Guān Vision Contemplation [hexagram 20]

Yang line Yang - controlling line Yin line Yin line Yin line Yin line

View, radiation
Wind over
Earth
Wood Wood element

Wood Heaven
Dà zhuàng [34] Powerful; Great strength
Opposite
Earth Lake
Lín [19] Convergence; Approach
Inverse
Mountain Earth
[23] Dispersion; Peeling off
Mutual

Lunar month: 8 ; Host or Controlling line : 5
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观: 盥荐, . Guān: guàn ér bù jiàn, yǒu fú yóng ruò.

Guan shows (how he whom it represents should be like) the worshiper who has washed his hands, but not (yet) presented his offerings - with sincerity and an appearance of dignity (commanding reverent regard).

: , , . 观, 盥荐, , . 观, 忒, , 矣. Tuàn zhuàn: Dà guān zài shàng, shùn ér xùn, zhōng zhèng yǐ guān tiān xià. guān, guàn ér bù jiàn, yǒu fú yóng ruò, xià guān ér huà yě. guān tiān zhī shén dào, ér sì shí bù tè, shèng rén yǐ shén dào shè jiào, ér tiān xià fú yǐ.

The great Originator occupies an upper place (in the figure), which consists of (the trigrams whose attributes are) docility and flexibility. He is in the central position and his correct place, and thus exhibits (his lessons) to all under heaven. ‘Guan shows its subject like a worshiper who has washed his hands, but not (yet) presented his offerings; - with sincerity and an appearance of dignity (commanding reverent regard):’ - (all) beneath look to him and are transformed. When we contemplate the spirit-like way of Heaven, we see how the four seasons proceed without error. The sages, in accordance with (this) spirit-like way, laid down their instructions, and all under heaven yield submission to them.

: , 观; , 观. Xiàng zhuàn: Fēng xíng dì shang, guān; xiān wáng yǐ xǐng fāng, guān mín shè jiào.

(The trigram representing) the earth, and that for wind moving above it, form Guan. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, examined the (different) regions (of the kingdom), to see the (ways of the) people, and set forth their instructions.

young yang young yang young yin young yin young yin changing yin
I Ching transform
Wind
Wood
[42] Increase; Gain
Change
: 观, , 吝. Chū liù: tóng guān, xiǎo rén wú jiù, jūn zǐ lìn.

The first ‘six’, divided, shows the looking of a lad - not blamable in men of inferior rank, but matter for regret in superior men.

: 观, . Xiàng zhuàn: Chū liù tóng guān, xiǎo rén dào yě.

'The looking of a lad shown by the first ‘six’, (divided); indicates the way of the inferior people.

young yang young yang young yin young yin changing yin young yin
I Ching transform
Wind
Water
Huàn [59] Dissolution; Dispersion
Change
: 窥观, . Liù èr: kuī guān, lì nǚ zhēn.

The second ‘six’, divided, shows one peeping out from a door. It would be advantageous if it were (merely) the firm correctness of a female.

: 窥观, . Xiàng zhuàn: Kuī guān nǚ zhēn, yì kě chǒu yě.

'The firm correctness of a woman, in peeping out from a door' is also a thing to be ashamed of (in a superior man).

young yang young yang young yin changing yin young yin young yin
I Ching transform
Wind
Mountain
Jiàn [53] Progression; Gradual development
Change
: 观, 退. Liù sān: guān wǒ shēng, jìn tuì.

The third ‘six’, divided, shows one looking at (the course of) his own life, to advance or recede (accordingly).

: 观, 退; . Xiàng zhuàn: Guān wǒ shēng, jìn tuì; wèi shī dào yě.

'He looks at (the course of his own life, to advance or recede (accordingly):' - he will not err in the path (to be pursued).

young yang young yang changing yin young yin young yin young yin
I Ching transform
Heaven
Earth
[12] Stagnation; Hindrance
Change
: 观, . Liù sì: guān guó zhī guāng, lì yòng bīn yú wáng.

The fourth ‘six’, divided, shows one contemplating the glory of the kingdom. It will be advantageous for him, being such as he is, (to seek) to be a guest of the king.

: 观, . Xiàng zhuàn: Guān guó zhī guāng, shàng bīn yě.

'He contemplates the glory of the kingdom:'(thence) arises the wish to be a guest (at court).

young yang changing yang young yin young yin young yin young yin
I Ching transform
Mountain
Earth
[23] Dispersion; Peeling off
Change
: 观, . Jiǔ wǔ: guān wǒ shēng, jūn zǐ wú jiù.

The fifth ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject contemplating his own life(-course). A superior man, he will (thus) fall into no error.

: 观, 观. Xiàng zhuàn: Guān wǒ shēng, guān mín yě.

'He contemplates his own life(-course):' - he should (for this purpose) contemplate (the condition of) the people.

changing yang young yang young yin young yin young yin young yin
I Ching transform
Water
Earth
[8] Coherence; Union
Change
: 观, . Shàng jiǔ: guān qí shēng, jūn zǐ wú jiù.

The sixth ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject contemplating his character to see if it be indeed that of a superior man. He will not fall into error.

: 观, . Xiàng zhuàn: Guān qí shēng, zhì wèi píng yě.

'He contemplates his own character:' - he cannot even yet let his mind be at rest.

This translation of the YiJing classic text uses the original Chinese including the Xiàng zhuàn commentary converted to modern simplified characters and pinyin. The English translation is based on William Legge (1899) which is now out of copyright. We have changed some wording and converted to American spelling. We hope to replace this with a more modern translation.

See also