离 Lí Shining (Brightness) [hexagram 30]

Fire element

坎 Kǎn [29] Flowing water; Darkness

Opposite

离 Lí [30] Shining; Brightness

Inverse

大过 Dà guò [28] Excessive; Great Exceeding

Mutual

The Decision

Shining – persistence is rewarded with fulfillment. Rearing a cow – good fortune.

Shining requires attachment. The sun and moon are bound to the heavens. All plants bind to the earth. Shining is doubly bound to correctness, transforming all under Heaven. The weakness of the middle line indicates a smooth and prosperous course just as ‘rearing a cow’ leads to good fortune.

离: 利贞, 亨. 畜牝牛, 吉. Lí: lì zhēn, hēng. chù pìn niú, jí.

彖传: 离, 丽也; 日月丽乎天, 百谷草木丽乎土, 重明以丽乎正, 乃化成天下. 柔丽乎中正, 故亨; 是以畜牝牛吉也. Tuàn zhuàn: Lí, lì yě; rì yuè lì hū tiān, bǎi gǔ cǎo mù lì hū tǔ, chóng míng yǐ lì hū zhèng, nǎi huà chéng tiān xià. róu lì hū zhōng zhèng, gù hēng; shì yǐ chù pìn niú jí yě.

The Image

Fire doubled forms ‘Shining’; accordingly, the wise seek to perpetually shine forth, illuminating the four corners of the world.

象传: 明两作离, 大人以继明照于四方. Xiàng zhuàn: Míng liǎng zuò lí, dà ren yǐ jìmíng zhào yú sì fāng.

Line Change 1

旅 Lǚ [56] Traveling; Journeying

Haphazard movement but if with serious intent there is no blame.

‘Haphazard movement but with serious intent’ – this is the way to avoid mistakes.

初九: 履错然, 敬之无咎. Chū jiǔ: lǚ cuò rán, jìng zhī wú jiù.

象传: 履错之敬, 以辟咎也. Xiàng zhuàn: Lǔ: cuò zhī jìng, yǐ bì jiù yě.

Line Change 2

大有 Dà yǒu [14] Great Harvest; Profusion

Shining Gold – very promising.

‘Shining Gold - very promising’ – holding true to the middle way.

六二: 黄离, 元吉. Liù èr: huáng lí, yuán jí.

象传: 黄离元吉, 得中道也. Xiàng zhuàn: Huáng lí yuán jí, dé zhòng dào yě.

Line Change 3

噬嗑 Shì kè [21] Gnawing; Eradication

Sun’s rays at sunset. Instead of drumming and singing there are laments about old age. Misfortune.

‘Sun’s rays at sunset’ – it cannot last for long.

九三: 日昃之离, 不鼓缶而歌, 则大耋之嗟, 凶. Jiǔ sān: rì zè zhī lí, bù gǔ fǒu ér gē, zé dà dié zhī jiē, xiōng.

象传: 日昃之离, 何可久也. Xiàng zhuàn: Rì zè zhī lí, hé kě jiǔ yě.

Line Change 4

贲 Bì [22] Elegance; Grace

Abrupt arrival of a shining shaft of light. Soon subsiding then lost to all.

‘Abrupt arrival of a shining shaft of light’ – there is no appropriate place for it.

九四: 突如其来如, 焚如, 死如, 弃如. Jiǔ sì: tū rú qí lái rú, fén rú, sǐ rú, qì rú.

象传: 突如其来如, 无所容也. Xiàng zhuàn: Tū rú qí lái rú, wú suǒ róng yě.

Line Change 5

同人 Tóng rén [13] Companionship; Seeking harmony

Floods of tears. Sighing with grief and yet good fortune.

The good fortune comes from the position with the leader.

六五: 出涕沱若, 戚嗟若, 吉. Liù wǔ: chū tì tuó ruò, qī jiē ruò, jí.

象传: 六五之吉, 离王公也. Xiàng zhuàn: Liù wǔ zhī jí, lí wáng gōng yě.

Line Change 6

丰 Fēng [55] Abundance; Plenty

The government raises an army. Only the leaders of the enemy are killed; their followers do not deserve punishment. No blame.

‘The government raises an army’ – in order to reunite the country.

上九: 王用出征, 有嘉折首, 获匪其丑, 无咎. Shàng jiǔ: wáng yòng chū zhēng, yǒu jiā zhé shǒu, huò fěi qí chǒu, wú jiù.

象传: 王用出征, 以正邦也. Xiàng zhuàn: Wáng yòng chū zhēng, yǐ zhèng bāng yě.