4. Meng | Youthful Learning
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
蒙：亨。匪我求童蒙，童蒙求我。初筮，告，再三渎，渎则不告。利贞。
English translation
Meng / Youthful Learning: Youthful learning is auspicious in itself: it works when the teacher is sought, not when the teacher goes seeking the pupil. In divination, speak once at first, but after repeated impropriety silence is best. Steadfast correctness is favorable.
This is the judgment of Meng (Youthful Learning), setting the overall situation and guiding principle for the whole hexagram. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time.
Original Chinese text
初六：发蒙，利用刑人，用说桎梏；以往，吝。
English translation
First Six: At the start, awaken the unformed student through discipline, even using restraints. Acting beyond this measure leads to regret.
The first line is the lowest position, where a situation is just beginning and its strength is still forming. “regret” or “difficulty” points to trouble caused by an ill-measured action.
Original Chinese text
九二：包蒙，吉。纳妇，吉。子克家。
English translation
Second Nine: embracing the ignorant learner, auspicious. taking a wife into the household, auspicious. the son can manage the household.
The second line often suggests a central and emerging position: no longer hidden, but not yet in command. “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.
Original Chinese text
六三：勿用取女。见金夫，不有躬，无攸利。
English translation
Third Six: Do not take up a bride now. If you meet a person of worth, avoid personal involvement; no real benefit comes from it.
The third line stands at the end of the lower trigram, where effort and pressure increase and caution becomes important. the warning against going forward suggests restraint rather than expansion.
Original Chinese text
六四：困蒙，吝。
English translation
Fourth Six: being trapped in ignorance, regret or difficulty.
The fourth line enters the upper trigram and marks a threshold between holding back and advancing. “regret” or “difficulty” points to trouble caused by an ill-measured action.
Original Chinese text
六五：童蒙，吉。
English translation
Fifth Six: youthful ignorance, auspicious.
The fifth line is near the honored position, where influence can be exercised if power remains aligned with what is right. “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.
Original Chinese text
上九：击蒙，不利为寇，利御寇。
English translation
Top Nine: striking against ignorance, it is not beneficial to act like a robber, it is beneficial to guard against robbers.
The top line is the end of the hexagram's movement, often warning about excess, culmination, or the need to change course. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.