What this change means
Biting dried meat and finding yellow gold: the fifth line moves, and it's the heart of this reading. You're in a position to correct mistakes that others have made. The line asks you to be steady and impartial, and says that results follow when you are. It also warns that constancy is in danger, so the task is delicate, though not wrong. The gold is the reward of fairness: the middle way, held without favor. When the upper Fire becomes Heaven, the figure turns into 25 Innocence. That deepens the instruction. Correct others with a clean heart, free of hidden motives or old scores to settle. If any of that slips in, the correction loses its footing and things get harder. If it doesn't, the outcome tends to be favorable. Judge the situation, not the person, and keep your own motives honest.
What to read, in order
Marked ● is what Zhu Xi's tradition puts at the center for this number of moving lines.
- Line 5 of 21 Biting
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.
- 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 25 Innocence
If you act with a pure heart, free of hidden motives and without straying from what is right, true to original human nature, you'll let the blessings of heaven reach you. Otherwise you'll meet obstacles and your affairs will become difficult.
Great success. Constancy is favorable. If it is not upright, there is calamity. It is not favorable to have somewhere to go.
The trigrams
The way back
25 Innocence → 21 Bitingline 5
Other transformations of Biting
Make your own cast
The answer changes with the question. Toss the coins and see which lines move for you.