Shihe, nine at the beginningHexagram 21, line 1 · Shihe (Biting Through) · changing to 35

The line

The Image commentary on this line

屨校滅趾，不行也。

"Feet locked in the stocks, the toes covered": he does not go on.

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

平Neutral. Neither good nor bad. Do your part, correct mistakes, and nothing will go wrong.

• 无咎 no blame: no fault attaches, often because a mistake is corrected in time

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

Asking about work, love or money

Work

You have just made a small mistake and been criticized or penalized for it, which stops you at exactly the right point. Accept it, stop right there, and go no further; then the matter will pass.

Love

A small slip of yours has been pointed out by the other person. It stings, but it is exactly the reminder you need. Own up to it, change it, don't do it again, and all is well.

Money

You have taken a small loss and paid a little for the lesson, which is just what makes you stop. Accept that small loss, don't try to win it back by putting more in, and you will be fine.

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 Shihe.

Line position

A yang line in a yang place: it is in its proper place. Its partner is the fourth line, which is also yang, 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 backs, old yang), this line is your answer. The primary hexagram is Shihe (Biting Through); when this line changes it becomes Jin (Advance): hexagram 21 changing to 35.

Which text to read with several changing lines →