䷻LimitationJié

The judgment

亨。苦节不可贞

Water sits above the lake and the bank decides how much goes through. A bound set too tight breaks by its own pressure, and one with no number measures nothing.

The image

The lake holds the water above it and the bank gives the shape. A measure that can be counted is a measure that can be kept.

The six lines

Read from the bottom up. A line that moves is read here, and read again in the hexagram it becomes.

1. 初九Line 1

   不出户庭，无咎

   At the start, narrow the scope to the smallest piece and hold only what is at hand; the cost is that wider openings stay out of sight.

   Marked in the textno blame

2. 九二Line 2

   不出门庭，凶

   The position permits a step outward, yet staying put until conditions feel complete is what stalls your own timing.

   Marked in the textominous

3. 六三Line 3

   不节若，则嗟若，无咎

   Setting no limits until things give way means the cleanup afterward only barely closes the matter.

   Marked in the textno blame

4. 六四Line 4

   安节，亨

   Near the seat of power, settling into the existing rules spares argument and buys freedom from constant watchfulness.

   Marked in the textsuccess

5. 九五Line 5

   甘节，吉；往有尚

   With measure in hand, applying it so others willingly follow draws still more responsibility your way.

   Marked in the textauspicious

6. 上六Line 6

   苦节，贞凶，悔亡

   Frugality pulled tight even where it should give; the longer it holds the worse it ends, yet loosening it dissolves the regret.

   Marked in the textominousregret clears

Where each changing line leads

Flip one line and it is a different hexagram. These are the six it becomes.

• 初九→The AbyssHexagram 29
• 九二→Difficulty at the BeginningHexagram 3
• 六三→WaitingHexagram 5
• 六四→The JoyousHexagram 58
• 九五→ApproachHexagram 19
• 上六→Inner TruthHexagram 61