Meng, six at the beginningHexagram 4, line 1 · Meng (Youthful Ignorance) · changing to 41

The line

The Image commentary on this line

利用刑人，以正法也。

"It is favorable to use punishment": this is to make the law correct.

The small Image commentary is the earliest explanation of the line texts. It usually explains a line from its position: where it stands, whether it holds the center, and which line answers it.

Verdict

慎Proceed with care. There is some risk, or some regret left over, but nothing serious. Notice it early, correct it early, and things turn for the better.

• 利 favorable: a course of action that helps, under the stated condition
• 吝 humiliation: a small, lingering difficulty that comes from not correcting course

How to read good fortune, misfortune, regret, humiliation and no blame →

Asking about work, love or money

Work

When you first start leading people or learning something new, set the rules clearly and correct mistakes seriously. Once the rules hold, ease off a little; keep ruling with a stern face and you will only be left with regrets.

Love

Make the ground rules between the two of you clear early, and when a line is crossed, say so face to face. Once it is said, turn the page; holding on and dragging up old scores only makes things ugly.

Money

Managing money starts with rules: set a budget, and tighten up in earnest when you overspend. Once the habit is formed, stop being harsh about everything; clamping down without letup only leaves you feeling stifled.

This is how to read it when this is the only changing line. With several changing lines, first see which text governs; for the hexagram as a whole, see Meng.

Line position

A yin line in a yang place: it is not in its proper place. Its partner is the fourth line, which is also yin, so there is no answer from it.

First place: the beginning of the matter. Low position, little power. Begin carefully.

Proper place, center and correspondence explained →

When you get this line

If this is the only changing line in your cast (three inscribed sides, old yin), this line is your answer. The primary hexagram is Meng (Youthful Ignorance); when this line changes it becomes Sun (Decrease): hexagram 4 changing to 41.

Which text to read with several changing lines →