Hexagram 27
Upper · Gèn (Mountain) | Lower · Zhèn (Thunder)
nourishment · sustenance · right cultivation · mindful speech and eating · self-care · caring for others
Hexagram 27, Yí (頤), is about nourishment, sustenance, and right cultivation. When you approach nourishment with integrity and right intention, fortune follows.
"With firm correctness there will be good fortune; observe what nourishes, and seek proper sustenance."
When you approach nourishment with integrity and right intention, fortune follows. The hexagram teaches that what you consume—whether food or words—and what you speak reveal your character. How you cultivate yourself and care for others forms the foundation of your path forward.
"You abandon your own spiritual resources and gaze at me with longing; this brings misfortune."
Forsaking your natural gifts to envy or depend on others leads to harm. Trust in what you have been given, and develop it with discipline.
"Seeking nourishment in the wrong direction—from below when you should look above—brings misfortune if you proceed."
Relying on others rather than standing on your own foundation contradicts the natural order. Build your own strength first.
"Acting against the way of nourishment brings misfortune, even if you hold firm. For ten years, take no action; nothing will serve you."
Pursuing nourishment through improper means creates a long season of stagnation. Wait, reflect, and realign with what is right.
"Seeking nourishment in an unconventional way brings good fortune. With the keen, unwavering gaze of a tiger and relentless desire, you commit no error."
Passionate and discerning pursuit of talent and growth, even through unexpected paths, succeeds when your intention is true.
"Acting against convention, yet if you remain firm in what is right, good fortune comes. Do not attempt great ventures."
In difficult times, holding to integrity brings small blessings, but avoid overreaching. Patience and principle matter more than bold action.
"From nourishment comes peril, yet good fortune follows. It is favorable to undertake great things."
From a position of responsibility, bearing the weight of caring for all is dangerous but righteous. When done with integrity, even great endeavors succeed.
Tend to your own growth with intention. Nourish your body and mind through rest, learning, and reflection. Guard your words carefully—they carry power in the workplace. When you are whole and healthy, you naturally become someone others trust to lead and guide them.
True love means caring for your partner's growth and well-being. Nurture the relationship through thoughtful words and attentive presence. Remember that a single word spoken carelessly can wound; speak with the same care you would give to feeding someone you cherish.
Be selective about what you absorb—choose teachers, books, and environments that truly nourish your mind. Protect your focus and energy; poor information and distraction are as harmful as poor food. Tend to your physical health too; rest and proper eating fuel learning.
Cultivating your team and organization is the foundation of lasting success. Be thoughtful about what enters your business—partnerships, capital, ideas—and what leaves it. A healthy organizational culture, built on integrity and care for people, creates wealth that endures.
Guard both what enters your mouth and what leaves it. Careless eating harms the body; careless speech harms relationships and reputation. Avoid excess in consumption of food, information, and entertainment. Toxins—whether physical, mental, or relational—accumulate silently and damage what you have built.
Read the line statement for each changing line above. With two or more changing lines, Zhu Xi’s rules decide which text leads the reading.
Original English translation by James Legge, 1882 (Public Domain). Editorial adaptation © Yijing.