Ming Yi

Judgment

明夷 利艱貞

The divination of the hard work will be beneficial.

Interpretation

The Myeongyi (Brightness) Hexagram has Kun (Earth) in the upper trigram and Li (Fire) in the lower trigram. Kun represents the earth, and Li represents fire. The image of the Myeongyi hexagram is the bright light entering the earth. The bright light does not appear above the earth but is hidden below, meaning the outside is dark while the inside is bright. Myeongyi signifies the loss of brightness or the absence of light.

In the commentary, Gan refers to difficulty, meaning Nan, and Gan-jeong is equivalent to Gan-jeom, meaning a difficult situation or task.

For someone who receives this hexagram, it suggests that they are currently in a dark time, much like a night when the light has disappeared, and they cannot distinguish what is ahead or behind them. This is not a time to act impulsively, but rather a time to wait until daylight, when clarity will come.

初九 明夷于飛,垂其(左)翼,君子于行,三日不食,有攸往,主 人有言

Initial Nine: The bright disease flies, hanging its left wing, the gentleman walks, three days without food, there is a way, the master has words.

'Myeong' is borrowed from the character for crying, and 'Chi' refers to a pheasant. A crying pheasant symbolizes the downfall of the Yin dynasty. The left wing of the pheasant represents a fatal injury. A person who receives this line in divination is in a situation symbolizing a decline or injury. The matter inquired about will not succeed and should be reconsidered.

六二 明夷夷于左股,用拯馬壯,吉

Six Second: The bright disease flies on the left thigh, rescuing the strong horse, good fortune.

The character "others" refers to injury, and "" means to seek help. The situation described involves someone who has sought refuge and safety from an oppressive ruler. The person drawing this hexagram is in a similar situation, where they may find themselves in danger, but they will manage to escape and find safety. The work they are asking about will proceed with success.

九三 明夷于南狩,得其大首,不可疾貞

Nine Third: The bright disease hunts in the south, gaining the great leader, cannot rush to be firm.

The term "Baek Seo Ju Yeok" refers to the serious injury and decline of the Yin dynasty after some unfortunate events. The ruler is killing his officials, and the dynasty is on the brink of collapse. The person asking about the hexagram is in a situation where the dynasty is declining due to bad governance. The person is struggling and facing hard times.

六四 入于左腹,獲明夷之心于出門庭

Six Fourth: Entering the left abdomen, gaining the heart of the bright disease, leaving the door.

The individual is in a desperate situation, trying to revive a failing cause. Caution is essential for the task at hand.

六五 箕子之明夷,利貞

Six Fifth: Ji Zi’s bright disease, firm.

After twists and turns, Ji-ja catches a crying pheasant, symbolizing his struggle to revive the faltering Yin, which proves beneficial. The task at hand will benefit from persistent effort to salvage a decline, yielding advantageous results.

上六 不明,晦,初登于天,後入于地

Top Nine: No brightness, dark, first rising to heaven, then entering the earth.

Ji-ja’s pheasant flies off into the dark despite his efforts, as Yin falls despite his toil. The task at hand will end in vain despite bloodshot striving, leaving despair and misfortune.