Hexagram 60: Jié (Limitation)
水泽节 · 第 60 卦 · Water over Lake · 中文版
The Judgment
Jie intimates that (under its conditions) there will be progress and attainment. (But) if the regulations (which it prescribes) be severe and difficult, they cannot be permanent.
节：亨。苦节，不可贞。
Commentary on the Judgment (Tuan)
'Jie intimates progress and attainment:' - the strong and weak (lines) are equally divided, and the strong lines occupy the central places. 'If the regulations (which Jie prescribes) be severe and difficult, they cannot be permanent:' - its course (of action) will in that case come to an end. (We have the feeling of) pleasure and satisfaction directing the course amidst peril. (We have) all regulations controlled (by authority) in its proper place. (We have) free action proceeding from the central and correct position. Heaven and earth observe their regular terms, and we have the four seasons complete. (If rulers) frame their measures according to (the due) regulations, the resources (of the state) suffer no injury, and the people receive no hurt.
彖曰：节，亨。刚柔分而刚得中。苦节不可贞，其道穷也。说以行险，当位以节，中正以通。天地节而四时成，节以制度，不伤财，不害民。
The Great Image
(The trigram representing) a lake, and above it that for water, form Jie. The superior man, in accordance with this, constructs his (methods of) numbering and measurement, and discusses (points of) virtue and conduct.
象曰：泽上有水，节；君子以制数度，议德行。
The six lines
Line 1 (first): The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject not quitting the courtyard outside his door. There will be no error.
'He does not quit the courtyard outside his door:' - he knows when he has free course and when he is obstructed.
初九：不出户庭，无咎。 象曰：不出户庭，知通塞也。 · 单爻页
Line 2 (second): The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject not quitting the courtyard inside his gate. There will be evil.
'He does not quit the courtyard inside his gate. There will be evil:' - he loses the time (for action) to an extreme degree.
九二：不出门庭，凶。 象曰：不出门庭，失时极也。 · 单爻页
Line 3 (third): The third SIX, divided, shows its subject with no appearance of observing the (proper) regulations, in which case we shall see him lamenting. But there will be no one to blame (but himself).
In 'the lamentation for not observing the (proper) regulations,' who should there be to blame?
六三：不节若，则嗟若，无咎。 象曰：不节之嗟，又谁咎也。 · 单爻页
Line 4 (fourth): The fourth SIX, divided, shows its subject quietly and naturally (attentive to all) regulations. There will be progress and success.
'The progress and success of the quiet and natural (attention) to all regulations' is due to the deference which accepts the ways of (the ruler) above.
六四：安节，亨。 象曰：安节之亨，承上道也。 · 单爻页
Line 5 (fifth): The fifth NINE, undivided, shows its subject sweetly and acceptably enacting his regulations. There will be good fortune. The onward progress with them will afford ground for admiration.
'The good fortune arising from the regulations enacted sweetly and acceptably' is due to (the line) occupying the place (of authority) and being in the centre.
九五：甘节，吉；往有尚。 象曰：甘节之吉，居位中也。 · 单爻页
Line 6 (sixth (top)): The topmost SIX, divided, shows its subject enacting regulations severe and difficult. Even with firmness and correctness there will be evil. But though there will be cause for repentance, it will (by and by) disappear.
'The regulations are severe and difficult. Even with firm correctness there will be evil:' - the course (indicated by the hexagram) is come to an end.
上六：苦节，贞凶，悔亡。 象曰：苦节贞凶，其道穷也。 · 单爻页
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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, checked against ctext.org. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction.