I Ching 21 Hexagram shì kè (Biting through)

I Ching 21 Hexagram shì kè (Biting through)

I Ching 21 Hexagram shì kè (Biting through)

Keywords
Determination. Commitment. Forcefully break down obstacles (with bites).
Short Interpretation of Hexagram 21 – The Breaking Bite
You have to fight to win back love. Some economic difficulties.

I Ching – General Description

The sign represents an open mouth (cf. N ° 27, I), between whose teeth there is an obstacle (in fourth place). Consequently the lips cannot come together. To achieve their conjunction, one must bite vigorously through the obstacle. The sign also consists of the signs of thunder and lightning, to hint at the way in which obstacles are eliminated by violence in nature. The energetic bite that breaks overcomes the obstacle that opposes the union of the mouth. The storm with thunder and lightning overcomes the disturbing tension of nature. Trial and punishment overcome the disturbances of harmonious coexistence caused by criminals and slanderers. Unlike the sign N ° 6, the Lite, where it is about civil trials, the criminal trial is treated here.

I Ching – Comment on sentence

The bite that breaks has succeeded
Propitious is to enforce the law.

When an obstacle stands in the way of the union, an energetic breaking bite brings success. This is true in all conditions. Unity cannot be established where it is always compromised by informers and traitors, by someone who hinders and prevents. In this case it is necessary to go all the way, so that no definitive damage occurs. Such conscious obstacles do not disappear on their own. Judgment and punishment are necessary to scare, or even to eliminate, criminals. However, it is necessary to proceed in the right way. The sign is composed of Li, clarity, and Cenn, excitement. Li is tender, Cenn is hard. Only harshness and excitement would be too violent to punish. Only clarity and sweetness would be too weak. Together, these two pairs produce the right size. It is important that those who he finally decides – represented by the fifth line – is of a merciful nature, while for his position he commands respect.

I Ching – Image

Thunder and Lightning: The image of the bite that breaks. Thus the old kings consolidated the laws by means of clearly determined penalties.

The penalties are the individual applications of the laws. The laws contain the list of penalties. Clarity reigns when, in establishing penalties, the lighter penalties are explicitly distinguished from the more serious ones according to the transgression. This is symbolized by the clarity of lightning. The consolidation of laws takes place by applying penalties with justice. This is symbolized by the terror of thunder. This clarity and severity are meant to keep men respectful; not the punishments themselves are important. All the obstacles to human coexistence increase if the determination of the penalties is not clear and their application is negligent. Only the clarity and decisive speed of the punishments consolidate the laws.

I Ching – Series

When there is a thing to contemplate, then there is a thing that creates union. This is why it follows the sign: the Bite that breaks. To break by biting means to unite.

I Ching – Single Lines

Analytical description of each individual line

I Ching – First line:

Nine at the beginning means:
His feet are stuck in the stocks, that the toes disappear. No stains.

When someone on the first attempt to do something wrong is immediately hit by the punishment, the penalty is very light. Only the toes are covered by the stumps. Thus he is prevented from sinning again and kept free from stain. It is a warning to stop in time on the path of evil.

I Ching – Second line:

Six in the second place means:
Bites into tender flesh, the nose disappears. No stains.

Right and wrong in this case are easily distinguished. It is as if it is biting into tender flesh. But you come across a hardened sinner. Therefore excited by anger one falls into some excess. The disappearance of the nose in biting means the loss of the fine nose as a result of indignation. But that doesn’t hurt much, because the punishment as such is just.

I Ching – Third line:

Six in the third place means: He
bites into stale dried meat and gets a poisonous morsel. Little shame. No stains.

Someone has to inflict punishment, and they don’t have enough power and authority to do so. Therefore the punishable do not give up. It is an old thing, symbolized by salted game meat – and in doing so you run into difficulties. Stale flesh is corrupt. Dealing with the thing attracts poisonous hatred. Therefore you end up in a somewhat shameful situation. But since the moment demanded that he punish himself, he remains free from stain.

I Ching – Fourth line:

Nine in the fourth place means:
Bites into dried cartilaginous flesh. Receives metal arrows. It is propitious to be mindful of difficulties, and persevering. Health !

It is a question of overcoming very serious difficulties. Powerful opponents must be punished. This requires great efforts. But it succeeds. However, it is necessary to have the hardness of metal and the straightness of an arrow to overcome the difficulties. Knowing these difficulties and remaining persevering leads to health. Eventually the difficult task succeeds.

I Ching – Fifth line:

Six in the fifth place means:
Bites into dried muscle meat. Receives yellow gold. Be persistently aware of the danger. No stains!

There is a difficult case to be resolved, even if it is clear. But one’s nature is prone to indulgence. Therefore it is necessary to gather in order to be like yellow gold, that is, impartial – yellow is the color of the medium – and pure like gold. Only if one is permanently aware of the dangers that arise from assumed responsibility can one remain free from errors.

I Ching – Sixth line:

Nine above means:
His neck is stuck in the wooden collar, That his ears disappear. Woe!

Here, unlike the initial line, we are dealing with an incorrigible man. He wears the wooden collar as punishment. And his ears disappear there. He no longer listens to any warning and remains deaf. This hardship leads to misfortune. (It should be noted that there is also another interpretation, which, starting from the idea ″ above the light, that is the sun, below the movement ″ refers to a market, which underneath is in motion while above the sun is in the sky. And it is precisely a market for edibles. Meat hints at edibles. Gold and arrows are articles of commerce. The disappearance of the nose means the disappearance of the sense of smell, that is to say that this fellow is not greedy. The poison hints at dangers. of wealth, etc. For the nine at the beginning Kung Tse observes: ″ The ignoble is not ashamed of hardness of heart and does not shy away from injustice. Where he sees no hint of advantage that entices him he does not move. If you don’t intimidate it, don’t amend it. But if he is put in place in the small he becomes cautious in the large. This is fortunate for a small man ″. For the nine above Kung Tse observes: ″ Not accumulating good is not enough to create one reputation. If evil does not build up it is not strong enough to annihilate it. For this reason the ignoble thinks: the small good has no value; for this he omits to do so. He thinks: small sins do not cause any harm, so he does not waken from them. Thus his sins accumulate until they can no longer be covered, and his guilt becomes so great that it cannot be dissolved anymore ″).