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Chinese Text Project
Show translation:[None] [English]

《䷕賁 - Bi》

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《䷕賁》 Library Resources
1 ䷕賁:
賁:亨。小利有攸往。
Bi:
Bi 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).
彖傳:
賁,亨;柔來而文剛,故亨。分剛上而文柔,故小利有攸往。天文也;文明以止,人文也。觀乎天文,以察時變;觀乎人文,以化成天下。
Tuan Zhuan:
(When it is said that) Bi indicates that there should be free course (in what it denotes): - (We see) the weak line coming and ornamenting the strong lines (of the lower trigram), and hence (it is said that ornament) 'should have free course.' On the other hand, the strong line above ornaments the weak ones (of the upper trigram), and hence (it is said) that 'there will be little advantage, if (ornament) be allowed to advance (and take the lead).' (This is illustrated in the) appearances that ornament the sky. Elegance and intelligence (denoted by the lower trigram) regulated by the arrest (denoted by the upper) suggest the observances that adorn human (society). We look at the ornamental figures of the sky, and thereby ascertain the changes of the seasons. We look at the ornamental observances of society, and understand how the processes of transformation are accomplished all under heaven.
象傳:
山下有火,賁;君子以明庶政,无敢折獄。
Xiang Zhuan:
(The trigram representing) a mountain and that for fire under it form Bi. The superior man, in accordance with this, throws a brilliancy around his various processes of government, but does not dare (in a similar way) to decide cases of criminal litigation.

2 ䷕賁:
初九:賁其趾,舍車而徒。
Bi:
The first NINE, undivided, shows one adorning (the way of) his feet. He can discard a carriage and walk on foot.
象傳:
舍車而徒,義弗乘也。
Xiang Zhuan:
'He can discard a carriage and walk on foot:' - righteousness requires that he should not ride.

3 ䷕賁:
六二:賁其須。
Bi:
The second SIX, divided, shows one adorning his beard.
象傳:
賁其須,與上興也。
Xiang Zhuan:
'He adorns his beard:' - he rouses himself to action (only) along with the (subject of the) line above.

4 ䷕賁:
九三:賁如濡如,永貞吉。
Bi:
The third NINE, undivided, shows its subject with the appearance of being adorned and bedewed (with rich favours). But let him ever maintain his firm correctness, and there will be good fortune.
象傳:
永貞之吉,終莫之陵也。
Xiang Zhuan:
'The good fortune consequent on his ever maintaining firm correctness' is due to this, - that to the end no one will insult him.

5 ䷕賁:
六四:賁如皤如,白馬翰如,匪寇婚媾。
Bi:
The fourth SIX, divided, shows one looking as if 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.
象傳:
六四,當位疑也。匪寇婚媾,終无尤也。
Xiang Zhuan:
'The place occupied by the fourth six, (divided),' affords ground for doubt (as to its subject); but '(as the subject of the third pursues) not as a robber, but as intent on a matrimonial alliance,' he will in the end have no grudge against him.

6 ䷕賁:
六五:賁于丘園,束帛戔戔,吝,終吉。
Bi:
The fifth SIX, divided, shows its subject adorned by (the occupants of) the heights and gardens. He bears his roll of silk, small and slight. He may appear stingy; but there will be good fortune in the end.
象傳:
六五之吉,有喜也。
Xiang Zhuan:
'The good fortune falling to the fifth six, (divided); affords occasion for joy.

7 ䷕賁:
上九:白賁,无咎。
Bi:
The sixth NINE, undivided, shows one with white as his (only) ornament. There will be no error.
象傳:
白賁无咎,上得志也。
Xiang Zhuan:
'The freedom from error attached to (the subject of) the topmost line, with no ornament but the (simple white),' shows how he has attained his aim.

URN: ctp:book-of-changes/bi1