I Ching Hexagram 22 - Grace
Description and interpretations of I Ching (Yijing) hexagram 22 "Grace"
賁 - Bì
Sơn Hỏa Bí
Grace
Upper (Outer) Trigram: ☶ Gen, Mountain
Lower (Inner) Trigram: ☲ Li, Fire
Other Titles: Persona, The Symbol of Decoration, Elegance, Gracefulness, Luxuriance, Adorning, Public Image, Adornment, Beauty, Conceit, Vanity, Veneer, Façade, Manners, Embellishment, Superficiality, Superficial Appearances, Form vs. Function, "Art”,
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Wilhelm/Baynes: Grace has success. In small matters it is favorable to undertake something.
Legge: Persona should be given its due, but there is no advantage in allowing it to advance and take the lead.
Blofeld: Elegance. Success! Some small advantage can be derived from having a particular goal (or destination). [The implication is that the advantage is not sufficient to make it worth while to seek that goal or destination unless no special difficulty or inconvenience is involved. The arrangement of the lines in this hexagram is very similar to that in the previous one, but it is adjudged much more suitable. The general idea is that, like nature, we should conform to a regular and well ordered pattern of behavior which, since we are human beings and not mere animals, involves a high degree of refinement. From the point of view of divination, it would seem that this is a time to watch carefully so as to learn how those involved in the situation think and behave, the better to influence them for the good when the opportunity arises.]
Liu: Gracefulness, success. Small undertakings benefit.
Shaughnessy: Luxuriance: Receipt; a little beneficial to have someplace to go.
Cleary (1): Adornment is developmental. It is beneficial to go somewhere in a minimal way.
Cleary (2): Adornment is successful. It is beneficial to go somewhere in a small way.
Wu: Adornment is pervasive and shows small advantage of an undertaking. [Adornment does not change the nature of what it adorns, but merely makes what it adorns appear more attractive. In other words, the change is mostly superficial but not substantive…]
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: Fire at the foot of the mountain: the image of Grace. Thus does the superior man proceed when clearing up current affairs. But he dare not decide controversial issues in this way.
Legge: Fire at the foot of the mountain -- the image of Persona. Thus the superior man adorns his rule with grace, but makes important decisions in conformance with higher laws.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes fire at the foot of a mountain. The Superior Man, desiring to ensure the enlightened functioning of the various departments of state, dare not make light decisions regarding legal matters. [The component trigrams, fire below mountain, suggest a brilliance which cannot be perceived from afar. The Chinese commentators go on to suggest that this symbolizes a firm and somewhat severe exterior which hides brilliance and the beauty within. For purposes of divination, this should be taken as a pattern for our comportment in the matter at issue.]
Liu: Fire illuminates the base of the mountain symbolizing Gracefulness. Thus the superior man clarifies ordinary affairs, but does not judge lawsuits.
Cleary: There is fire below the mountain, adorning it. Thus do superior people clarify governmental affairs, without presumptuous adjudication. [What superior people see in this is that just as the light of a fire below a mountain is not great, when people are lacking in capacity their vision is not far reaching; therefore the superior people administer and clarify the simple matters of governmental affairs, and do not act presumptuously in difficult matters of adjudication… Not judging presumptuously thus has the meaning of respect for life.]
Wu: There is fire at the foot of the mountain; this is Adornment. The jun zi brings openness to administering civil affairs, but refrains from judging cases in criminal litigation.
Line 1
初九: 賁其趾, 舍車而徒．
Wilhelm/Baynes: He lends grace to his toes, leaves the carriage and walks.
Legge: The first line, dynamic, shows one adorning the way of his feet. He can discard a carriage and walk on foot.
Blofeld: Elegantly shod, he leaves his carriage and proceeds on foot.
Liu: He decorates his toes and leaves the carriage. He would rather walk. [Activity benefits, but stagnation does not.]
Shaughnessy: Making luxurious his feet; discarding the chariot and going on foot.
Cleary (1): Adorning the feet, leaving the car and walking.
Cleary (2): Adorn the feet; leave the car and walk.
Wu: He adorns his toes, leaves the carriage behind and walks.
Line 2
六二: 賁其須．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Lends grace to the beard on his chin.
Legge: The second line, magnetic, shows one adorning his beard.
Blofeld: He adorns his beard.
Liu: He decorates his beard.
Shaughnessy: Making luxurious his beard.
Cleary: Adornment is seeking.
Wu: He adorns his beard.
Line 3
九三: 賁如濡如, 永貞吉
Wilhelm/Baynes: Graceful and moist. Constant perseverance brings good fortune.
Legge: The third line, dynamic, shows its subject with the appearance of being adorned and bedewed with rich favors. But let him ever maintain his firm correctness, and there will be good fortune.
Blofeld: His adornments are such that he appears to glisten -- righteous determination maintained up to the very end brings good fortune.
Liu: Decoration with moisture. If you continue, you will have good fortune.
Shaughnessy: Luxuriantly, glossily; permanent determination is auspicious.
Cleary (1): Adorned and luxuriant, perpetual rectitude is auspicious.
Cleary (2): Adorned, luxuriant, perpetual righteousness bodes well.
Wu: He appears to have adorned and moisturized himself. Perseverance will bring good fortune.
Line 4
六四: 賁如皤如, 白馬翰如, 匪寇, 婚媾．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Grace or simplicity? A white horse comes as if on wings. He is not a robber, he will woo at the right time.
Legge: The fourth line, magnetic, shows one looking as if adorned, but only in white. As if mounted on a white horse, and furnished with wings, she seeks union with the subject of the first line, while the intervening third pursues, not as a robber, but intent on a matrimonial alliance.
Blofeld: He so adorns himself as to seem white as snow. He is, as it were, a white steed. What delays his progress is not an obstacle but a matter of betrothal.
Liu: Simple decoration. A white horse comes as though flying. Not a robber, but a suitor.
Shaughnessy: Luxuriantly, lushly, the white horse is lofty-like; it is not the robbers who confusedly slander.
Cleary (1): Adorned or plain? A white horse runs swiftly. It is not an enemy but a mate. [It is best if one finds what is right when one is weak; the true heart and genuine intention come forth spontaneously, not forced – when there is no enmity or injury, then it is desirable to seek partnership. This is the adornment of the weak seeking clarity.]
Cleary (2): Adorned plainly, a white horse runs swiftly. They are not enemies but partners.
Wu: He adorns himself in white like a white horse with wings. He is a suitor, not a transgressor.
Line 5
六五: 賁于丘園, 束帛戔戔, 吝, 終吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Grace in hills and gardens. The roll of silk is meager and small. Humiliation, but in the end good fortune.
Legge: The fifth line, magnetic, shows its subject adorned by the occupants of the heights and gardens. She bears her roll of silk, small and slight. She may appear stingy, but there will be good fortune in the end.
Blofeld: Elegantly he strolls amidst the garden of hillocks, but his silk girdle is of the poorest quality -- disgrace followed ultimately by good fortune. [The Chinese love landscape gardens. Here, obviously, someone improperly dressed is visiting a person of consequence and has to suffer for his carelessness. This should be taken figuratively to indicate a setback due to our own carelessness. Fortunately all ends well.]
Liu: Decoration in hills and gardens. A small roll of silk. Humiliation, then good fortune.
Shaughnessy: Luxuriant in the mound garden; the bolt of silk is so fragmentary; distress; in the end auspicious.
Cleary (1): Adornment in the hills and groves, the roll of silk is small; there is shame, but it turns out well.
Cleary (2): … There is regret, but the end is auspicious.
Wu: He adorns himself with ragged cloth in a hillside garden. He appears parsimonious, but will have good fortune in the end.
Line 6
上九: 白賁, 无咎．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Simple grace. No blame.
Legge: The sixth line, dynamic, shows one with white as his only ornament. There will be no error.
Blofeld: Simple elegance. No error!
Liu: Simple decoration. No blame.
Shaughnessy: White luxury; there is no trouble.
Cleary: Adornment by simplicity is impeccable.
Wu: He is unadorned and there will be no error.
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 22 signifies grace and beauty. It refers to the rising sun. Luminous at dawn but slowly fading away in the evening.
Allowing your light to shine is helpful, but it is not enough to achieve great success. Your personality is a great asset most of the time, but it is not the only thing that counts.
Inner qualities are more crucial. A true relationship is much more important.
Do not just perceive things or people at a surface level. Be cautious and avoid being cheated by other people based on external appearances. Only small things can be achieved now. Significant issues have to wait.
