Hexagram 21 噬嗑 - Shì Kè / Biting Through
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Trigrams#
- Above: Lí, the Clinging, Fire
- Below: Zhèn, the Arousing, Thunder
The hexagram represents an open mouth with an obstacle between the teeth (at the fourth position). Consequently, the lips cannot meet. To bring them together, one must energetically bite through the obstacle. The hexagram is also composed of the signs for thunder and lightning, indicating how obstacles are forcefully removed in nature. Energetic biting overcomes the obstacle to union in the mouth. A storm with thunder and lightning overcomes disruptive tension in nature. Legal proceedings and punishments overcome disturbances to harmonious coexistence caused by criminals and slanderers. Unlike Hexagram 6 (Conflict), which deals with civil lawsuits, this hexagram concerns criminal prosecution.
The Judgment#
Biting Through has success. It is favorable to let justice be administered.
When an obstacle stands in the way of unity, energetic biting through brings success. This applies to all circumstances. Whenever unity cannot be achieved, it is being halted by an intermediary, a traitor, or an obstructing force. One must take decisive action to prevent permanent damage. Such deliberate obstacles do not disappear on their own. Judgment and punishment are necessary to deter or remove them.
However, it is essential to proceed in the right manner. The hexagram is composed of Lí (clarity) and Zhèn (excitement/force). Lí is yielding; Zhèn is firm. Mere firmness and excitement would lead to excessive severity in punishment. Pure clarity and gentleness would be too weak. Combining both creates the proper measure. It is crucial that the decisive individual, represented by the fifth line, is gentle by nature while remaining awe-inspiring due to his position.
The Image#
Thunder and lightning: the image of Biting Through. Thus the kings of old consolidated the laws through clearly defined punishments.
Punishments are the individual applications of the laws, while the laws contain the definition of punishments. Clarity prevails when lighter and heavier offenses are distinctly differentiated during the establishment of penalties. This is symbolized by the clarity of lightning. The consolidation of laws is achieved through the just enforcement of punishments, symbolized by the terror of thunder. This clarity and severity serve to keep people respectful; punishments are not important for their own sake. Obstacles in human society grow large only through ambiguous penal provisions and negligence in execution. The laws are consolidated only through clarity and swift, decisive justice.
The Individual Lines 1#
Nine at the beginning#
His feet are fastened in the stocks so that his toes disappear. No blame.
If someone meets with punishment at their very first attempt to commit wrong, the penalty is light. Only the toes are covered by the stocks. This prevents them from sinning further and keeps them free from blame. It serves as a warning to halt in time on the path of evil.
Six in the second place#
He bites through tender meat so that his nose disappears. No blame.
Right and wrong are easy to distinguish in this case; it is like biting through tender meat. However, one encounters a hardened offender. Out of anger and excitement, one goes a bit too far. The disappearance of the nose during the bite signifies that one loses their fine sense of discernment due to indignation. Yet this causes little harm, as the punishment itself is just.
Six in the third place#
He bites on old dried meat and hits something poisonous. Slight humiliation. No blame.
Someone is called to enforce a punishment but lacks sufficient power and authority. Consequently, the offenders do not submit. This involves an old matter - symbolized by salted game - where one encounters difficulties. The old meat is spoiled. By dealing with the matter, one draws poisonous hatred upon oneself, leading to a somewhat embarrassing situation. However, since punishing was a requirement of the time, one remains free from blame.
Nine in the fourth place#
He bites on dried gristly meat. He receives metal arrows. It is favorable to be mindful of difficulties and to be persevering. Good fortune!
Great difficulties must be overcome. Powerful opponents need to be punished, which is an arduous task. Nevertheless, it succeeds. One must possess the hardness of metal and the straightness of an arrow to master these obstacles. If one remains aware of these difficulties and stays persevering, good fortune is attained. The challenging task succeeds in the end.
Six in the fifth place#
He bites on dried lean meat. He receives yellow gold. Perseveringly mindful of danger. No blame.
One must decide a case that is not easy but is nevertheless clear. However, one’s own nature is inclined toward benevolence. Therefore, one must gather oneself to act like yellow gold - meaning impartial (yellow being the color of the middle) and true as gold. Only by remaining continuously aware of the dangers stemming from the responsibility one has assumed does one remain free from error.
Nine at the top#
His neck is fastened in the wooden collar so that his ears disappear. Misfortune!
In contrast to the lowest line, this refers to an incorrigible person. He wears the wooden neck collar as a punishment, but his ears disappear within it. He no longer listens to warnings; he is deaf to them. This obstinacy leads directly to misfortune.2
Reference links#
The individual lines are explained independent of the general meaning of the hexagram in such a way that the first and top lines suffer punishment, while the remaining lines are occupied with administering it (cf. the corresponding lines of Hexagram 4, Méng, Youthful Folly). ↩︎
It should be noted that another interpretation exists, which, proceeding from the idea of “light (the sun) above, movement below,” interprets the hexagram as a market that is active below while the sun stands high in the sky. Specifically, it refers to a food market. Meat points to provisions; gold and arrows are articles of trade. The disappearance of the nose means the loss of the sense of smell, indicating that the individual is not greedy. The poison points to the dangers of wealth, etc. Regarding “Nine at the beginning,” Confucius remarks: “The inferior man is not ashamed of unkindness and does not shrink from injustice. If he sees no advantage, he does not move. If he is not intimidated, he does not reform. Yet, if he is corrected in small matters, he takes care in great ones. This is a piece of good fortune for the lesser man.” Regarding “Nine at the top,” Confucius remarks: “If good does not accumulate, it is not enough to make a man famous. If evil does not accumulate, it is not strong enough to destroy a man. Therefore, the inferior man thinks that small good deeds have no value and neglects them. He thinks that small sins do no harm and does not give them up. Thus his sins accumulate until they can no longer be concealed, and his guilt becomes so great that it can no longer be absolved.” ↩︎
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