Hexagram 4, Méng (Youthful Folly): Line 4

蒙卦六四 · 山水蒙 · 中文版

六四:困蒙,吝。

The line (Legge)

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

Small Image commentary

'The regret arising from ignorance bound in chains' is due to the special distance of (the subject of this line) from the solidity (shown in lines 2 and 6).

象曰:困蒙之吝,独远实也。

In plain words

Trapped in ignorance: regret. The fourth line has yin lines above and below it and is far from the second and top lines, which could teach it; there is no teacher to ask. The Small Image says the regret of being trapped comes from standing alone, far from what is solid. "Solid" refers to the yang lines, a picture of people with ability and virtue.

Applying it to your situation

If you have been stuck on a problem for a long time, this line suggests the cause may not be lack of effort but having no one nearby who can point the way. Who understands this? Could you go closer to them?

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; both are yin, so they do not respond.

If this line moves

With this line moving alone, Méng changes into Hexagram 64 Wèi Jì (Before Completion). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·蒙之未济.

The hexagram

Hexagram 4 Méng (Youthful Folly). The Judgment: Meng (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.

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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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