27. I / (Providing Nourishment)

Top: Mountain | Bottom: Thunder

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This hexagram is a picture of an open mouth; above and below are firm lines of the lips, and

between them the opening. Starting with the mouth, through which we take food for

nourishment, the thought leads to nourishment itself. Nourishment of oneself, specifically of the

body, is represented in the three lower lines, while the three upper lines represent nourishment

and care of others, in a higher, spiritual sense.

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THE JUDGMENT

Perseverance brings good fortune. Pay heed to the providing of nourishment and to what a man

seeks to fill his own mouth with.

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In bestowing care and nourishment, it is important that the right people should be taken care of

and that we should attend to our own nourishment in the right way. If we wish to know what

anyone is like, we have only to observe on whom he bestows his care and what sides of his own

nature he cultivates and nourishes. Nature nourishes all creatures. The great man fosters and

takes care of superior men, in order to take care of all men through them. Mencius says about

this: "If we wish to know whether anyone is superior or not, we need only observe what part of his

being he regards as especially important. The body has superior and inferior, important and

unimportant parts. We must not injure important parts for the sake of the unimportant, nor must

we injure the superior parts for the sake of the inferior. He who cultivates the inferior parts of his

nature is an inferior man. He who cultivates the superior parts of his nature is a superior man."

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THE IMAGE

At the foot of the mountain, thunder: Thus the superior man is careful of his words and temperate in eating and drinking.

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"God comes forth in the sign of the Arousing": when in the spring the life forces stir again, all

things comes into being anew. "He brings to perfection in the sign of Keeping Still": thus in the

early spring, when the seeds fall to earth, all things are made ready. This is an image of providing

nourishment through movement and tranquillity. The superior man takes it as a pattern for the

nourishment and cultivation of his character. Words are a movement going form within outward.

Eating and drinking are movements from without inward. Both kinds of movement can be

modified by tranquillity. For tranquillity keeps the words that come out of the mouth from

exceeding proper measure, and keeps the food that goes into the mouth from exceeding its proper

measure. Thus character is cultivated.

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THE LINES

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Nine at the beginning means: 

You let your magic tortoise go, and look at me with the corners of your mouth drooping. Misfortune.

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The magic tortoise is a creature possessed of such supernatural powers that it lives on air and

needs no earthly nourishment. The image means that a man fitted by nature and position to live

freely and independently renounces this self-reliance and instead looks with envy and discontent

at others who are outwardly in better circumstances. But such base envy only arouses derision

and contempt in those others. This has bad results.

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Six in the second place means:

Turning to the summit for nourishment, deviating from the path to seek nourishment from the hill.

Continuing to do this brings misfortune.

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Normally a person either provides his own means of nourishment or is supported in a proper way

by those whose duty of privilege it is to provide for him. If, owing to weakness of spirit, a man

cannot support himself, a feeling of uneasiness comes over him; this is because in shirking the

proper way of obtaining a living, he accepts support as a favor from those in higher place. This is

unworthy, for he is deviating from his true nature. Kept up indefinitely, this course leads to

misfortune.

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Six in the third place means:

Turning away from nourishment. Perseverance brings misfortune. Do not act thus for ten years.

Nothing serves to further.

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He who seeks nourishment that does not nourish reels from desire to gratification and in

gratification craves desire. Mad pursuit of pleasure for the satisfaction of the senses never brings

one to the goal. One should never (ten years is a complete cycle of time) follow this path, for

nothing good can come of it.

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Six in the fourth place means:

Turning to the summit for provision of nourishment brings good fortune. Spying about with sharp

eyes like a tiger with insatiable craving. No blame.

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In contrast to the six in the second place, which refers to a man bent exclusively on his own

advantage, this line refers to one occupying a high position and striving to let his light sine forth.

To do this he needs helpers, because he cannot attain his lofty aim alone. With the greed of a

hungry tiger he is on the lookout for the right people. Since he is not working for himself but for

the good of all, there is no wrong in such zeal.

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Six in the fifth place means:

Turning away from the path to remain persevering brings good fortune. One should not cross

the great water.

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A man may be conscious of a deficiency in himself. He should be undertaking the nourishment

of the people, but he has not the strength to do it. Thus he must turn from his accustomed path

and beg counsel and help from a man who is spiritually his superior but undistinguished

outwardly. If he maintains this attitude of mind perseveringly, success and good fortune are his.

But he must remain aware of his dependence. He must not put his own person forward nor

attempt great labors, such as crossing the great water.

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Nine at the top means:

The source of nourishment. Awareness of danger brings good fortune. It furthers one to cross

the great water.

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This describes a sage of the highest order, from whom emanate all influences that provide

nourishment for others. Such a position brings with it heavy responsibility. If he remains

conscious of this fact, he has good fortune and may confidently undertake even great and difficult

labors, such as crossing the great water. These undertakings bring general happiness for him and

for all others.

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