Hexagram 22 賁 - BÌ / GRACE

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Trigrams

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• Above: Gèn, Keeping Still, Mountain
• Below: Lí, The Clinging, Fire

The hexagram shows a fire breaking forth from the secret depths of the earth, flaring up and illuminating the mountain, the heavenly height, making it beautiful. Grace and beautiful form are necessary in any union to ensure it is ordered and lovely rather than chaotic and disordered.

The Judgment

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Grace has success. In small matters, it is favorable to undertake something.

Grace brings success. However, it is not the essential foundation but merely the ornament. Therefore, it should be applied sparingly, only in small matters. In the lower trigram, Fire, a yielding line steps between two strong ones and makes them beautiful; yet the strong lines are the essence, while the weak line is the beautifying form. In the upper trigram, Mountain, the strong line decisively takes the lead, so that here too it is considered the determining factor. In nature, we see the strong light of the sun in the sky. The life of the world depends on it. But this strong, essential element is transformed and given graceful variety by the moon and stars. In human life, beautiful form consists in having fixed, strong orders like mountains, which are rendered pleasing by clear beauty. Contemplating the forms in the heavens grants the ability to understand time and its changing demands. Contemplating the forms in human life gives the possibility to shape the world.¹

The Image

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Fire at the foot of the mountain: the image of Grace. Thus the superior man proceeds when clarifying current affairs, but he does not venture to decide controversial issues by it.

The fire whose radiance illuminates the mountain and makes it graceful does not shine to a great distance. Thus, while a graceful form suffices to brighten and clarify minor matters, important questions cannot be decided in this manner. They require greater seriousness.

The Lines

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Nine at the beginning

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He makes his toes graceful, leaves the carriage, and walks.

Occupying the initial and subordinate position means one must take the trouble of personal advancement upon oneself. One might have had an opportunity to secure an easy advance covertly - represented by the image of the carriage. But a self-contained person scorns comforts obtained in a questionable manner. He finds it more graceful to go on foot than to ride in a carriage unlawfully.

Six in the second place

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He makes his beard graceful.

The beard is not something independent. It can only move along with the chin. The image therefore signifies that form is only considered as a consequence and accompaniment of content.

The beard is a superfluous ornament. Cultivating it independently, without regard for the inner content it is meant to adorn, would thus be a sign of a certain vanity.

Nine in the third place

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Graceful and moist. Perseverance brings good fortune.

This represents a highly graceful life situation in which one finds oneself. Grace and a moisture-transfigured radiance surround the individual. While this grace can adorn, it can also cause one to sink. Hence the warning not to drown in moist comfort, but to remain consistently persevering. On this depends good fortune.

Six in the fourth place

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Grace or simplicity? A white horse comes as if on wings: He is no robber, He seeks to woo in due time.

One is in a situation where doubts arise as to whether to continue seeking the grace of outward brilliance or whether it would be better to return to simplicity. The answer already lies within this doubt. An encouragement approaches from without. It arrives like a white winged horse. The white color indicates simplicity. Even if it might seem disappointing at first glance to forego the comforts one could obtain through other means, reassurance is found in the faithful bond with the friend and suitor. The flying horse is the image of thoughts that soar past all boundaries of space and time.

Six in the fifth place

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Grace in hills and gardens. The roll of silk is meager and small. Humiliation, but ultimately good fortune.

One withdraws from interaction with people of the depths who seek only splendor and luxury, retiring into the solitude of the heights. There, one finds a person to look up to and wish to befriend. However, the ceremonial gifts one has to offer are meager and poor, causing embarrassment. Yet what matters is not the outward gift, but the true intent; therefore, everything turns out well in the end.

Nine at the top

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Simple grace. No blame.

Here, at the highest stage, all ornament is discarded. Form no longer conceals content but allows it to be fully expressed. The highest grace consists not in the outward decoration of the material, but in its simple, appropriate shaping.

The dark lines are about to ascend, threatening to overthrow the final firm and light line by undermining it with their influence. The base and dark elements do not attack the noble and strong directly; instead, they gradually hollow it out through imperceptible influence until it finally collapses.

Reference links

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• Hexagram look-up table
• Advanced hexagram correspondence table