Hexagram 4 Line 1: 初六
Position: Line 1 (Lower Trigram)初六 —Yin ⚋ (Broken)Register: distressFamous Line
Classical Chinese Text
初六 發蒙。利用刑人。用說桎梏。以往吝。
發蒙。利用刑人
發fāeducating
蒙méngthe inexperienced
利lìworthwhile
用yòngand useful
刑xíngto sanction
人rénanother
用yòngif used
說shuōto remove
桎zhìshackles
梏gùhandcuffs
以yǐbut for this
往wǎngto continue
吝lìndisgrace
Line Commentary
Discipline awakens the fool—but only enough to start. Remove the fetters once the lesson takes hold. Continuing to punish after understanding arrives creates resentment, not growth.
Commentary
To make a fool develop, it furthers to apply discipline—but the fetters must be removed once the lesson takes hold. Youth takes everything carelessly at first; it must be shown life's seriousness. But discipline should not become drill. Continuous punishment humiliates and cripples; once understanding arrives, release the chains.
When This Line Changes
If Line 1 changes, Hexagram 4 Meng (Youthful Folly) transforms into Hexagram 41 Sun (Decrease).
Parent Hexagram
Youthful Folly
Meng蒙 (4)
Mountain (艮) over Water (坎)
Upper Trigram: ☶ Mountain | Lower Trigram: ☵ Water