Hexagram 31, Xián (Influence): Line 5

咸卦九五 · 泽山咸 · 中文版

九五:咸其脢,无悔。

The line (Legge)

The fifth NINE, undivided, shows one moving the flesh along the spine above the heart. There will be no occasion for repentance.

Small Image commentary

'He (tries to) move the flesh along the spine above the heart:' - his aim is trivial.

象曰:咸其脢,志末也。

In plain words

Feeling in the back: no regret. The back is behind the heart and not easily moved. The fifth line holds the place of honour; its feeling is shallow but free of self-interest, so there is no regret, but it does not move others deeply. The Small Image says its aim is only on the surface.

Applying it to your situation

If you keep your distance and do not fully commit, this line suggests that avoids mistakes but may miss real feeling. Are you protecting yourself, or running away?

Position

A solid (yang) line in the fifth place, which is a yang (odd) place, so it is in its proper place. It holds the centre of the upper trigram. Its partner is line 2; one is yin and the other yang, so they respond to each other.

If this line moves

With this line moving alone, Xián changes into Hexagram 62 Xiǎo Guò (Small Exceeding). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·咸之小过.

The hexagram

Hexagram 31 Xián (Influence). The Judgment: Xian indicates that, (on the fulfilment of the conditions implied in it), there will be free course and success. Its advantageousness will depend on the being firm and correct, (as) in marrying a young lady. There will be good fortune.

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English text: James Legge, The Yi King (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 16, 1882), public domain, as transcribed by the Chinese Text Project. Chinese: the received text. Offered for study and reflection, not as prediction. Plain-English readings and position notes by this site.

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