Hexagram 36, Míng Yí (Darkening of the Light): Line 4

明夷卦六四 · 地火明夷 · 中文版

六四:入于左腹,获明夷之心,出于门庭。

The line (Legge)

The fourth six, 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 Yi, quitting the gate and courtyard (of the lord of darkness).

Small Image commentary

'He has (just) entered into the left side of the belly (of the dark land):' - he is still able to carry out the idea in his (inner) mind.

象曰:入于左腹,获心意也。

In plain words

Entering the left side of the belly, one learns the heart of the wounding of the light, and leaves by the gate. The fourth line is close to the dark ruler at the top, knows his mind, and so departs. Tradition points to Weizi leaving the tyrant. The Small Image says it has learned what is in his heart.

Applying it to your situation

If you have seen the truth of a place clearly, this line suggests leaving when it is time. What have you already seen clearly?

Position

A broken (yin) line in the fourth place, which is a yin (even) place, so it is in its proper place. Its partner is line 1; one is yin and the other yang, so they respond to each other.

If this line moves

With this line moving alone, Míng Yí changes into Hexagram 55 Fēng (Abundance). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·明夷之丰.

The hexagram

Hexagram 36 Míng Yí (Darkening of the Light). The Judgment: Ming Yi indicates that (in the circumstances which it denotes) it will be advantageous to realise the difficulty (of the position), and maintain firm correctness.

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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.

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