In practice
The judgment
It's a time for firm, decisive action to overcome obstacles, even legal action if needed. Success is within reach if you act with energy and set limits. Don't be afraid: act.
The poetry
The Bite
Success. It is favorable to bring things to judgment.
The image
Thunder and lightning: the bite. So the ancient kings made penalties clear and set the laws firm.
The lines
- Line 6上九
Insisting on staying on the wrong path and refusing to hear advice or warnings will lead you to failure.
A wooden collar on the neck, the ears lost from sight. Misfortune.
- Line 5六五
When you correct mistakes others have made, be steady and impartial, and you'll get results.
Biting dried meat, finding yellow gold. Constancy is in danger. No fault.
- Line 4九四
You're in a time of great difficulties that feel overwhelming, but stay firm and resolute in the face of adversity, overcoming the obstacles one by one.
Biting dried meat on the bone, finding a metal arrowhead. Constancy in hardship is favorable. Good fortune.
- Line 3六三
Old grudges come to light. You'll respond, and people may criticize you for it, since they don't know why you reacted.
Biting old dried meat, meeting poison. A little distress; no fault.
- Line 2六二
When you see someone acting unjustly or wrongly, it's better to be uncompromising in setting limits than to do nothing.
Biting tender flesh, the nose sinks out of sight. No fault.
- Line 1初九
If you realize you're doing the wrong thing, take responsibility for your actions and change course quickly.
Feet in the stocks, the toes lost from sight. No fault.
Its 63 transformations
Depending on which lines move in your cast, Biting turns into another hexagram. Pick the lines from your cast.
One moving line
6
Two moving lines
15
- 64Transitionlines 1 and 2
- 56The Travelerlines 1 and 3
- 14Wealthlines 2 and 3
- 23The Falllines 1 and 4
- 41Decreaselines 2 and 4
- 22Good Mannerslines 3 and 4
- 12Declinelines 1 and 5
- 10Treading Carefullylines 2 and 5
- 13Gathering with Equalslines 3 and 5
- 42Increaselines 4 and 5
- 16Passionlines 1 and 6
- 54A Subordinate Rolelines 2 and 6
- 55Abundancelines 3 and 6
- 24Coming Backlines 4 and 6
- 17Adaptinglines 5 and 6
Three moving lines
20
- 50The Vessel of Nourishmentlines 1, 2, and 3
- 4Immaturitylines 1, 2, and 4
- 52Abidinglines 1, 3, and 4
- 26Great Achievementslines 2, 3, and 4
- 6Conflictlines 1, 2, and 5
- 33Leaving Behindlines 1, 3, and 5
- 1Activitylines 2, 3, and 5
- 20Observinglines 1, 4, and 5
- 61Inner Integritylines 2, 4, and 5
- 37The Tribelines 3, 4, and 5
- 40Clearing Obstacleslines 1, 2, and 6
- 62Success in Small Matterslines 1, 3, and 6
- 34Great Manifestationlines 2, 3, and 6
- 2Passivitylines 1, 4, and 6
- 19Fleeting Successlines 2, 4, and 6
- 36Darknesslines 3, 4, and 6
- 45Meetinglines 1, 5, and 6
- 58Inner Peacelines 2, 5, and 6
- 49Renewallines 3, 5, and 6
- 3Initial Obstacleslines 4, 5, and 6
Four moving lines
15
- 18Loss, Then Gainlines 1, 2, 3, and 4
- 44Lack of Firmnesslines 1, 2, 3, and 5
- 59Release from Obstacleslines 1, 2, 4, and 5
- 53Gradual Progresslines 1, 3, 4, and 5
- 9Small Thingslines 2, 3, 4, and 5
- 32What Lastslines 1, 2, 3, and 6
- 7The Armylines 1, 2, 4, and 6
- 15Simplicitylines 1, 3, 4, and 6
- 11Well-Beinglines 2, 3, 4, and 6
- 47Overwhelmedlines 1, 2, 5, and 6
- 31Attractionlines 1, 3, 5, and 6
- 43Overflowinglines 2, 3, 5, and 6
- 8Unionlines 1, 4, 5, and 6
- 60Thriftlines 2, 4, 5, and 6
- 63After the Endlines 3, 4, 5, and 6
Five moving lines
6
All six lines moving
1
The classical text
噬嗑：亨。利用獄。
象曰：雷電噬嗑；先王以明罰敕法。
初九：屨校滅趾，无咎。
六二：噬膚滅鼻，无咎。
六三：噬腊肉，遇毒；小吝，无咎。
九四：噬乾胏，得金矢，利艱貞，吉。
六五：噬乾肉，得黃金，貞厲，无咎。
上九：何校滅耳，凶。
Related hexagrams
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.