Basic Information
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 明夷 (Míng Yí) |
| English Name | Darkening of the Light / Concealment |
| Trigrams | Earth over Fire (坤上离下) |
| Number | 36 of 64 |
The Text (Yijing Classic)
Judgment (卦辞 Guàcí)
Darkening of the Light. In adversity it furthers one to be persevering.
The Image (象辞 Xiàngcí)
The light has sunk into the earth: the image of the Darkening of the Light. Thus does the superior man live with the great mass: he veils his light, yet still shines.
The Six Lines (爻辞 Yáocí)
| Line | Position | Text | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 初九 | Bottom | Darkening of the light during flight. He lowers his wings. The superior man does not eat for three days on his wanderings. But he has somewhere to go. The host has occasion to gossip about him. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
| 六二 | 2nd | Darkening of the light injures him in the left thigh. He gives aid with the strength of a horse. Good fortune. | Favorable outcome; stay the course |
| 九三 | 3rd | Darkening of the light during the hunt in the south. Their great leader is captured. One must not expect perseverance too soon. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
| 六四 | 4th | He penetrates the left side of the belly. One gets at the very heart of the darkening of the light, and leaves gate and courtyard. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
| 六五 | 5th | Darkening of the light as with Prince Chi. Perseverance furthers. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
| 上六 | Top | Not light but darkness. First he climbed up to heaven, then he plunged into the depths of the earth. | Reflect carefully on the situation before acting |
Core Meanings
Essence (本质)
- Hide your light in dark times; inner brilliance preserved through outer concealment
- Upper trigram Earth (receptive and nurturing) over lower trigram Fire (bright and clinging)
- Embodies the qualities of concealment, adversity, perseverance and wisdom, survival, patience
Keywords
ConcealmentAdversityPerseveranceWisdomSurvivalPatience
Divination & Prediction
★★☆☆☆Inauspicious — Endure Wisely
| Aspect | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Overall | Challenging period requiring patience. Hide your light in dark times; inner brilliance preserved through outer concealment Preserve your strength through survival and patience. |
| Timing | Not the time for bold initiatives. Consolidate and wait. |
| Challenge | The temptation to force progress will backfire. Practice wisdom. |
Applications in Life
Business & Career
In business, this hexagram counsels concealment and adversity. The Earth trigram above suggests receptive and nurturing energy in your outer dealings, while the Fire trigram below points to bright and clinging foundations. Retrench and preserve resources until conditions improve.
Health & Wellness
Focus on stomach and digestion and heart and eyes. Rest and recovery are priorities. Don't push your body beyond its current capacity.
Relationships
In relationships, embody concealment and adversity. Patience and understanding are needed. Avoid confrontation; focus on maintaining what you have.
Education & Growth
For learning, this hexagram emphasizes perseverance and wisdom. Focus on fundamentals and review. Build a strong foundation before advancing.
Practical Wisdom
Do
- Cultivate concealment in all your actions
- Practice adversity consistently
- Embrace perseverance as your guiding principle
- Develop wisdom through daily practice
Don’t
- Neglect the importance of survival
- Abandon patience under pressure
- Act impulsively without considering consequences
Comparative Hexagrams
| Hexagram | Relationship |
|---|---|
| 35. Jìn (晋) | Progress — opposite; light ascending |
| 15. Qiān (谦) | Modesty — similar concealment of virtue |
| 24. Fù (复) | Return — light returning after darkness |
Sample Reading Dialogue
Querent: “My workplace has become toxic. How do I survive?”
You received Hexagram 36, Darkening of the Light. The judgment says: 'Darkening of the Light. In adversity it furthers one to be persevering....' Hide your light in dark times; inner brilliance preserved through outer concealment This is a cautionary sign. The current conditions call for survival rather than action. Preserve your resources and wait for the cycle to turn.