Hexagram 60, line 4
六四Line 4 of Measure
Six in the fourth place · 節 jié
爻辭 The line text
安節，亨。The fourth line, divided, shows its subject quietly and naturally (attentive to all) regulations. There will be progress and success.
安節之亨，承上道也。'The progress and success of the quiet and natural (attention) to all regulations' is due to the deference which accepts the ways of (the ruler) above.
In plain words
Line four is yin in a yin place, correct, the first line of the water above the lake and the minister next to the ruler at five. Its measure is 'at ease' (安節): it keeps limits without strain, the way water takes the shape of what holds it, and the text promises success. The ease comes from position — a soft line in its proper place has nothing to force, and it sits directly beneath the strong central line whose standard it adopts. The small Image says its success is from 'accepting the way of the one above' (承上道). This is limitation as something received gladly rather than imposed.
If this line is changing
Adopt the standard that has been set above you and keep to it without fuss; limits you accept willingly cost nothing and carry you through.
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 坎 Kan (the Abysmal) (water).
- It corresponds (應) with line 1: one yin and one yang, the two lines answer each other across the hexagram.
之卦 When this line moves
節 Measure becomes ䷹ 58 兌 Pleasure (Lake)
Lake upon lake: joy. Success through correctness — inner firmness, outer gentleness; friends discussing and practising together, a joy that makes people forget their toil.
What it becomes58 · 兌 Pleasure (Lake)duìThe 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 fourth place of hexagram 60, Measure, mean?
- Line four is yin in a yin place, correct, the first line of the water above the lake and the minister next to the ruler at five. Its measure is 'at ease' (安節): it keeps limits without strain, the way water takes the shape of what holds it, and the text promises success. The ease comes from position — a soft line in its proper place has nothing to force, and it sits directly beneath the strong central line whose standard it adopts. The small Image says its success is from 'accepting the way of the one above' (承上道). This is limitation as something received gladly rather than imposed.
- What does hexagram 60 become when line 4 changes?
- Measure becomes hexagram 58, 兌 Pleasure (Lake): Lake upon lake: joy. Success through correctness — inner firmness, outer gentleness; friends discussing and practising together, a joy that makes people forget their toil.
- Is line 4 of Measure 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).