Basic Information
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 颐 (Yí) |
| English Name | Corners of the Mouth / Nourishment |
| Trigrams | Mountain over Thunder (艮上震下) |
| Number | 27 of 64 |
The Text (Yijing Classic)
Judgment (卦辞 Guàcí)
The Corners of the Mouth. Perseverance brings good fortune. Pay heed to the providing of nourishment and to what a man seeks to fill his own mouth with.
The Image (象辞 Xiàngcí)
At the foot of the mountain, thunder: the image of Providing Nourishment. Thus the superior man is careful of his words and temperate in eating and drinking.
The Six Lines (爻辞 Yáocí)
| Line | Position | Text | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 初九 | Bottom | You let your magic tortoise go, and look at me with the corners of your mouth drooping. Misfortune. | Unfavorable; exercise caution and restraint |
| 六二 | 2nd | Turning to the summit for nourishment, deviating from the path to seek nourishment from the hill. Continuing to do this brings misfortune. | Unfavorable; exercise caution and restraint |
| 六三 | 3rd | Turning away from nourishment. Perseverance brings misfortune. Do not act thus for ten years. Nothing serves to further. | Unfavorable; exercise caution and restraint |
| 六四 | 4th | Turning to the summit for provision of nourishment brings good fortune. Spying about with sharp eyes like a tiger with insatiable craving. No blame. | Favorable outcome; stay the course |
| 六五 | 5th | Turning away from the path. To remain persevering brings good fortune. One should not cross the great water. | Favorable outcome; stay the course |
| 上九 | Top | The source of nourishment. Awareness of danger brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water. | Favorable outcome; stay the course |
Core Meanings
Essence (本质)
- Pay attention to what nourishes you and what comes from your mouth
- Upper trigram Mountain (still and grounding) over lower trigram Thunder (arousing and energizing)
- Embodies the qualities of nourishment, speech, diet and care, moderation, sustenance
Keywords
NourishmentSpeechDietCareModerationSustenance
Divination & Prediction
★★★☆☆Cautiously Favorable
| Aspect | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Overall | Mixed conditions requiring discernment. Pay attention to what nourishes you and what comes from your mouth Success is possible through diet and care. |
| Timing | Proceed with care, attending to details and timing. |
| Challenge | Balance nourishment with speech to navigate the complexity. |
Applications in Life
Business & Career
In business, this hexagram counsels nourishment and speech. The Mountain trigram above suggests still and grounding energy in your outer dealings, while the Thunder trigram below points to arousing and energizing foundations. Proceed carefully, focusing on essentials.
Health & Wellness
Focus on hands and back and liver and feet. Moderate, balanced approaches to health serve better than extreme measures now.
Relationships
In relationships, embody nourishment and speech. Balance giving and receiving. Listen as much as you speak.
Education & Growth
For learning, this hexagram emphasizes diet and care. Steady, methodical study brings better results than ambitious leaps.
Practical Wisdom
Do
- Cultivate nourishment in all your actions
- Practice speech consistently
- Embrace diet as your guiding principle
- Develop care through daily practice
Don’t
- Neglect the importance of moderation
- Abandon sustenance under pressure
- Act impulsively without considering consequences
Comparative Hexagrams
| Hexagram | Relationship |
|---|---|
| 28. Dà Guò (大过) | Preponderance of Great — excess in nourishment |
| 22. Bì (贲) | Grace — adornment of speech |
| 24. Fù (复) | Return — returning to proper nourishment |
Sample Reading Dialogue
Querent: “I'm struggling with my diet and energy levels. What guidance do you have?”
You received Hexagram 27, Corners of the Mouth. The judgment says: 'The Corners of the Mouth. Perseverance brings good fortune. Pay heed to the prov...' Pay attention to what nourishes you and what comes from your mouth This is a nuanced sign. Success is possible but requires careful attention to speech and diet. Proceed thoughtfully rather than boldly.