Trigrams
☰☷ – Heaven above, Earth below
Meaning
Represents stagnation and blockage. Heaven and Earth are separated, unable to communicate. The small prevails while the great retreats. A time of obstruction, misalignment, and the need for inner strength to persevere without acting recklessly.
Interpretation
- Do not force progress during a time of blockage; withdraw and conserve.
- Maintain personal integrity even as the outer world falls into disorder.
- The standstill is temporary; it contains within it the seeds of renewal.
Six Yao (Lines) with Classical Quotes
1st Yao (初爻)
拔茅茹，以其山，贞吉，亨。
English: Pulling up the grass with its roots, with others of its kind. In standstill, perseverance is good and brings flow. Even in difficult times, stay connected to those who share your values.
Luck Level: Good
2nd Yao (二爻)
包承，小人吉，大人否，亨。
English: Bearing with compliance. For the small person this is good fortune; for the great person it is standstill — but flows through endurance. The noble person accommodates difficulty without surrendering principle.
Luck Level: Good
3rd Yao (三爻)
包羞。
English: Bearing shame within. Petty people in power do things they should be ashamed of, though they do not recognize it.
Luck Level: Caution
4th Yao (四爻)
有命，无咎，俦离祉。
English: Having a mandate, no blame. Those around share in the blessings. Acting in accordance with higher purpose brings no fault and benefits associates.
Luck Level: Neutral
5th Yao (五爻)
休否，大人吉；其亡其亡，系于苞桑。
English: Bringing the standstill to a halt — good fortune for the great person. What may be lost, what may be lost — this concern ties one to the mulberry tree, giving rootedness. Active effort to end stagnation succeeds.
Luck Level: Good
6th Yao (上爻)
倾否，先否后喜。
English: Overturning the standstill — first blockage, then joy. The end of obstruction brings celebration. Persevere through the darkness and the light returns.
Luck Level: Neutral