30. Li | The Clinging

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Original Chinese text

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Li / The Clinging: It is favorable to stay true and upright, and progress follows. Tending a young female ox is auspicious.

This is the judgment of Li (The Clinging), 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.

Original Chinese text

English translation

First Nine: At this opening position, one should move carefully and with reverence; that avoids blame.

The first line is the lowest position, where a situation is just beginning and its strength is still forming. “no blame” means avoiding fault, not necessarily winning great success.

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Second Six: Great good fortune; the situation is well-centered and stable.

The second line often suggests a central and emerging position: no longer hidden, but not yet in command. “auspicious” indicates a favorable direction.

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Third Nine: When strength is fading like the sun near decline, advancing without proper form brings heavy lament and danger; this is inauspicious.

The third line stands at the end of the lower trigram, where effort and pressure increase and caution becomes important. “misfortune” marks serious risk.

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Fourth Nine: A sudden, forceful move can quickly turn to burning, ruin, and abandonment.

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.

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Fifth Six: Tears and sorrowful cries appear, yet the matter is favorable.

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

English translation

Top Nine: When the ruler goes forth to campaign, there may be honorable striking and seizing of the undeserving, and 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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