36 · Darkening of the Light (MÍNG YÍ)
Darkening of the Light places clarity inside a difficult world. The response is not to abandon what is true, but to protect it wisely: leave danger when needed, accept help, act with restraint, and keep an inner flame alive.
The judgment
Darkening of the Light: steadfastness through difficulty is favourable.
Light is wounded and hidden, not extinguished. The favorable course is to hold to what is right through difficulty, with judgment about what can safely be shown.
Original Chinese text
明夷：利艱貞。
The six lines
- 初九 · Line 1 — Light wounded in flight, its wings hanging low. A cultivated person travels, eating nothing for three days. Going somewhere, the host has words to say.
Original Chinese
明夷于飛，垂其翼。君子于行，三日不食，有攸往，主人有言。
- 六二 · Line 2 — Light wounded; injured in the left thigh. Use a strong horse for rescue: auspicious.
Original Chinese
明夷，夷于左股，用拯馬壯，吉。
- 九三 · Line 3 — Light wounded on a southern hunt: the great leader is obtained. Do not press correction too quickly.
Original Chinese
明夷于南狩，得其大首，不可疾貞。
- 六四 · Line 4 — Enter by the left side of the belly; grasp the heart of the darkening; go out through the gate of the courtyard.
Original Chinese
入于左腹，獲明夷之心，于出門庭。
- 六五 · Line 5 — Jizi's darkening of the light: steadfastness is favourable.
Original Chinese
箕子之明夷，利貞。
- 上六 · Line 6 — No longer light, but dark. At first it rose to heaven; afterward it entered the earth.
Original Chinese
不明晦，初登于天，後入于地。