ChineseStudy

22. Bi | Adornment

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English translation

Bi / Adornment: Adornment is successful. Small-scale movement is favorable.

This is the judgment of Bi (Adornment), setting the overall situation and guiding principle for the whole hexagram. “having somewhere to go” means forward action is fitting.

First Nine: Adorn the toes, then give up the cart and proceed on foot.

The first line is the lowest position, where a situation is just beginning and its strength is still forming. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.

Second Six: Adorn the beard.

The second line often suggests a central and emerging position: no longer hidden, but not yet in command. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.

Third Nine: Adorned like wet and soft, sustain unwavering constancy; this is auspicious.

The third line stands at the end of the lower trigram, where effort and pressure increase and caution becomes important. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time; “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.

Fourth Six: The adornment is bold and visible, like a white horse in full stride; it is a bridal bond, not an act of plunder.

The fourth line enters the upper trigram and marks a threshold between holding back and advancing. The image should be read as a concrete way of describing the situation before choosing how to act.

Fifth Six: Adornment is applied to the mound and fields with only scant silk bindings; regret is present, but in the end it is 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; “regret” or “difficulty” points to trouble caused by an ill-measured action.

Top Nine: What is pure and splendid in appearance is complete; there is no blame.

The top line is the end of the hexagram's movement, often warning about excess, culmination, or the need to change course. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success.

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