临 Lín Advance (Approach) [hexagram 19]
Earth over Lake
Earth element
Lunar month: 12 ; Host or Controlling line : 2
临: 元, 亨, 利, 贞. 至于八月有凶. Lín: yuán, hēng, lì, zhēn. zhì yú bā yuè yǒu xiōng.
Lin (indicates that under the conditions supposed in it) there will be great progress and success, while it will be advantageous to be firmly correct. In the eighth month there will be evil.
彖传: 临, 刚浸而长. 说而顺, 刚中而应, 大亨以正, 天之道也. 至于八月有凶, 消不久也. Tuàn zhuàn: Lín, gāng jìn ér zhǎng. shuō ér shùn, gāng zhōng ér yīng, dà hēng yǐ zhèng, tiān zhī dào yě. zhì yú bā yuè yǒu xiōng, xiāo bù jiǔ yě.In Lin (we see) the strong (lines) gradually increasing and advancing. (The lower trigram is the symbol of) being pleased, and (the upper of) being compliant. The strong (line) is in the central position, and is properly responded to. 'There is great progress and success, along with firm correctness:' - this is the way of Heaven. 'In the eighth month there will be evil:' - (the advancing power) will decay after no long time.
象传: 泽上有地, 临; 君子以教思无穷, 容保民无疆. Xiàng zhuàn: Zé shàng yǒu dì, lín; jūn zǐ yǐ jiào sī wú qióng, róng bǎo mín wú jiāng.(The trigram for) the waters of a marsh and that for the earth above it form Lin. The superior man, in accordance with this, has his purposes of instruction that are inexhaustible, and nourishes and supports the people without limit.
初九: 咸临, 贞吉. Chū jiǔ: xián lín, zhēn jí.
The first ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject advancing in company (with the subject of the second line). Through his firm correctness there will be good fortune.
象传: 咸临贞吉, 志行正也. Xiàng zhuàn: Xián lín zhēn jí, zhì xíng zhèng yě.'The good fortune through the firm correctness of (the subject of the first line) advancing in company (with the subject of the second)' is due to his will being set on doing what is right.
九二: 咸临, 吉无不利. Jiǔ èr: xián lín, jí wú bù lì.The second ‘nine’, undivided, shows its subject advancing in company (with the subject of the first line). There will be good fortune; (advancing) will be in every way advantageous.
象传: 咸临, 吉无不利; 未顺命也. Xiàng zhuàn: Xián lín, jí wú bù lì; wèi shùn mìng yě.'The good fortune and every possible advantage attending the advance (of the subject of the second line), in company (with the subject of the first),' arises from the fact that those (to whom the advance is made) are not yet obedient to the ordinances (of Heaven).
六三: 甘临, 无攸利. 既忧之, 无咎. Liù sān: gān lín, wú yōu lì. jì yōu zhī, wú jiù.
The third ‘six’, divided, shows one well pleased (indeed) to advance, (but whose action) will be in no way advantageous. If he become anxious about it (however), there will be no error.
象传: 甘临, 位不当也. 既忧之, 咎不长也. Xiàng zhuàn: Gān lín, wèi bù dàng yě. jì yōu zhī, jiù bù cháng yě.'He (shows himself) well pleased to advance:' - his position is not that appropriate to him. 'If he become anxious, however, about his action,' his error will not be continued.
六四: 至临, 无咎. Liù sì: zhì lín, wú jiù.
The fourth ‘six’, divided, shows one advancing in the highest mode. There will be no error.
象传: 至临无咎, 位当也. Xiàng zhuàn: Zhì lín wú jiù, wèi dàng yě.'The freedom from error consequent on the advance in the highest mode' is due to the (various) appropriateness of the position.
六五: 知临, 大君之宜, 吉. Liù wǔ: zhī lín, dà jūn zhī yí, jí.The fifth ‘six’, divided, shows the advance of wisdom, such as befits the great ruler. There will be good fortune.
象传: 大君之宜, 行中之谓也. Xiàng zhuàn: Dà jūn zhī yí, xíng zhōng zhī wèi yě.'What befits the great ruler' means the pursuing the course of the due mean.
上六: 敦临, 吉无咎. Shàng liù: dūn lín, jí wú jiù.The sixth ‘six’, divided, shows the advance of honesty and generosity. There will be good fortune, and no error.
象传: 敦临之吉, 志在内也. Xiàng zhuàn: Dūn lín zhī jí, zhì zài nèi yě.'The good fortune consequent on the advance of honesty and generosity' is due to the will (of the subject of the line) being set on the subjects of (the first two lines of) the inner (trigram).