30 · The Clinging (LÍ)
Li is fire and light, but also attachment: a flame needs something to sustain it. The hexagram asks us to keep clarity rooted in what is right and gentle, so light illuminates rather than destroys.
The judgment
Li: steadfastness is favourable; there is passage. Raising a cow brings good fortune.
Light needs a sustaining ground. The image of a female cow adds patience and gentle steadiness to the force of brightness.
Original Chinese text
離：利貞。亨。畜牝牛，吉。
The six lines
- 初九 · Line 1 — Footsteps are confused; meet them with care, and there is no blame.
Original Chinese
履錯然，敬之无咎。
- 六二 · Line 2 — Yellow radiance: great good fortune.
Original Chinese
黃離，元吉。
- 九三 · Line 3 — Light of the declining sun: if one does not beat the clay vessel and sing, there is the lament of great old age; ominous.
Original Chinese
日昃之離，不鼓缶而歌，則大耋之嗟，凶。
- 九四 · Line 4 — It comes suddenly; burning, dying, cast aside.
Original Chinese
突如其來如，焚如，死如，棄如。
- 六五 · Line 5 — Tears flow; there is sorrow and sighing. Good fortune.
Original Chinese
出涕沱若，戚嗟若，吉。
- 上九 · Line 6 — The king goes out on an expedition; commendable to subdue the leader, taking no hold of the followers. No blame.
Original Chinese
王用出征，有嘉折首，獲匪其醜，无咎。