Contemplation (观) — Hexagram 20. I Ching constitutional reading from 知己 Zhiji.
I Ching · Hexagram 20

Contemplation

☴ over ☷ · Wind over Earth
观。盥而不荐,有孚颙若。

Wind over Earth. Seeing everything from above.

The Lines

初六:童观,小人无咎,君子吝。

Line 1 — Youthful contemplation. Shallow observation. Acceptable for beginners, embarrassing for anyone who should know better.

六二:窥观,利女贞。

Line 2 — Contemplation through the crack of the door. Limited view. Useful if you know the view is incomplete.

六三:观我生,进退。

Line 3 — Contemplation of one's own life. Self-examination. The view that matters most.

六四:观国之光,利用宾于王。

Line 4 — Contemplation of the light of the kingdom. Seeing the larger system clearly enough to serve it.

九五:观我生,君子无咎。

Line 5 — Contemplation of one's own life. Does my life serve what it should?

上九:观其生,君子无咎。

Line 6 — Contemplation about legacy. The highest view.

Nuclear Hexagram

Nuclear Hexagram: 23 剥 (Stripping Away)

Real observation removes false pictures.

Practical Application

See the whole field before you step onto it.

你在哪里。问知己。

Know where you are. Ask 知己.

Get my reading →