Hexagram 19 of 64
臨 Lín · Approach
上 坤 Earth (Kūn) over 下 兌 Lake (Duì)
Go near, and look.
Judgment
Zhouyi, hexagram 19, judgment. English translation in preparation.
Image
In short: earth above the lake.
Zhouyi, hexagram 19, Great Image. Short gloss by Koyonari; full translation in preparation.
Commentary
Lín represents earth resting above the lake, high ground descending toward the shore, narrowing the divide. Lín counsels going near and taking a closer look—judgments formed from afar often alter their appearance once you step up close. Today is fitting for drawing both people and problems nearer, inspecting the intimate detail rather than remaining satisfied with vague outlines.
Koyonari commentary.
The Six Lines
“Mutual approach; steadfastness brings good fortune.” Approaching others through mutual responsiveness connects their intentions. Lín means drawing near or governing. “Steadfastness brings good fortune” means holding to the right path can bring an auspicious outcome. At Lín’s beginning, the initial yang line emphasizes approaching through mutual responsiveness while remaining grounded in the right path.
Zhouyi, hexagram 19, line 1. Koyonari translation.
“Approaching in resonance; steadfastness brings good fortune: the will carries out what is upright.” Overseeing through resonance brings good fortune because initial nine holds pure intentions, aspiring strictly to practice the upright path.
Zhouyi, hexagram 19, line 2. Koyonari translation.
“Mutual approach; good fortune, nothing that is not favorable.” Drawing near and governing through mutual responsiveness brings good fortune, with nothing unfavorable. Xián lín is understood as approaching through such responsiveness. The second yang line is strong and occupies the middle of the lower trigram, corresponding to the fifth yin line. This is the image of approaching through a mutual response.
Zhouyi, hexagram 19, line 3. Koyonari translation.
“Approaching in resonance, good fortune, nothing unfavorable: one does not merely obey orders.” Overseeing with sincere resonance brings good fortune and universal advantage; the Image commentary’s “not merely obeying orders” means nine in the second place is firm and central, not blindly submitting to commands from above.
Zhouyi, hexagram 19, line 4. Koyonari translation.
“Sweet approach, nothing is favorable. If one worries about it, no blame.” Approaching people with sweet, pleasing words brings no benefit. If this behavior causes concern and is corrected, there can be no blame, meaning no fault. Gān lín emphasizes the error of trying to please others; the latter half of the passage leaves room to recognize and correct that mistake.
Zhouyi, hexagram 19, line 5. Koyonari translation.
“Sweet approaching: the position is not appropriate. If one already worries over it, the blame will not last long.” Overseeing the people with sweet words, pleasing looks, and flattering compliance occurs because six in the third place lacks an appropriate position: a yielding line standing in a firm place, and so without correctness; yet if one promptly awakens to worry and reforms one's faults, the blame incurred will not endure.
Zhouyi, hexagram 19, line 6. Koyonari translation.
“Complete and direct approach; no blame.” Zhì lín means approaching people with thorough care and appropriateness, bringing no blame, or no fault to reproach. The fourth yin line occupies its proper position and corresponds to the initial yang line. It depicts approaching people closely and fittingly, fulfilling the responsibilities of one's position.
Zhouyi, hexagram 19, line 7. Koyonari translation.
“Arriving in person to approach: no blame, position appropriate.” Approaching below in person brings no blame because six in the fourth place is a yin line in a yin place, occupying a proper position.
Zhouyi, hexagram 19, line 8. Koyonari translation.
“Wise approach, fitting for a great sovereign; good fortune.” Approaching people with wisdom is fitting for a great ruler, meaning a sovereign, and brings good fortune, an auspicious outcome. (Zhī here stands for zhì, wisdom.) The fifth yin line holds an honored, central position. Governing wisely means chiefly recognizing people’s abilities and appointing them, rather than personally taking charge of everything.
Zhouyi, hexagram 19, line 9. Koyonari translation.
“Fitting for the great ruler: practicing the middle path.” This is conduct proper to the great ruler, meaning practicing the middle way.
Zhouyi, hexagram 19, line 10. Koyonari translation.
“Generous and honest approach; good fortune, no blame.” Approaching people with a generous, sincere heart brings good fortune and no blame, meaning no fault to reproach. Dūn means substantial and earnest. Even at its highest line, Lín describes drawing close to those below with generosity. This shows the depth and sincerity of the way of approaching people.
Zhouyi, hexagram 19, line 11. Koyonari translation.
“Generous approaching brings good fortune: the will is within.” Overseeing with generous sincerity brings good fortune because the top six's aspiration lies within, tied to the two yang lines in the inner trigram below.
Zhouyi, hexagram 19, line 12. Koyonari translation.