Hexagram 12 of 64
否 Pǐ · Standstill
上 乾 Heaven (Qián) over 下 坤 Earth (Kūn)
When words do not pass, find other words.
Judgment
Zhouyi, hexagram 12, judgment. English translation in preparation.
Image
In short: heaven and earth apart.
Zhouyi, hexagram 12, Great Image. Short gloss by Koyonari; full translation in preparation.
Commentary
Pǐ presents heaven above and earth below, each static in its customary place, failing to commune. Pǐ explains that estrangement is not necessarily anyone's fault; the two paths have simply diverged. Rephrasing your thought or letting another relay it often accomplishes more than repeating identical words; refrain from simply raising your voice.
Koyonari commentary.
The Six Lines
“Pulling up reeds by the intertwined roots according to their kind; steadfastness brings good fortune. Prevalence.” Pulling up grass draws up others of the same kind through their connected roots. Rú refers to connected roots; huì to the same kind. As obstruction begins, companions join together on the same path, steadfast in what is right, bringing good fortune, an auspicious outcome, and success, an unobstructed course.
Zhouyi, hexagram 12, line 1. Koyonari translation.
“Pulling reeds, steadfastness brings good fortune: the will rests upon the ruler.” Pulling connected reeds and attaining good fortune through steadfastness occurs because the heart's aspiration is fixed upon the sovereign. Initial six stands at the start of obstruction, linked with its fellows, devoted to the ruler, and refusing improper advancement.
Zhouyi, hexagram 12, line 2. Koyonari translation.
“Flattery and subservience; good fortune for petty persons, obstruction for the great person. Prevalence.” Accommodating and obediently following those above brings petty people good fortune, an auspicious outcome. The great person means someone of virtue: although facing obstruction, such a person does not follow petty people and can keep their own path open. Pǐ means obstruction, and hēng means success, an open course; obstructed circumstances do not mean that the path one upholds is blocked.
Zhouyi, hexagram 12, line 3. Koyonari translation.
“The great person suffers standstill, yet attains success: not mingling in disorder with the crowd.” The great person in an era of obstruction still finds success because one holds to the upright way, refusing to mingle confusedly among the crowd of petty persons. Another view takes "pǐ" as a verb, meaning the great person rejects the petty way, which also makes sense.
Zhouyi, hexagram 12, line 4. Koyonari translation.
“Concealing shame.” Shame is held within; what is accepted and endured is something shameful. The third yin line is at the top of the lower trigram, neither central nor correctly placed. Amid obstruction, it portrays the shame that accompanies improper conduct.
Zhouyi, hexagram 12, line 5. Koyonari translation.
“Concealing shame: the position is improper.” Concealing shame occurs because the line position is improper: six in the third place is a yin line occupying a yang position.
Zhouyi, hexagram 12, line 6. Koyonari translation.
“Acting on higher decree, no blame; fellows share the blessing.” Acting under orders can bring no blame, meaning no fault or cause for reproach. Chóu refers to those of the same kind; lí here means attaching to or receiving, and zhǐ means blessings. Those of the same kind as oneself also receive these blessings together.
Zhouyi, hexagram 12, line 7. Koyonari translation.
“Having a command, no blame: the will proceeds.” Holding the sovereign’s command ensures no blame, meaning one’s will can be carried out. Nine in the fourth is a yang line close to the ruler at nine in the fifth, enabling its mandate to be executed. Another view takes "command" as Heaven's mandate.
Zhouyi, hexagram 12, line 8. Koyonari translation.
“Halting the standstill; good fortune for the great person. 'Shall it perish? Shall it perish?' Tied securely to bushy mulberry roots.” Bringing obstruction to an end gives the great person, someone of virtue, good fortune, an auspicious outcome. Qí wáng qí wáng is a repeated warning to remain alert to possible ruin. Being tied to a deeply rooted clump of mulberry trees symbolizes firm stability. Even as the situation improves, a sense of caution and apprehension remains.
Zhouyi, hexagram 12, line 9. Koyonari translation.
“The great person’s good fortune: the position is correct and appropriate.” The great person attains good fortune because the position held is correct and proper. Nine in the fifth is a yang line in the ruler's place, centered and upright; the line text notes it can halt obstruction.
Zhouyi, hexagram 12, line 10. Koyonari translation.
“Overturning the standstill; first obstruction, then joy.” The obstructed situation is overturned: obstruction comes first, followed by joy. Pǐ refers to higher and lower failing to communicate and being cut off from each other. At Pǐ's end, the top yang line portrays obstruction ending and the situation changing.
Zhouyi, hexagram 12, line 11. Koyonari translation.
“Standstill ends and is overturned: how could it endure?” When obstruction reaches its end, it is bound to be overturned; how could it last forever? Top nine dwells at the conclusion of Pǐ; the line statement says "overturning standstill, first standstill then rejoicing." Once obstruction is overthrown, the prior impasse turns into joyful celebration.
Zhouyi, hexagram 12, line 12. Koyonari translation.