Bi
Graceful Adornment
When you receive Hexagram 22, Bi, the I Ching turns your attention to graceful adornment. Grace. Below is its judgment, its image, and the meaning of each changing line.
The Judgment
Grace. Free course in what it denotes. Little advantage if it is allowed to advance and take the lead.
Classical (Legge)Pi indicates that there should be free course (in what it denotes). There will be little advantage (however) if it be allowed to advance (and take the lead).
The Image
Fire beneath the mountain. The one of centered character brings clarity to governance, but does not dare decide criminal judgments in the same way.
Classical (Legge)(The trigrams for) a mountain and that for fire under it form Pi. The superior man, in accordance with this, throws a brilliancy over his various processes of government, but does not dare (in a similar way) to decide cases of criminal litigation.
The Changing Lines
Adorning the way of the feet. One can discard a carriage and walk.
Classical (Legge)He adorns (the way of) his feet. He can discard a carriage and walk on foot.
Adorning the beard.
Classical (Legge)He adorns his beard.
Adorned and bedewed with rich favors. Hold firm and correct always, and there will be good fortune.
Classical (Legge)(The subject is) adorned and bedewed (with rich favours). But let him ever maintain his firm correctness, and there will be good fortune.
Adorned only in white. As if mounted on a white horse, furnished with wings, one seeks union, while the intervening third pursues as no robber, but intent on a matrimonial alliance.
Classical (Legge)Adorned (but only) in white. As if (mounted on) a white horse, and furnished with wings, (he seeks union with the subject of the first line), while the intervening third pursues, not as a robber, but intent on a matrimonial alliance.
Adorned as are the heights and gardens. The roll of silk presented is small and poor. One may appear stingy, but there will be good fortune in the end.
Classical (Legge)Adorned (as are the) heights and gardens. The roll of silk (which he presents) is small and poor. He may appear stingy; but there will be good fortune in the end.
Adorned in simple white. No error.
Classical (Legge)(The subject) is adorned in simple white. There will be no error.
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