Is line 1 of Blockage in its correct place?

It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning.

Hexagram 12, line 1

初六Line 1 of Blockage

Six at the beginning · 否 pǐ

grass with its rootswithdraw togetherloyal aim

爻辭 The line text

拔茅茹，以其彙，貞吉亨。

The first line, divided, suggests the idea of grass pulled up, and bringing with it other stalks with whose roots it is connected. With firm correctness (on the part of its subject), there will be good fortune and progress.

Its symbolism

拔茅貞吉，志在君也。

'The good fortune through firm goodness, (suggested by) the pulling up of the grass,' arises from the will (of the parties intended) being bent on (serving) the ruler.

In plain words

Pi opens with the same image as Tai — 'pull up grass and the roots come with it, each with its kind' — but the verdict changes from 'to advance' to 'steadiness brings good fortune and success.' Here the three yielding lines are at the bottom and the strong ones have withdrawn above; heaven and earth do not meet. The first yin, weakest of all, cannot go up; what it can do is hold firm together with its kind and keep its loyalty. The small Image says its aim is 'set on the ruler' (志在君也): even at the bottom of a blocked time, the right attitude is to stay oriented toward the one at five who will eventually end the obstruction.

If this line is changing

In a blocked time do not try to advance; hold your ground with those like you and keep your loyalty pointed at what is worth serving, and that steadiness itself turns out well.

Where the line stands

A broken line, yin — written 六 (six), the number of an old yin line that moves when cast.
It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning.
It belongs to the lower trigram 坤 Kun (the Receptive) (earth).
It corresponds (應) with line 4: one yin and one yang, the two lines answer each other across the hexagram.

之卦 When this line moves

否 Blockage becomes ䷘ 25 无妄 Without Falsehood

Thunder under heaven: things moving by their innate nature. Great success for what is correct and unplanned; scheming brings misfortune, and some misfortune simply arrives undeserved.

What it becomes25 · 无妄 Without Falsehoodwú wàng

The six lines of 否 Blockage

Read 否 Blockage for a question about

Love and relationships Work and career A yes-or-no decision

Questions about this line

What does Six at the beginning of hexagram 12, Blockage, mean?: Pi opens with the same image as Tai — 'pull up grass and the roots come with it, each with its kind' — but the verdict changes from 'to advance' to 'steadiness brings good fortune and success.' Here the three yielding lines are at the bottom and the strong ones have withdrawn above; heaven and earth do not meet. The first yin, weakest of all, cannot go up; what it can do is hold firm together with its kind and keep its loyalty. The small Image says its aim is 'set on the ruler' (志在君也): even at the bottom of a blocked time, the right attitude is to stay oriented toward the one at five who will eventually end the obstruction.
What does hexagram 12 become when line 1 changes?: Blockage becomes hexagram 25, 无妄 Without Falsehood: Thunder under heaven: things moving by their innate nature. Great success for what is correct and unplanned; scheming brings misfortune, and some misfortune simply arrives undeserved.
Is line 1 of Blockage in its correct place?: It is not in its correct place (不當位): a yang line in an even position or a yin line in an odd one, which the tradition reads as a line under some strain — often the reason a text sounds a warning.

Cast a reading Hexagram 12 in full Changing lines explained

Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).