I Ching Hexagram 36 - Darkening of the Light
Description and interpretations of I Ching (Yijing) hexagram 36 "Darkening of the Light"
明夷 - Míng Yí
Địa Hỏa Minh Di
Darkening of the Light
Upper (Outer) Trigram: ☷ Kun, Earth
Lower (Inner) Trigram: ☲ Li, Fire
Other Titles: Clouded Perception, The Symbol of the Appearance of Clear Intelligence Wounded, Injury, Wounding of the Bright, Brightness Hiding, Calling Pheasant, The Darkened Light, Concealment of Illumination, Injury of Illumination, Light Obliterated, Intelligence Unappreciated, Censorship, Hiding One's Light, The Dark Night of the Soul, Ignorance
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Wilhelm/Baynes: Darkening of the Light. In adversity it furthers one to be persevering.
Legge: Under the conditions of Clouded Perception, be aware of the difficulty of your position and maintain firm correctness.
Blofeld: Darkening of the Light. Righteous persistence in the face of difficulty brings reward.
Liu: Darkening of the Light. It benefits one to carry on through hard times.
Shaughnessy: Calling pheasant: Beneficial to determine about difficulty.
Cleary (1): In concealment of illumination, it is beneficial to be upright in difficulty.
Cleary (2): When illumination is damaged, it is beneficial to be upright in difficulty.
Wu: Light Obliterated indicates that it is advantageous to be persevering in time of danger.
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: The light has sunk into the earth: the image of Darkening of the Light. Thus does the superior man live with the great mass: He veils his light, yet still shines.
Legge: The sun enters the earth -- the image of Clouded Perception.The superior man manages his subordinates and shows his intelligence by keeping it hidden.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes light hidden within the earth. In governing the people, the Superior Man, though taking care to conceal his light, nevertheless shines.
Liu: The sun sinking under the earth symbolizes the Darkening of the Light. In approaching the people the superior man veils his brightness, yet still has glory.
Cleary (1): Light enters into the earth, illumination is concealed.Thus do Superior people deal with the masses, acting unobtrusively while in fact illuminated. [When practitioners of the Tao are among the masses, if they use their illumination too much, they will startle the ignorant and amaze the worldly, easily bringing on abuse and slander.]
Cleary (2): Illumination goes underground, in concealment of illumination. In dealing with the masses, true leaders act unobtrusively while in fact being illuminated. [What sages learn is to become daily more illumined unbeknownst to others.]
Wu: The light enters the earth; this is Light Obliterated. Thus the jun zi uses the spirit of dimness in place of brightness to administer affairs of the populace. [By “dimming” his internal strength, he would make people feel that he is one of them.]
Line 1
初九: 明夷, 于飛 垂其翼．君子于行, 三日不食, 有攸往, 主人有言．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Darkening of the light during flight. He lowers his wings. The superior man does not eat for three days on his wanderings. But he has somewhere to go. The host has occasion to gossip about him.
Legge: The first line, dynamic, shows its subject with clouded perception, flying, but with drooping wings. When the superior man is about his business he may go for three days without eating. Wherever he goes, the people there may speak derisively of him.
Blofeld: Failure of the light during his progress through the sky caused him to lower his wings. When busy with affairs, the Superior Man may go without food for three days on end, so intent is he on reaching his goal; but his lord will have something to say about this.
Liu: The darkened light flies and droops its wings. The superior man fasts for three days during his wanderings. His host speaks of him with derision. He leaves to go someplace.
Shaughnessy: The calling pheasant in flight, drops its left wing: the gentleman on the move, for three days does not eat; there is someplace to go; the ruler has words.
Cleary (1): Concealing illumination in flight, letting the wings hang down; a superior man on a journey not eating for three days has a place to go. The master is criticized.
Cleary (2): Illumination concealed in flight, etc … The ruler has something to say.
Wu: It is like a bird in flight with its wings drooping. If the jun zi takes a journey, he may go without food for three days and his host will have words about his undertakings.
Line 2
六二: 明夷, 夷于左股, 用拯馬壯, 吉．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Darkening of the light injures him in the left thigh. He gives aid with the strength of a horse. Good fortune. [Here the Lord of Light is in a subordinate place and is wounded by the Lord of Darkness. But the injury is not fatal; it is only a hindrance. Rescue is still possible.]
Legge: The second line, magnetic, shows its subject with clouded perception and wounded in the left thigh. She saves herself by the strength of a swift horse, and is fortunate.
Blofeld: Though injured in the left thigh, he made use of a horse in relieving distress -- good fortune!
Liu: The darkened light injures his left thigh, but he is saved by a strong horse. Good fortune.
Shaughnessy: The calling pheasant is wounded in the left thigh; herewith hold aloft the horse's vitality; auspicious.
Cleary (1): Concealment of illumination. Getting hurt in the left leg calls for rescue; if the horse is strong, it bodes well.
Wu: His left thigh is wounded. There will be good fortune if a strong horse is used to save him.
Line 3
九三: 明夷, 于南狩, 得其大首, 不可疾, 貞．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Darkening of the light during the hunt in the south. Their great leader is captured. One must not expect perseverance too soon.
Legge: The third line, dynamic, shows its subject in the condition of clouded perception, hunting in the south, and taking the great chief of the darkness. He should not be eager to make all correct at once.
Blofeld: Wounded while on a military expedition in the south, he still managed to capture the rebel leader. Persistence amounting to madness should be avoided.
Liu: The southern expedition of the darkened light captures the leader. Act without rushing. Continue.
Shaughnessy: The calling pheasant is wounded in the southern hunt, getting its great head; it is not permissible to determine about illness.
Cleary: Illumination concealed, going south hunting, catching the big chief; hasty correction won’t do.
Wu: A royal hunt in the southern country bags the head of the chieftains. It is correct to go without haste.
Line 4
六四: 入于左腹, 獲明夷之心, 于出門庭．
Wilhelm/Baynes: He penetrates the left side of the belly. One gets at the very heart of the darkening of the light, and leaves the gate and courtyard.
Legge: The fourth line, magnetic, shows its subject just entered into the left side of the belly of the dark land. But she is able to carry out the mind appropriate to the condition of clouded perception, quitting the gate and courtyard of the lord of darkness.
Blofeld: It is as though he had penetrated someone's left side and perceived a darkened heart as clearly as if that heart had been abstracted from its dwelling place. [The Chinese text for this line is so far from clear as to suggest that it is corrupt. My interpretation must be regarded as no more than an intelligent guess. The actual text runs something like this: "Into left side, obtain light-darkened heart -- or heart of the light-darkening -- outside the gates and courtyards (of home)." Fortunately, the commentary on this line explains the general meaning, so the matter is not of great importance.]
Liu: He penetrates the left belly (an inner place) and wins the heart (confidence) of the darkened light. Then he gets the chance to fly away from the courtyard.
Shaughnessy: The calling pheasant is wounded in the left belly: Bagging the calling pheasant's heart, in going out of the gate and courtyard.
Cleary (1): Entering the left belly, finding the mind in which illumination is concealed, one leaves the house.
Cleary (2): … Finding the heart of illumination in concealment and going out of the house.
Wu: He enters the left side of the trunk to get at the heart of Light Obliterated. He leaves his house.
Line 5
六五: 箕子之明夷, 利貞．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Darkening of the light as with Prince Chi. Perseverance furthers.
Legge: The fifth line, magnetic, shows how the Count of Chi fulfilled the condition indicated by clouded perception. It will be advantageous to be firm and correct.
Blofeld: Prince Chi suffered injury, but his persistence along a righteous course was rewarded.
Liu: The darkened light of Prince Chi. Continuance benefits.
Shaughnessy: Jizi's calling pheasant; beneficial to determine.
Cleary (1): Concealment of illumination in a basket is beneficial if correct.
Cleary (2): The concealment of illumination on the part of a just scion of an evil ruling house is beneficial and upright.
Wu: The way the Viscount of Qi handled the situation of Light Obliterated is advantageous only through perseverance.
Line 6
上六: 不明晦, 初登于天, 後入于地．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Not light but darkness. First he climbed up to heaven, then he plunged into the depths of the earth.
Legge: The sixth line, magnetic, shows the case where there is no light, but only obscurity. Its subject had at first ascended to the top of the sky; her future shall be to go into the earth.
Blofeld: Nothing to lighten the darkness! Having once climbed to heaven, he later descended into the earth.
Liu: Not light, but shadows. First he ascended to the sky, and later plunged into the earth.
Shaughnessy: Not bright or dark: initially it rises into the heavens, afterwards it enters into the ground.
Cleary (1): The darkness of non-understanding; first ascending to heaven, then descending into the earth.
Cleary (2): In the darkness of ignorance, first ascending to heaven, later going underground.
Wu: Knowing not how to use the spirit of dimness, he first ascends to heaven and then falls into the depths of the earth.
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 36 depicts the extinguishing of light. The sun has descended below the horizon and now there’s darkness. There is evil and danger everywhere.
Do not engage in conflict as this will lead to loss. Conceal your abilities for now and be patient for the impending renewal. The time will come and you will emerge into broad daylight once again.
