [38] Opposition; Diversity
Change
: 噬肤鼻, . Liù èr: shì fū miè bí, wú jiù.

The second ‘six’, divided, shows one biting through the soft flesh, and (going on to) bite off the nose. There will be no error.

: 噬肤鼻, . Xiàng zhuàn: Shì fū miè bí, chéng gāng yě.

'He bites through the soft flesh, and (goes on) to bite off the nose:' - (the subject of the line) is mounted on the strong (first line).

young yang young yin young yang changing yin young yin young yang
I Ching transform
Fire
Fire
[30] Adherence; Brightness
Change
: 噬腊, 毒; 吝, . Liù sān: shì là ròu, yù dú; xiǎo lìn, wú jiù.

The third ‘six’, divided, shows one gnawing dried flesh, and meeting with what is disagreeable. There will be occasion for some small regret, but no (great) error.

: 毒, . Xiàng zhuàn: Yù dú, wèi bù dàng yě.

'He meets with what is disagreeable and hurtful:' - his position is not the proper one for him.

young yang young yin changing yang young yin young yin young yang
I Ching transform
Mountain
Wood
[27] Nutrition; Nourishment
Change
: 噬胏, , , . Jiǔ sì: shì qián zǐ, dé jīn shǐ, lì jiān zhēn, jí.

The fourth ‘nine’, undivided, shows one gnawing the flesh dried on the bone, and getting the pledges of money and arrows. It will be advantageous to him to realize the difficulty of his task and be firm,- in which case there will be good fortune.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Lì jiān zhēn jí, wèi guāng yě.

'It will be advantageous to him to realize the difficulty of his task and be firm, in which case there will be good fortune:' - his light has not yet been sufficiently displayed.

young yang changing yin young yang young yin young yin young yang
I Ching transform
Heaven
Wood
Wú wàng [25] Unforeseen; Honesty
Change
: 噬, , , . Liù wǔ: shì qián ròu, dé huáng jīn, zhēn lì, wú jiù.

The fifth ‘six’, divided, shows one gnawing at dried flesh, and finding the yellow gold. Let him be firm and correct, realizing the peril (of his position). There will be no error.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Zhēn lì wú jiù, dé dàng yě.

'Let him be firm and correct, realizing the peril (of his position), and there will be no error:' - he will possess every quality appropriate (to his position and task).

Macartney, Alexander, punishment, cangue
The cangue used for punishing relatively minor crimes. It usually has a paper listing the crime and with the seal of the magistrate imposing it. They may have to be 'worn' for up to three months. The criminal spends his nights in jail. He can not feed himself without assistance. Painted by the official artist to the Macartney British Embassy to China 1793-94. Image by William Alexander available under a Creative Commons License
changing yang young yin young yang young yin young yin young yang
I Ching transform
Wood
Wood
Zhèn [51] Excitation; Enactment
Change
: , . Shàng jiǔ: hé xiào miè ěr, xiōng.

The sixth ‘nine’, undivided, shows one wearing the instrument of punishment, and deprived of his ears. There will be evil.

: , . Xiàng zhuàn: Hé xiào miè ěr, cōng bù míng yě.

‘He wears the instrument of punishment and is deprived of his ears:’ - he hears, but will not understand.

This translation of the YiJing classic text uses the original Chinese including the Xiàng zhuàn commentary converted to modern simplified characters and pinyin. The English translation is based on William Legge (1899) which is now out of copyright. We have changed some wording and converted to American spelling. We hope to replace this with a more modern translation.

See also