Hexagram 27

I / The Corners of the Mouth (Providing Nourishment)


頤

Upper Trigram: Kên Keeping Still, Mountain
Lower Trigram: Chên The Arousing, Thunder



Hexagram Analysis

I Ching Hexagram 27 : 頤 I / The Corners of the Mouth (Providing Nourishment)

The hexagram portrays an open mouth with solid lines forming the lips above and below, and an opening in between. The mouth symbolizes the intake of sustenance, leading to the concept of nourishment. The lower three lines represent self-nourishment, particularly of the body, while the upper three lines represent nourishment and concern for others, in a more spiritual sense.



The Judgment

"Focus on the corners of the mouth, where perseverance leads to prosperity. Take care in nourishing oneself and consider what one desires to consume."

It is crucial to provide care and nourishment to the right individuals and to prioritize our own nourishment in a proper manner. To understand someone's character, we can observe who they care for and which aspects of themselves they cultivate and nurture. All creatures are sustained by nature, but great individuals foster and care for superior individuals to benefit all. One can determine someone's character by observing which parts of themselves they value most. The body has both important and unimportant, superior and inferior parts, and we must not harm the important for the sake of the unimportant or the superior for the sake of the inferior. Those who cultivate their inferior aspects are inferior individuals, while those who cultivate their superior aspects are superior individuals.



The Image

Thunder echoes at the base of the mountain, symbolizing the act of nourishing. Therefore, a wise person is mindful of their speech and practices moderation in their consumption of food and drink.

The emergence of life in spring is a manifestation of the divine in the "Arousing" sign. As the seeds fall to the earth in early spring, the divine brings everything to fruition in the "Keeping Still" sign. This symbolizes the nourishment that comes from both movement and tranquility. The wise person uses this as a model for cultivating their character. Words and actions are movements that can be balanced by tranquility. Tranquility ensures that words are spoken in moderation and that food is consumed in moderation. This is how one cultivates their character.