Hexagram 27 · ䷚

Nourishment

頤 · Yí

Upper Mountain 艮Lower Thunder 震

The Judgment · 卦辭

貞吉。觀頤，自求口實。

Î indicates that with firm correctness there will be good fortune (in what is denoted by it). We must look at what we are seeking to nourish, and by the exercise of our thoughts seek for the proper aliment.

The Image · 大象

山下有雷，頤；君子以慎言語，節飲食。

(The trigram representing) a mountain and under it that for thunder form Î. The superior man, in accordance with this, (enjoins) watchfulness over our words, and the temperate regulation of our eating and drinking.

Plain-English Meaning

Nourishment. Pay attention to what you feed, in body, mind and words, and what you offer others.

The Judgment

Watch what someone seeks to nourish, and how they nourish themselves.

The Image

Like thunder beneath a mountain, be careful with your words and moderate in what you take in.

Editorial summary written for this site; not a translation.

The Lines · 爻辭

初九 · Line 1
舍爾靈龜，觀我朵頤，凶。
The first NINE, undivided, (seems to be thus addressed), 'You leave your efficacious tortoise, and look at me till your lower jaw hangs down.' There will be evil.
象曰：觀我朵頤，亦不足貴也。
六二 · Line 2
顛頤，拂經，于丘頤，征凶。
The second SIX, divided, shows one looking downwards for nourishment, which is contrary to what is proper; or seeking it from the height (above), advance towards which will lead to evil.
象曰：六二征凶，行失類也。
六三 · Line 3
拂頤，貞凶，十年勿用，无攸利。
The third SIX, divided, shows one acting contrary to the method of nourishing. However firm he may be, there will be evil. For ten years let him not take any action, (for) it will not be in any way advantageous.
象曰：十年勿用，道大悖也。
六四 · Line 4
顛頤吉，虎視眈眈，其欲逐逐，无咎。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows one looking downwards for (the power to) nourish. There will be good fortune. Looking with a tiger's downward unwavering glare, and with his desire that impels him to spring after spring, he will fall into no error.
象曰：顛頤之吉，上施光也。
六五 · Line 5
拂經，居貞吉，不可涉大川。
The fifth SIX, divided, shows one acting contrary to what is regular and proper; but if he abide in firmness, there will be good fortune. He should not, (however, try to) cross the great stream.
象曰：居貞之吉，順以從上也。
上九 · Line 6
由頤，厲吉，利涉大川。
The sixth NINE, undivided, shows him from whom comes the nourishing. His position is perilous, but there will be good fortune. It will be advantageous to cross the great stream.
象曰：由頤厲吉，大有慶也。

English: James Legge (1882), public domain · Text · Image (Appendix II), sacred-texts.com.

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