Hexagram 19

臨 Lín

Approach

☷ Earth above ☱ Lake

Judgment 卦辭

元亨利貞。至于八月有凶。

臨líntaking charge, commitment, accession

元yuánfirst-rate, supreme, priority, the finest

亨hēngfulfillment, satisfaction, success, offering

利lìworth, the harvest of; merits, rewards

貞zhēnpersistence, determination, resolve, loyalty

至zhìto arrive, approach, come, near; arrival

于yúin, at, during, by

八bāthe eighth

月yuèmonth, moon

有yǒuis; will, would, could be

凶xiōngunfortunate, inauspicious, disappointing

Commentary

Supreme success. Perseverance furthers. But when the eighth month comes, there will be misfortune. Spring approaches now—joy and forbearance unite. Yet every approach contains the seed of withdrawal. The eighth month will arrive.

Classical Text

臨兌下坤上臨，元亨利貞。至于八月有凶。

Lin (Approach): Dui below, Kun above. Approach. Sublime Beginning and Success, Benefit and Correctness. When the eighth month arrives, there will be misfortune.

Image 象

澤上有地，臨。君子以教思無窮，容保民無疆。

Earth above the lake. The person of character is inexhaustible in the will to teach and without limits in protecting the people. Approach from above with generosity and patience.

Lines 爻辭

咸臨貞吉

咸xiánunited, joined in; shared, collective; full

臨líntaking charge, commitment, accession

貞zhēnpersistence, determination, resolve, focus

吉jípromising, auspicious, opportune, timely

Joint approach. Perseverance brings good fortune. Approaching together with others, all aligned—this brings good results through steadfastness.

Classical commentary

初九，咸臨，貞吉。

Initial Nine. Resonant approach. Correctness brings good fortune.

咸臨吉無不利

咸xiánunited, joined in; shared, collective; full

臨líntaking charge, commitment, accession

吉jípromising, auspicious, opportune, timely

無wúwithout; there is nothing

不bùdoubt; that is not; which cannot be

利lìworthwhile, turned to advantage

Joint approach. Good fortune. Nothing that does not further. When the approach is shared and genuine, everything benefits.

Classical commentary

九二，咸臨，吉，无不利。

Nine in the Second. Resonant approach. Good fortune. Nothing that is not beneficial.

甘臨無攸利既憂之無咎

甘gānsweet, too easy; complacent, indulgent

臨líntaking charge, commitment, accession

無wúthis is no, not; this lacks, has no

攸yōudirection, purpose; an aim, orientation

利lìwith merit, of value, with rewards

既jìwhen finished, complete; following; after

憂yōuindulge in, worry about; being concerned

之zhīthis, that, it, such, thus; about this

無wúno; nothing; is no, not; avoids

咎jiùblame; is wrong; a mistake, an error

Comfortable approach. Nothing furthers. But if you become anxious about it, no blame. Easygoing oversight becomes lax. Recognize the danger and correct before harm.

Classical commentary

六三，甘臨，无攸利。既憂之，无咎。

Six in the Third. Sweet approach. Nothing is beneficial. If one fully grieves over it, there will be no blame.

至臨無咎

至zhìcomplete, fulfilled, thorough, accomplished

臨líntaking charge, commitment, accession

無wúno; not; nothing; without, with no

咎jiùblame; is wrong; a mistake, an error

Complete approach. No blame. Approaching without reservation, fully committed. This is blameless.

Classical commentary

六四，至臨，无咎。

Six in the Fourth. Perfect approach. No blame.

知臨大君之宜吉

知zhīinformed, knowing, aware, prudent

臨líntaking charge, commitment, accession

大dàgreat, mature, important, successful

君jūnnoble, chief, leader, ruler

之zhī...'s; resorts to, has this; in, for, to this

宜yínecessity; is adjusted, suited, fitted

吉jípromising, auspicious, opportune, timely

Wise approach. Appropriate for a great prince. Good fortune. Approaching with wisdom—this is how rulers should oversee. Intelligence in supervision.

Classical commentary

六五，知臨，大君之宜，吉。

Six in the Fifth. Wise approach. What befits a great ruler. Good fortune.

敦臨吉無咎

敦dūnauthentic, honest, genuine, earnest, solid

臨líntaking charge, commitment, accession

吉jípromising, auspicious, opportune, timely

無wúno; not; nothing; without, with no

咎jiùis wrong; a mistake, an error

Magnanimous approach. Good fortune. No blame. Generous, open-hearted approach at the end of the cycle. The completion of right oversight.

Classical commentary

上六，敦臨，吉，无咎。象曰：敦臨之吉，志在內也。

Top Six. Generous approach. Good fortune. No blame. The Image says: The good fortune of generous approach—the will is directed inward.