ChineseStudy

27. Yi | Nourishment

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English translation

Yi / Nourishment: Steadfastness is auspicious. Attend to nourishment and make your words credible by right conduct.

This is the judgment of Yi (Nourishment), setting the overall situation and guiding principle for the whole hexagram. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time; “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.

First Nine: Setting aside your sacred turtle and relying on surface signs in nourishment is dangerous.

The first line is the lowest position, where a situation is just beginning and its strength is still forming. “misfortune” marks serious risk.

Second Six: Nourishment is inverted and disturbed. Moving over the rise in this way, it becomes dangerous for sustenance.

The second line often suggests a central and emerging position: no longer hidden, but not yet in command. “misfortune” marks serious risk.

Third Six: Nourishment that is resisted and corrected is dangerous in principle. For ten years, do not act; nothing is beneficial.

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; “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time; “misfortune” marks serious risk.

Fourth Six: Nourishment is inverted but auspicious. With a tiger-like, watchful intent that advances step by step, there is no blame.

The fourth line enters the upper trigram and marks a threshold between holding back and advancing. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success; “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.

Fifth Six: The current of nourishment is checked, yet firmness and uprightness are maintained, and this is auspicious. Do not cross a great river.

The fifth line is near the honored position, where influence can be exercised if power remains aligned with what is right. “constancy” means holding to what is correct over time; “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.

Top Nine: To follow this nourishment is dangerous, but it is auspicious. Crossing a great river is favorable.

The top line is the end of the hexagram's movement, often warning about excess, culmination, or the need to change course. “crossing the great river” suggests undertaking a difficult but meaningful passage; “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction; “danger” calls for vigilance.

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