Hexagram 61, Zhōng Fú (Inner Truth): Line 6 (top)
中孚卦上九 · 风泽中孚 · 中文版
上九:翰音登于天,贞凶。
The line (Legge)
The topmost NINE, undivided, shows its subject in chanticleer (trying to) mount to heaven. Even with firm correctness there will be evil.
Small Image commentary
'Chanticleer (tries to) mount to heaven:' - but how can (such an effort) continue long?
象曰:翰音登于天,何可长也。
In plain words
The cock's crow rises to heaven: holding on brings misfortune. A cock cannot fly high, yet wants its voice to reach heaven: a picture of a reputation that outruns the reality. The top line is at the end of inner truth, where good faith overreaches into emptiness. The Small Image asks how this could last.
Applying it to your situation
If your reputation has outgrown your substance, this line suggests that cannot last. Does your real ability match what people expect of you?
Position
A solid (yang) line in the top place, which is a yin (even) place, so it is not in its proper place. Its partner is line 3; one is yin and the other yang, so they respond to each other.
If this line moves
With this line moving alone, Zhōng Fú changes into Hexagram 60 Jié (Limitation). The Jiaoshi Yilin verse for this change (Chinese): 焦氏易林·中孚之节.
The hexagram
Hexagram 61 Zhōng Fú (Inner Truth). The Judgment: Zhong Fu (moves even) pigs and fish, and leads to good fortune. There will be advantage in crossing the great stream. There will be advantage in being firm and correct.
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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.