Hexagram 20 · Legge 1899

Kwân

Judgment

Kwan shows (how he whom it represents should be like) the worshipper who has washed his hands, but not (yet) presented his offerings;—with sincerity and an appearance of dignity (commanding reverent regard).

Image

(The trigram representing) the earth, and that for wind moving above it, form Kwan. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, examined the (different) regions (of the kingdom), to see the (ways of the) people, and set forth their instructions.

Lines

Line 1

The first line, divided, shows the looking of a lad;—not blamable in men of inferior rank, but matter for regret in superior men.

Line 2

The second line, divided, shows one peeping out from a door. It would be advantageous if it were (merely) the firm correctness of a female.

Line 3

The third line, divided, shows one looking at (the course of) his own life, to advance or recede (accordingly).

Line 4

The fourth line, divided, shows one contemplating the glory of the kingdom. It will be advantageous for him, being such as he is, (to seek) to be a guest of the king.

Line 5

The fifth line, undivided, shows its subject contemplating his own life(-course). A superior man, he will (thus) fall into no error.

Line 6

The sixth line, undivided, shows its subject contemplating his character to see if it be indeed that of a superior man. He will not fall into error.

Source: James Legge, The Sacred Books of China: The Texts of Confucianism, Part II: The Yi King, second edition, Clarendon Press, 1899 · legge_1899:volume_1:google_books:page99

Public-domain source text for classical-text study and reflection. It does not provide personal outcome claims.

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