Hexagram 20, line 6
上九Line 6 of Observation
Nine at the top · 觀 guān
爻辭 The line text
觀其生，君子无咎。The sixth line, undivided, shows its subject contemplating his character to see if it be indeed that of a superior man. He will not fall into error.
觀其生，志未平也。'He contemplates his own character:'—he cannot even yet let his mind be at rest.
In plain words
The top line is also strong and also watched, but it stands above the ruler's place, outside office. Its text shifts one character: 'viewing his life' rather than 'my life' — the line is seen by others as an example, or, as 程頤 reads it, it looks at the ruler's conduct from the vantage of retirement. Either way the standard is the same, 'a superior person has no blame', and the small Image says why it cannot be relaxed: the will is not yet at peace (志未平也). Even one who has left the stage is still looked at, and still answerable for what others see.
If this line is changing
Even if you have stepped out of the matter, others still take their cue from how you carry yourself; you cannot yet let your guard down.
Where the line stands
- A solid line, yang — written 九 (nine), the number of an old yang 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 upper trigram 巽 Xun (the Gentle) (wind).
- It corresponds (應) with line 3: one yin and one yang, the two lines answer each other across the hexagram.
之卦 When this line moves
觀 Observation becomes ䷇ 8 比 Alliance
Water on the earth, flowing together: alliance and mutual support. Favourable to unite around a worthy centre; latecomers who hesitate lose their chance.
What it becomes8 · 比 AlliancebǐThe six lines of 觀 Observation
- 初六Six at the beginninga child's view · shallow sight · far from the ruler
- 六二Six in the second placepeeping through a door · narrow view · inside only
- 六三Six in the third placeviewing one's own life · advance or retreat · the threshold
- 六四Six in the fourth placethe kingdom's glory · guest of the king · close to power
- 九五Nine in the fifth placethe ruler views himself · seen in the people · central and correct
- 上九Nine at the topviewed by all · no rest yet · beyond office
Read 觀 Observation for a question about
Questions about this line
- What does Nine at the top of hexagram 20, Observation, mean?
- The top line is also strong and also watched, but it stands above the ruler's place, outside office. Its text shifts one character: 'viewing his life' rather than 'my life' — the line is seen by others as an example, or, as 程頤 reads it, it looks at the ruler's conduct from the vantage of retirement. Either way the standard is the same, 'a superior person has no blame', and the small Image says why it cannot be relaxed: the will is not yet at peace (志未平也). Even one who has left the stage is still looked at, and still answerable for what others see.
- What does hexagram 20 become when line 6 changes?
- Observation becomes hexagram 8, 比 Alliance: Water on the earth, flowing together: alliance and mutual support. Favourable to unite around a worthy centre; latecomers who hesitate lose their chance.
- Is line 6 of Observation 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.
Chinese text: the received Zhouyi (Wuyingdian lineage). English: James Legge, The Yî King, Sacred Books of the East XVI, 1882 (public domain).