Hexagram 27: The Corners of the Mouth (Providing Nourishment)
Hexagram
27. The Corners of the Mouth (Providing Nourishment) · Yi
Structure of the sign
The hexagram is an image of an open mouth: above and below are the firm lips, and between them is the opening of the mouth. From the image of the mouth, through which food is taken in for nourishment, the idea passes over to nourishment itself. In the three lower lines, the care and nourishment of oneself—namely physical nourishment—is portrayed; in the three upper lines, the nourishment and care of others—namely spiritual, higher nourishment—is represented.
The Judgment
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. In providing care and nourishment, it is essential that the right people be cared for, and that one attends to one's own nourishment in the right way. If one wishes to know a man, one need only observe whom he bestows his care upon and what aspects of his own nature he cultivates and nourishes. Nature nourishes all beings. The great man nourishes and fosters the capable, in order to care for all people through them.
The Image
At the foot of the mountain is thunder: the image of Nourishment. Thus the superior man is mindful of his words and temperate in eating and drinking. 'God comes forth in the sign of the Arousing.' When the forces of life stir anew in spring, all things are brought forth afresh. 'He brings to completion in the sign of Keeping Still.' Thus in early spring, when the seeds fall to the earth, all things are brought to perfection. This provides the image of nourishment through movement and stillness. The superior man takes this as a model for the cultivation and nourishment of his character. Words are movement proceeding from within outward. Eating and drinking is movement proceeding from without inward. Both kinds of movement must be moderated by stillness. Thus stillness ensures that the words issuing from the mouth do not exceed measure, and that the food entering the mouth does not exceed measure. In this way, character is cultivated.
The lines
Line 1
You let your magic tortoise go, and look at me with corners of the mouth drooping. Misfortune! The magic tortoise is a creature that requires no earthly nourishment, possessing such wondrous power that it can live upon air. The image signifies that one would be fully capable, by virtue of one's nature and station, of living freely and independently from within oneself. Instead, one renounces this inner independence and looks upward with envy and discontent to others who are outwardly better off. Yet such base envy evokes only mockery and contempt in the other. This brings misfortune.
Line 2
Turning to the summit for nourishment. Deviating from the path to seek nourishment from the hill: continuing in this way brings misfortune. The normal course is to provide for one's own nourishment, or to allow oneself to be lawfully nourished by those who have the duty and the right to do so. If, through inner weakness, one is unable to provide for oneself, restlessness easily sets in, leading one to bypass lawful acquisition and accept sustenance as a gift from superiors through favor. This is unworthy, for one deviates from one's true nature. Persisted in, this leads to misfortune.
Line 3
Deviating from nourishment. Perseverance brings misfortune. Do not act thus for ten years. Nothing furthers. He who seeks nourishment that does not nourish staggers from desire to indulgence, and in indulgence languishes with desire. Passionate frenzy to gratify the senses never attains its goal. Never (ten years constitutes a complete cycle) should one act in this manner. Nothing good comes of it.
Line 4
Turning to the summit for nourishment brings good fortune. Spying about with sharp eyes like a tiger in insatiable desire. No blame. In contrast to the six in the second place, which denotes a man busily intent only upon his own advantage, this line represents a man striving from a high position to let his light shine forth. For this he needs helpers, since he cannot reach his lofty goal alone. Eager as a hungry tiger, he is bent on finding the right men. But because he labors not for himself but for the common good, such zeal is not an error.
Line 5▶ ruling line
Deviating from the path. Remaining in perseverance brings good fortune. One should not cross the great water. One is conscious of a deficiency. One ought to provide nourishment for the people, yet lacks the strength to do so. Thus one must deviate from the accustomed path and seek counsel and aid from a man who is spiritually superior, though outwardly unassuming. If one perseveres in this attitude, one meets with success and good fortune. Only one must remain mindful of one's dependence. One must not come forward in one's own person or attempt to undertake great deeds, such as crossing the great water.
Line 6▶ ruling line
The source of nourishment. Consciousness of danger brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross the great water. Here is a sage of the highest order, from whom emanate all influences that provide for the nourishment of others. Such a position entails grave responsibility. If he remains conscious of this, he has good fortune and may confidently undertake great and difficult tasks, such as crossing the great water. These bring universal blessing for him and for all.
Below ☳ Thunder (Dschen)
- Direction
- E
- Element
- Wood · Thunder
- Attributes
- Arousing · Awakening · Impelling · Moving
- Family
- Eldest Son
Above ☶ Mountain (Gen)
- Direction
- NE
- Element
- Mountain · Stone
- Attributes
- Keeping Still · Firm · Immovable · Setting Boundaries
- Family
- Youngest Son