Hexagram 27 · 颐 · Yí
Nourishment
- Element:
- Mountain over Thunder
- Key themes:
- nourishment, self-care, growth, sustenance, balance
Image
A mountain above thunder, symbolizing the need for nourishment and care to sustain growth.
Overall message
Hexagram 27 represents the concept of nourishment and sustenance. It emphasizes the importance of self-care, sharing nourishment with others, and maintaining balance. Success comes from fostering growth through proper nourishment and harmonious relationships.
Focus on nourishing yourself and others, both physically and spiritually. Balance self-care with caring for others. Success comes from sustaining growth through proper nourishment and maintaining harmony.
Classical text (Legge, 1882)
Judgment. Î indicates that with firm correctness there will be good fortune (in what is denoted by it). We must look at what we are seeking to nourish, and by the exercise of our thoughts seek for the proper aliment.
Image. (The trigram representing) a mountain and under it that for thunder form Î. The superior man, in accordance with this, (enjoins) watchfulness over our words, and the temperate regulation of our eating and drinking.
From James Legge's translation of the I Ching (Sacred Books of the East, vol. XVI, 1882). Public domain.
The six lines
Line 6 · Completion of Nourishment
The period of nourishment is complete. Reflect on the journey and prepare for the future.
Reflect on the lessons learned. Use this knowledge to continue nurturing growth.
Line 5 · Nourishing Others
Nourish others with generosity and care. Your actions inspire growth.
Be generous in nourishing others. Your care will foster growth and harmony.
Line 4 · Seeking Nourishment
Seek nourishment from reliable sources. Be discerning.
Choose your sources of nourishment wisely. Ensure they are beneficial and sustainable.
Line 3 · Overindulgence
Beware of overindulgence. Moderation is key.
Avoid excess. Practice moderation in all aspects of nourishment.
Line 2 · Sharing Nourishment
Nourishment is shared with others. Balance self-care with caring for others.
Share your resources and care with others. Maintain a balance between giving and receiving.
Line 1 · Initial Nourishment
The beginning of a period of nourishment. Focus on self-care.
Start by nourishing yourself. Build a strong foundation for growth.
Related hexagrams
Opposite: If every line of this hexagram were inverted (yang to yin and vice versa), you would have Hexagram 28 · 大过 · Dà Guò. This is the hexagram's structural counterpart — the situation it could become if every dynamic flipped.
Nuclear: The hexagram hidden inside this one, built from lines 2-3-4 and 3-4-5, is Hexagram 2 · 坤 · Kūn. The nuclear hexagram describes the inner pattern that produced this situation — what is going on underneath.
If only one line of this hexagram changed in your cast, you would arrive at:
- Line 1 changing → Hexagram 23 · 剥 · Bō
- Line 2 changing → Hexagram 41 · 损 · Sǔn
- Line 3 changing → Hexagram 22 · 贲 · Bì
- Line 4 changing → Hexagram 21 · 噬嗑 · Shì Kē
- Line 5 changing → Hexagram 42 · 益 · Yì
- Line 6 changing → Hexagram 24 · 复 · Fù