Trigrams
☶☳ – Mountain above, Thunder below
Meaning
Represents nourishment of body, mind, and spirit. The image is the mouth — what we take in and how we nourish ourselves and others. Pay careful attention to what you feed yourself physically, mentally, and morally, and how you provide for those in your care.
Interpretation
- Be mindful of what you consume — food, information, and influences all shape character.
- How you nourish others reflects your inner virtue.
- Seek nourishment from truly worthy sources.
Six Yao (Lines) with Classical Quotes
1st Yao (初爻)
舍尔灵龟，观我朵颐，凶。
English: You discard your divine tortoise shell and observe my hanging jaws — misfortune. Abandoning one's own inner resources to envy another's provisions is a serious error.
Luck Level: Misfortune
2nd Yao (二爻)
颧颐，拂经，于丘颐，征凶。
English: Seeking nourishment by overturning the norm, looking to the hill for nourishment — going forward leads to misfortune. Seeking sustenance in the wrong direction.
Luck Level: Misfortune
3rd Yao (三爻)
拂颐，贞凶，十年勿用，无攸利。
English: Turning away from nourishment — persistence leads to misfortune. For ten years, do not act; nothing will be gained. Seeking nourishment from corrupt sources damages the moral foundation permanently.
Luck Level: Misfortune
4th Yao (四爻)
颧颐，吉；虎视聆聆，其欲逐逐，无咎。
English: Seeking nourishment by looking downward — good fortune. Tiger-like intensity of gaze, desire following insistently — no blame. Strong, clear-eyed pursuit of what one truly needs.
Luck Level: Good
5th Yao (五爻)
拂经，居贞吉，不可涉大川。
English: Turning from the norm — dwelling in constancy brings good fortune. Do not cross the great river. The provider of nourishment should stay in their role, not overreach.
Luck Level: Good
6th Yao (上爻)
由颐，厉吉，利涉大川。
English: The source of nourishment — danger and good fortune. Beneficial to cross the great river. Taking full responsibility for nourishing others is demanding but ultimately auspicious.
Luck Level: Good