Basic Information
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 贲 (Bì) |
| English Name | Grace / Adornment |
| Trigrams | Mountain over Fire (艮上离下) |
| Number | 22 of 64 |
The Text (Yijing Classic)
Judgment (卦辞 Guàcí)
Grace has success. In small matters it is favorable to undertake something.
The Image (象辞 Xiàngcí)
Fire at the foot of the mountain: the image of Grace. Thus does the superior man proceed when clearing up current affairs. But he dare not decide controversial issues in this way.
The Six Lines (爻辞 Yáocí)
| Line | Position | Text | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 初九 | Bottom | He lends grace to his toes, leaves the carriage, and walks. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
| 六二 | 2nd | Lends grace to the beard on his chin. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
| 九三 | 3rd | Graceful and moist. Constant perseverance brings good fortune. | Favorable outcome; stay the course |
| 六四 | 4th | Grace or simplicity? A white horse comes as if on wings. He is not a robber; he is a wooer. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
| 六五 | 5th | Grace in hills and gardens. The roll of silk is meager and small. Humiliation, but in the end good fortune. | Favorable outcome; stay the course |
| 上九 | Top | Simple grace. No blame. | Acceptable situation; no error in this approach |
Core Meanings
Essence (本质)
- External beauty; form enhancing content but not replacing it
- Upper trigram Mountain (still and grounding) over lower trigram Fire (bright and clinging)
- Embodies the qualities of grace, beauty, form and adornment, aesthetics, simplicity
Keywords
GraceBeautyFormAdornmentAestheticsSimplicity
Divination & Prediction
★★★☆☆Moderate — Small Matters Only
| Aspect | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Overall | Mixed conditions requiring discernment. External beauty; form enhancing content but not replacing it Success is possible through form and adornment. |
| Timing | Proceed with care, attending to details and timing. |
| Challenge | Balance grace with beauty to navigate the complexity. |
Applications in Life
Business & Career
In business, this hexagram counsels grace and beauty. The Mountain trigram above suggests still and grounding energy in your outer dealings, while the Fire trigram below points to bright and clinging foundations. Proceed carefully, focusing on essentials.
Health & Wellness
Focus on hands and back and heart and eyes. Moderate, balanced approaches to health serve better than extreme measures now.
Relationships
In relationships, embody grace and beauty. Balance giving and receiving. Listen as much as you speak.
Education & Growth
For learning, this hexagram emphasizes form and adornment. Steady, methodical study brings better results than ambitious leaps.
Practical Wisdom
Do
- Cultivate grace in all your actions
- Practice beauty consistently
- Embrace form as your guiding principle
- Develop adornment through daily practice
Don’t
- Neglect the importance of aesthetics
- Abandon simplicity under pressure
- Act impulsively without considering consequences
Comparative Hexagrams
| Hexagram | Relationship |
|---|---|
| 21. Shì Kè (噬嗑) | Biting Through — substance vs form |
| 36. Míng Yí (明夷) | Darkening of Light — concealing beauty |
| 30. Lí (离) | The Clinging — radiance and clarity |
Sample Reading Dialogue
Querent: “Should I invest heavily in rebranding or focus on product quality?”
You received Hexagram 22, Grace. The judgment says: 'Grace has success. In small matters it is favorable to undertake something....' External beauty; form enhancing content but not replacing it This is a nuanced sign. Success is possible but requires careful attention to beauty and form. Proceed thoughtfully rather than boldly.