What this change means
Tough meat on the bone, and then old meat with poison in it: the fourth and third lines move together, with the fourth leading. You're facing serious difficulties, and the way through is constancy, overcoming each obstacle in turn. Alongside that, old grudges come up, and your reaction may be criticized by people who don't know its history. Thunder below becomes Fire, Fire above becomes Mountain, and Biting turns into 22 Good Manners. The resulting hexagram suggests a surprising tool for this moment: courtesy. Being kind and polite, handling everyday matters well, can get results that force wouldn't. It's not a time for great undertakings or for settling big disputes. Keep chewing through the hard part with resolve, and let good manners soften the edges where old resentment would otherwise make things worse.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 4 of 21 Biting
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 of 21 Biting
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.
- The judgment of 21 Biting
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.
Success. It is favorable to bring things to judgment.
- The judgment of 22 Good Manners
It's a time to be kind and courteous and to use good manners with others if you want good results in what you undertake. What might seem superficial at another time leads you to success now. It's a time to handle everyday matters, not great undertakings.
Success. In small things, it is favorable to have somewhere to go.
The trigrams
The way back
22 Good Manners → 21 Bitinglines 3 and 4
Other transformations of Biting
- 64Transitionlines 1 and 2
- 56The Travelerlines 1 and 3
- 14Wealthlines 2 and 3
- 23The Falllines 1 and 4
- 41Decreaselines 2 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
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.