Hexagram 60, line 3
六三Line 3 of Measure
Six in the third place · 節 jié
爻辭 The line text
不節若，則嗟若，无咎。The third line, divided, shows its subject with no appearance of observing the (proper) regulations, in which case we shall see him lamenting. But there will be no one to blame (but himself).
不節之嗟，又誰咎也。In 'the lamentation for not observing the (proper) regulations,' who should there be to blame?
In plain words
Line three is yin in a yang place at the top of the lake, the trigram of pleasure, neither correct nor central, and it is the picture of someone who 'keeps no measure' and 'then laments'. Sitting at the peak of enjoyment with nothing firm in its position, it lets the lake overflow and only afterwards sighs about it. The text's 'no blame' here does not mean the line is innocent; as the small Image asks, 'who else is there to blame?' (又誰咎也) — the consequence belongs entirely to the one who failed to set a limit. The received reading treats this as a warning rather than a condemnation: the lament is itself the beginning of learning measure.
If this line is changing
If you have let things run past the point you knew was enough, the regret you feel is accurate and yours alone; use it to set the limit you skipped.
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 兌 Dui (the Joyous) (lake).
- It has no correspondence (無應) with line 6: both lines are yin, so this line must find its support in its neighbours or in itself.
之卦 When this line moves
節 Measure becomes ䷄ 5 需 Attending
Clouds rising to heaven: rain that will come in its time. Confident waiting — not idle, but nourishing yourself until the crossing is safe.
What it becomes5 · 需 AttendingxūThe six lines of 節 Measure
- 初九Nine at the beginningstaying in · knowing when blocked · no blame
- 九二Nine in the second placemissing the moment · staying in too long · evil
- 六三Six in the third placeno measure · lament · no one else to blame
- 六四Six in the fourth placemeasure at ease · accepting the way above · success
- 九五Nine in the fifth placesweet measure · the centre · going on is honoured
- 上六Six at the topbitter measure · the way exhausted · regret passes
Read 節 Measure for a question about
Questions about this line
- What does Six in the third place of hexagram 60, Measure, mean?
- Line three is yin in a yang place at the top of the lake, the trigram of pleasure, neither correct nor central, and it is the picture of someone who 'keeps no measure' and 'then laments'. Sitting at the peak of enjoyment with nothing firm in its position, it lets the lake overflow and only afterwards sighs about it. The text's 'no blame' here does not mean the line is innocent; as the small Image asks, 'who else is there to blame?' (又誰咎也) — the consequence belongs entirely to the one who failed to set a limit. The received reading treats this as a warning rather than a condemnation: the lament is itself the beginning of learning measure.
- What does hexagram 60 become when line 3 changes?
- Measure becomes hexagram 5, 需 Attending: Clouds rising to heaven: rain that will come in its time. Confident waiting — not idle, but nourishing yourself until the crossing is safe.
- Is line 3 of Measure 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).