Hexagram 22

賁 Bì

Grace

☶ Mountain above ☲ Fire

Judgment 卦辭

亨。小利有攸往。

Commentary

Success. In small matters, it is favorable to undertake something. Grace brings success, but ornament is not essence. Use beauty sparingly, for little things. Major decisions require more than elegance.

Classical Text

賁卦離下艮上 賁，亨，小利有攸往。

Hexagram Bi (Adornment): Li below, Gen above. Adornment. Success. Small benefit in having somewhere to go.

Image 象

山下有火，賁。君子以明庶政，無敢折獄。

Fire at the foot of the mountain, illuminating it. The person of character uses this light for clearing up current affairs, but does not dare decide controversial issues this way. Beauty clarifies the minor; it cannot resolve the fundamental.

Lines 爻辭

1

賁其趾舍車而徒

賁bìadorn, dress up, decorate, beautify(ing)
其qíthe, these, those, their, one's (own)
趾zhǐfeet
舍shědismiss, release, forsake, abandon(ing)
車chē(the) carriage, cart, wagon, vehicle
而érand (so, then, thus); then; while
徒túgo on foot, walk(ing)

Adorning the toes. Leaving the carriage to walk. When even the lowest parts receive attention, you might abandon the vehicle of ease for direct contact with earth. Grace that returns to simplicity.

Classical commentary

初九，賁其趾，舍車而徒。

Initial Nine. He adorns his toes. He leaves the carriage and goes on foot.

2

賁其須

賁bìadorn, dress up, decorate, beautify(ing)
其qíthe, one's (own), that, his
須xūbeard, whiskers

Adorning the beard. The beard follows the chin—ornament depends on what it adorns. Decoration has no independent existence; it serves what it attaches to.

Classical commentary

六二，賁其須。

Six in the Second. He adorns his beard.

3

賁如濡如永貞吉

賁bìelegant, fancy, sumptuous
如rúso, looking, in appearance, -like
濡rúdripping (wet); to drip; drippy, moist
如rúso; as if, though; apparently, seeming
永yǒng(with) last, prolong, endure, sustain(ed, ing)
貞zhēnpersistence, resolve, commitment, firmness
吉jí(is) promising, auspicious; good fortune

Graceful and moist. Constant perseverance brings good fortune. Beauty maintained, soft and living. If this is sustained, fortune follows. Freshness preserved.

Classical commentary

九三，賁如濡如，永貞吉。

Nine in the Third. Adorned and glistening. Perpetual Correctness brings good fortune.

4

賁如皤如白馬翰如匪寇婚媾

賁bìelegant, fancy, sumptuous
如rúso, looking, in appearance, -like
皤pó(to be) (of) pure, clear, fair, silver white
如rúso; as if, though; apparently, seeming
白bái(and, on) (a) white
馬mǎhorse(man), steed, stallion
翰hànwinged, (to be) on wings, soaring, in flight
如rúas if, though; apparently, seeming
匪fěi(it, this) is not
寇kòu(a, an) assailant, adversary, enemy, robber
婚hūn(but) (a) marital, marriage-minded
媾gòusuitor, prospect, groom

Grace or plainness? A white horse, flying. Not robbers—suitors. Initial doubt about whether the approach is threat or invitation. Uncertainty resolves into connection.

Classical commentary

六四，賁如皤如，白馬翰如。匪寇婚媾。

Six in the Fourth. Adorned, then plain white. A white horse, soaring. Not bandits but marriage allies.

5

賁于丘園束帛戔戔吝終吉

賁bìadorned, dressed up, decorated, beautified
于yúamidst, among, in, beside; on
丘qiū(the) hill(sides, tops), mounds, high places
園yuán(and) (in) gardens, parks, orchards
束shù(a, the, one's) gift (bundle), present, offering
帛bó(of) silk(s)
戔jiān(is) (a, but a) meager, shabby, pitiful, scanty
戔jiānremnant, scrap; (and) insignificant, etc.
吝lìnembarrass, humiliate(ing, ed, ment, ion); ashamed
終zhōng(but) in, by the end; at last, eventually
吉jípromising, auspicious, fortunate, hopeful

Grace in the hill gardens. The bolt of silk is meager. Humiliation, but good fortune in the end. Simple offering, almost inadequate—yet sincere. The humble gift ultimately succeeds.

Classical commentary

六五，賁於丘園，束帛戔戔。吝，終吉。

Six in the Fifth. Adornment in the hills and gardens. Rolls of silk, meager and slight. Stinginess, but good fortune in the end.

6

白賁無咎

白bái(plain) white; plain, simple, naked, easy
賁bìadornment, dress, elegance
無wú(is) no; nothing; (is) not; without, with no
咎jiùblame; (is) wrong; (a) mistake, (an) error(s)

Simple white grace. No blame. At the height, ornament becomes simplicity again. Pure white needs nothing added. The return to unadorned truth.

Classical commentary

上九，白賁，无咎。

Top Nine. White adornment. No blame.