Bi · Grace
贲卦 · 山火贲
- Presentation
- Image
- Beauty
- Substance
The Judgment
Pî indicates that there should be free course (in what it denotes). There will be little advantage (however) if it be allowed to advance (and take the lead).
通达。有所往则有小利。
The Image
Fire at the foot of the mountain: grace. The noble one, in the same way, brings clarity to everyday affairs but does not dare to decide great cases lightly.
山下有火，贲。君子以明庶政，无敢折狱。
Plain-language reading
Your situation
You are in a phase where image, presentation and expression matter. Bi (Grace) is fire at the foot of the mountain, lighting up the trees and grass, a sign of adornment and beauty. The right amount of polish helps your substance get noticed, but it is also easy to care too much about appearances.
Where to put your effort
Do some work on how you present yourself: refresh your image, polish your work, tell your story well. It will genuinely help. But remember that presentation can only add to substance, never replace it. The highest form of grace is plainness: winning people over with simplicity and authenticity.
Four areas of life
- Career
- Resistance from above; do not act on a whim.
- Wealth
- Smart management, but beware of getting locked in.
- Family
- Be careful with fire.
- Health
- Pent-up heat rising; be careful with cooling remedies.
Health notes come from traditional texts and are cultural reference only. If you feel unwell, please see a doctor.
The six lines
Read from the bottom up: the first line is at the bottom, the top line is at the top. Open each line for details.
Nine at the beginningThe first line, undivided, shows one adorning (the way of) his feet. He can discard a carriage and walk on foot.Moving
初九：贲其趾，舍车而徒。
Image：Leaving the carriage and walking: it is right not to ride.
- Career
- A principled character whose virtue exceeds their fame.
- Wealth
- Keep your feet on the ground; small but successful.
- Family
- Build the family through hard work and thrift; contentment avoids disgrace.
- Health
- An illness caught early will heal on its own.
Nine in the third placeThe third line, undivided, shows its subject with the appearance of being adorned and bedewed (with rich favours). But let him ever maintain his firm correctness, and there will be good fortune.Moving
九三：贲如，儒如，永贞吉。
Image：The good fortune of lasting perseverance: in the end no one can insult you.
- Career
- Fame and fortune together; you shine.
- Wealth
- Wealth flows like water; your foundation is secure.
- Family
- You can settle here for a long time; growing old together.
- Health
- Swimming keeps you fit.
Nine at the topThe sixth line, undivided, shows one with white as his (only) ornament. There will be no error.Moving
上九：白贲，无咎。
Image：Plain grace, no blame: the one at the top achieves their aim.
- Career
- The lucky streak has ended; be content and at ease.
- Wealth
- Sell directly and you will still profit.
- Family
- Pure and honourable.
- Health
- Calm conversation eases the heat; a grave warning.
Related hexagrams
Judgment and line texts from the public-domain translation by James Legge (1882). Readings by DeepHeart AI.
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