賁 Bì · Adornment

The judgment

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

(The trigram representing) a mountain and that for fire under it form Pi. 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.

The lines, bottom to top

1. Bottom line, solid

   The first line, undivided, shows one adorning (the way of) his feet. He can discard a carriage and walk on foot.

2. Second line, broken

   The second line, divided, shows one adorning his beard.

3. Third line, solid

   The third line, 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.

4. Fourth line, broken

   The fourth line, 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.

5. Fifth line, broken

   The fifth line, 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.

6. Top line, solid

   The sixth line, undivided, shows one with white as his (only) ornament. There will be no error.