Hexagram 20
觀 Guān
Contemplation
☴ Wind above ☷ Earth
Judgment 卦辭
盥而不薦。有孚顒若。
Commentary
The ablution has been made, but not yet the offering. They look up with full trust. The ritual has begun—the sacred moment before the central act. Genuine inner preparation creates the reverence others feel.
Classical Text
觀坤下巽上 觀，盥而不薦，有孚顒若。
Guan. Kun below, Xun above. Contemplation. The ablution has been made, but not yet the offering. There is sincerity, dignified and reverent.
Image 象
風行地上，觀。先王以省方觀民設教。
Wind blows over the earth, reaching everywhere. Ancient kings traveled through regions, contemplating the people, and providing instruction. Observation serves teaching; seeing clearly enables guiding rightly.
Lines 爻辭
童觀小人無咎君子吝
Childish contemplation. For the small person, no blame. For the person of stature, humiliation. Surface seeing works for those who can't do better. For those who should see deeply, superficiality is shameful.
Classical commentary
初六，童觀，小人无咎，君子吝。 象曰：初六童觀，小人道也。
Initial Six. Childlike contemplation. For the small person, no blame. For the noble person, regret. The Image says: Initial Six's childlike contemplation—this is the way of the small person.
闚觀利女貞
Peeping out through the door crack. Furthers the perseverance of a woman. Limited view from a protected position. Acceptable for those in restricted circumstances; inadequate for those who should see broadly.
Classical commentary
六二，闚觀，利女貞。
Six in the Second. Peeping contemplation. Beneficial for the correctness of a woman.
觀我生進退
Contemplating my own life, deciding whether to advance or retreat. Self-examination to determine next action—watching yourself as the ground for choice.
Classical commentary
六三，觀我生，進退。
Six in the Third. Contemplating the course of my life, whether to advance or retreat.
觀國之光利用賓于王
Contemplating the light of the kingdom. Furthers one to be a guest of the king. Seeing the order clearly enables participation at the highest level. Observation precedes contribution.
Classical commentary
六四，觀國之光，利用賓于王。
Six in the Fourth. Contemplating the glory of the state. It is beneficial to be employed as a guest of the king.
觀我生君子無咎
Contemplating my own life. The person of moral stature remains without blame. Examining your own impact—your effect on others—the mature form of self-knowledge.
Classical commentary
九五，觀我生，君子无咎。
Nine in the Fifth. Contemplating the course of my life. The noble person is without blame.
觀其生君子無咎
Contemplating his life. The person of moral stature remains without blame. Observing life itself—existence as such—the sage's perspective. Beyond personal impact to universal pattern.
Classical commentary
上九，觀其生，君子无咎。
Top Nine. Contemplating the course of his life. The noble person is without blame.