Hexagram 30: Lí (The Clinging Fire)
离为火 · 第 30 卦 · Fire over Fire · 中文版
The Judgment
Li indicates that, (in regard to what it denotes), it will be advantageous to be firm and correct, and that thus there will be free course and success. Let (its subject) also nourish (a docility like that of) the cow, and there will be good fortune.
离：利贞，亨。畜牝牛，吉。
Commentary on the Judgment (Tuan)
Li means being attached to. The sun and moon have their place in the sky. All the grains, grass, and trees have their place on the earth. The double brightness (of the two trigrams) adheres to what is correct, and the result is the transforming and perfecting all under the sky. The weak (second line) occupies the middle and correct position, and gives the indication of 'a free and successful course;' and, moreover, 'nourishing (docility like that of) the cow' will lead to good fortune.
彖曰：离，丽也；日月丽乎天，百谷草木丽乎土，重明以丽乎正，乃化成天下。柔丽乎中正，故亨；是以畜牝牛吉也。
The Great Image
(The trigram for) brightness, repeated, forms Li. The great man, in accordance with this, cultivates more and more his brilliant (virtue), and diffuses its brightness over the four quarters (of the land).
象曰：明两作，离；大人以继明照于四方。
The six lines
Line 1 (first): The first NINE, undivided, shows one ready to move with confused steps. But he treads at the same time reverently, and there will be no mistake.
'The reverent attention directed to his confused steps' is the way by which error is avoided.
初九：履错然，敬之无咎。 象曰：履错之敬，以辟咎也。 · 单爻页
Line 2 (second): The second SIX, divided, shows its subject in his place in yellow. There will be great good fortune.
'The great good fortune (from the subject of the second line) occupying his place in yellow' is owing to his holding the course of the due mean.
六二：黄离，元吉。 象曰：黄离元吉，得中道也。 · 单爻页
Line 3 (third): The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject in a position like that of the declining sun. Instead of playing on his instrument of earthenware, and singing to it, he utters the groans of an old man of eighty. There will be evil.
'A position like that of the declining sun:' - how can it continue long?
九三：日昃之离，不鼓缶而歌，则大耋之嗟，凶。 象曰：日昃之离，何可久也。 · 单爻页
Line 4 (fourth): The fourth NINE, undivided, shows the manner of its subject's coming. How abrupt it is, as with fire, with death, to be rejected (by all)!
'How abrupt is the manner of his coming!' - none can bear with him.
九四：突如其来如，焚如，死如，弃如。 象曰：突如其来如，无所容也。 · 单爻页
Line 5 (fifth): The fifth SIX, divided, shows its subject as one with tears flowing in torrents, and groaning in sorrow. There will be good fortune.
'The good fortune attached to the fifth SIX, divided),' is due to its occupying the place of a king or a prince.
六五：出涕沱若，戚嗟若，吉。 象曰：六五之吉，离王公也。 · 单爻页
Line 6 (sixth (top)): The topmost NINE, undivided, shows the king employing its subject in his punitive expeditions. Achieving admirable (merit), he breaks (only) the chiefs (of the rebels). Where his prisoners were not their associates, he does not punish. There will be no error.
'The king employs him in his punitive expeditions:' - the object is to bring the regions to a correct state.
上九：王用出征，有嘉折首，获匪其丑，无咎。 象曰：王用出征，以正邦也。 · 单爻页
Previous: Hexagram 29 Kǎn · Next: Hexagram 31 Xián
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, checked against ctext.org. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction.