I Ching Hexagram 60 - Limitation
Description and interpretations of I Ching hexagram 60 "Limitation"
節 - Jié
Thủy Trạch Tiết
Limitation
Upper (Outer) Trigram: ☵ Kan, Water
Lower (Inner) Trigram: ☱ Dui, Lake
Other Titles: Restrictive Regulations, Restraint, Regulations, Articulating, Receipt, Restraining, Containment
English Translations & Interpretations
The Judgement
Wilhelm/Baynes: Limitation. Success. Galling limitation must not be persevered in.
Legge: Restrictive Regulations bring progress and success, but if they are severe and difficult they cannot be permanent.
Blofeld:Restraint -- success! It is wrong to persist in harsh restraint.
Liu: Limitation. Success. Bitter limitation should not be continued.
Shaughnessy: Receipt. Withered moderation; one may not determine.
Cleary (1): Discipline is developmental, but painful discipline is not to be held to. (Discipline means having limits that are not to be exceeded. This hexagram represents practicing obedience in unfavorable circumstances, adaptably keeping to the Tao. The situation may be up to others, but creation of destiny is up to oneself. When discipline gets to the point of inflicting suffering, it brings on danger itself even where there was no danger; you will only suffer toil and servility which is harmful and has no benefit.)
Cleary (2): Regulation is successful, but painful regulation is not to be held to.
Wu: Regulation indicates pervasiveness. Excessive regulation should not be obstinately pursued. (Sometimes the meaning of conservation or moderation is implied. Although the idea of regulation is convincing, it should not be applied blindly without regard to conditions.)
The Image
Wilhelm/Baynes: Water over lake: the image of Limitation. Thus the superior man creates number and measure, and examines the nature of virtue and correct conduct.
Legge: Water over a lake -- the image of Restrictive Regulations. The superior man constructs methods of numbering and measurement, and examines the nature of virtuous conduct.
Blofeld: This hexagram symbolizes water held in a dyke above a marshy lake. The Superior Man employs a system of regulations in his plans for the widespread practice of virtue.
Liu: Water above the lake symbolizes Limitation. The superior man devises number and measure, and measures conduct and virtue
Cleary (1): There is water over a lake, regulated. Thus superior people determine measures and discuss various actions.
Cleary (2): … Leaders establish numbers and measures, and consider virtuous conduct.
Wu: There is water above the marsh; this is Regulation. Thus, the jun zi enacts statutes and deliberates virtues. (A study of the limits and merits will avert difficulties.)
Line 1
初九: 不出戶庭, 无咎．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Not going out of the door and the courtyard is without blame.
Legge: The first line, dynamic, shows its subject not quitting the courtyard outside his door. There will be no error.
Blofeld: He goes not go forth from the outer gates and courtyards of his home -- no error!
Liu: One does not go out of the door and courtyard. No blame.
Shaughnessy: Not going out of the door or window; there is no trouble.
Cleary: Not leaving home, there is no blame.
Wu: He does not go beyond the entrance hall of his house. No error.
Line 2
九二: 不出門庭, 凶．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Not going out of the door and courtyard brings misfortune.
Legge: The second line, dynamic, shows its subject not quitting the courtyard inside his gate. There will be evil.
Blofeld: He goes not forth from the inner gates and courtyards of his home -- misfortune!
Liu: One does not go out the gate and courtyard. Misfortune. (Generally, this line bodes good fortune for action and misfortune for inaction.)
Shaughnessy: Not going out of gate or courtyard; inauspicious.
Cleary (1): Not going outside bodes ill. (Holding fast to petty regulations is a great loss.)
Wu: He does not go beyond his courtyard. Foreboding.
Line 3
六三: 不節若, 則嗟若,无咎．
Wilhelm/Baynes: He who knows no limitation will have cause to lament. No blame.
Legge: The third line, magnetic, shows its subject with no appearance of observing the proper regulations, in which case we shall see her lamenting. But there will be no one to blame but herself.
Blofeld: Sighing over an apparent lack of restraint -- no error!
Liu: One does not limit oneself and has cause for lamenting. No blame.
Shaughnessy: If one is not moderate-like, then one will be sighing-like; there is no trouble.
Cleary (1): If one is not disciplined, one will lament. It is no fault of others.
Cleary (2): Without regulation there will be lament, but you cannot blame anyone.
Wu: If he does not achieve any regulation, he will lament later. No one is to blame.
Line 4
六四．安節,亨．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Contented limitation. Success.
Legge: The fourth line, magnetic, shows its subject quietly and naturally attentive to all regulations. There will be progress and success.
Blofeld: Peaceful restraint -- success!
Liu: Peaceful limitation. Success.
Shaughnessy: Placid moderation; receipt.
Cleary (1): Peaceful discipline is developmental.
Cleary (2): Peaceful regulation is successful.
Wu: He achieves regulation with ease. Pervasive.
Line 5
九五: 甘節, 吉．往有尚．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Sweet limitation brings good fortune. Going brings esteem.
Legge: Line five, dynamic, shows its subject sweetly and acceptably enacting his regulations. There will be good fortune. The onward progress with them will afford ground for admiration.
Blofeld: Voluntary restraint -- good fortune! Advancing now wins praise. (Presumably this means that we have rightly exercised restraint and that the time has now come for us to continue our advance.)
Liu: Sweet limitation. Good fortune. Undertakings bring honor.
Shaughnessy: Sweet moderation; auspicious; in going there will be elevation.
Cleary (1): Contented discipline is good: If you go on, there will be exaltation.
Cleary (2): Contented regulation is auspicious. To go on will result in exaltation.
Wu: There is optimal regulation. Auspicious. Wherever he goes, he will succeed.
Line 6
上六: 苦節, 貞凶, 悔亡．
Wilhelm/Baynes: Galling limitation. Perseverance brings misfortune. Remorse disappears.
Legge: The sixth line, magnetic, 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.
Blofeld: Painful restraint -- persistence brings misfortune! However, regret will cease later.
Liu: Bitter limitation. Continuing brings misfortune. Remorse vanishes.
Shaughnessy: Withered moderation ; determination is inauspicious; regret is gone.
Cleary (1): Painful discipline bodes ill if persisted in, but regret vanishes.
Cleary (2): Painful regulation bodes ill if persisted in. By repenting, it is eliminated.
Wu: There is excessive regulation. It will be foreboding to pursue it obstinately. Regret will disappear. (In this extreme position, he has no business to do stringent regulation. Whatever he does will be excessive and therefore foreboding. The fact that he remembers the virtue of regulation will mitigate his regret for overdoing it.)
Notes
For an in-depth glossary of I Ching, click here.
Hexagram 60 represents restriction, control, or restraint. The image is of destruction created by a flooded river. When too much rain is received, the lake will overflow. If there is insufficient rain, the lake will dry up.
Therefore, this is a hexagram that stresses the need to live within your limits. hexagram 60 addresses proper control and self-restraint to be able to restrain yourself in order to benefit all parties. Set your limits and live a balanced life.
