Hexagram 21, Shì Kè (Biting Through): Line 5
噬嗑卦六五 · 火雷噬嗑 · 中文版
六五:噬干肉,得黄金,贞厉,无咎。
The line (Legge)
The fifth SIX, divided, shows one gnawing at dried flesh, and finding the yellow gold. Let him be firm and correct, realising the peril (of his position). There will be no error.
Small Image commentary
'Let him be firm and correct, realising the peril (of his position), and there will be no error:' - he will possess every quality appropriate (to his position and task).
象曰:贞厉无咎,得当也。
In plain words
Biting into dried meat and finding yellow gold; being steadfast with a sense of danger, there is no fault. Yellow is the colour of the centre and gold stands for firmness. The fifth line is yielding in the place of honour and, in judging, must be central and firm. The Small Image says it acts appropriately.
Applying it to your situation
If you have to make a ruling, this line suggests being central and fair while staying alert. Does your decision balance fairness and proportion?
Position
A broken (yin) line in the fifth place, which is a yang (odd) place, so it is not in its proper place. It holds the centre of the upper trigram. Its partner is line 2; both are yin, so they do not respond.
If this line moves
With this line moving alone, Shì Kè changes into Hexagram 25 Wú Wàng (Innocence). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·噬嗑之无妄.
The hexagram
Hexagram 21 Shì Kè (Biting Through). The Judgment: Shi He indicates successful progress (in the condition of things which it supposes). It will be advantageous to use legal constraints.
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English text: James Legge, The Yi King (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882), public domain, as transcribed by the Chinese Text Project. Chinese: the received text. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction. Plain-English readings and position notes by this site.