Hexagram 16, line 6
上六Line 6 of Delight
Six at the top · 豫 yù
爻辭 The line text
冥豫，成有渝，无咎。The topmost line, divided, shows its subject with darkened mind devoted to the pleasure and satisfaction (of the time); but if he change his course even when (it may be considered as) completed, there will be no error.
冥豫在上，何可長也。'With darkened mind devoted to the harmony and satisfaction (of the time),' as shown in the topmost (line):—how can one in such a condition continue long?
In plain words
The top line is 'delight in darkness; if, even when it has come to completion, there is a change, no blame.' Yin at the end of Zhen, the thunder, this is enthusiasm that has gone on so long it has become a stupor — 冥 is the dimness of someone who no longer notices they are indulging. Yet the text leaves a door open: the state may be fully formed (成) and still be altered (渝), and the alteration clears the blame. The small Image asks the question that answers itself, 'how could this last?' (何可長也). It is the one top line in Yu that is rescued by turning, late, away from pleasure.
If this line is changing
If the pleasure has gone on long enough to dull you, it is still not too late to change course; the blame is removed by the turning, however late it comes.
Where the line stands
- A broken line, yin — written 六 (six), the number of an old yin line that moves when cast.
- It is in its correct place (當位): a yang line in an odd position or a yin line in an even one, which the tradition reads as a line at ease where it stands.
- It belongs to the upper trigram 震 Zhen (the Arousing) (thunder).
- It has no correspondence (無應) with line 3: both lines are yin, so this line must find its support in its neighbours or in itself.
之卦 When this line moves
豫 Delight becomes ䷢ 35 晉 Advancing
The sun rising over the earth: progress. The capable prince is rewarded with horses and received three times in a day — advancement in the light.
What it becomes35 · 晉 AdvancingjìnThe six lines of 豫 Delight
- 初六Six at the beginningcrowing delight · will exhausted · misfortune
- 六二Six in the second placefirm as rock · not waiting a day · seeing the seed
- 六三Six in the third placegazing upward · regret · too late
- 九四Nine in the fourth placesource of delight · do not doubt · friends gather
- 六五Six in the fifth placepersistent ailment · does not die · riding the strong
- 上六Six at the topdarkened delight · change even when complete · no blame
Read 豫 Delight for a question about
Questions about this line
- What does Six at the top of hexagram 16, Delight, mean?
- The top line is 'delight in darkness; if, even when it has come to completion, there is a change, no blame.' Yin at the end of Zhen, the thunder, this is enthusiasm that has gone on so long it has become a stupor — 冥 is the dimness of someone who no longer notices they are indulging. Yet the text leaves a door open: the state may be fully formed (成) and still be altered (渝), and the alteration clears the blame. The small Image asks the question that answers itself, 'how could this last?' (何可長也). It is the one top line in Yu that is rescued by turning, late, away from pleasure.
- What does hexagram 16 become when line 6 changes?
- Delight becomes hexagram 35, 晉 Advancing: The sun rising over the earth: progress. The capable prince is rewarded with horses and received three times in a day — advancement in the light.
- Is line 6 of Delight in its correct place?
- It is in its correct place (當位): a yang line in an odd position or a yin line in an even one, which the tradition reads as a line at ease where it stands.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).