賁
Hexagram 22 · 賁
Upper trigram: 艮 · Lower trigram: 離
Bi (Grace): the hexagram of fitting presentation. Let beauty express substance, favor simplicity, and judge serious matters by evidence.
The image
Mountain stands above fire, whose light illuminates its lower slopes. Brightness takes shape against stillness. Bi means adornment or grace, distinct from the character used for hexagram 8. The image explores how form can reveal substance without becoming a substitute for it.
Judgment
亨。小利有攸往。
Flourishing. There is a small benefit in having somewhere to go.
The commentary finds pattern in the interplay of firm and yielding forces. A carefully designed proposal may communicate good work more clearly, though presentation alone cannot settle its larger merits.
Great Image
山下有火，賁；君子以明庶政，无敢折獄。
Fire below the mountain: Grace. The exemplary person accordingly clarifies ordinary administration but does not dare decide criminal cases by this alone.
Visible order helps everyday affairs, but serious judgments need more than appearance. A polished application can be readable and attractive while still requiring careful checking of its claims.
Line texts
Line 1 · 初九
賁其趾，舍車而徒。
Adorning the toes. Leaving the carriage, one goes on foot.
Nine in the first place is yang choosing a plain, fitting beginning. The Small Image sees a principled refusal to ride, like doing one's own share of practical work instead of seeking a prestigious shortcut.
Line 2 · 六二
賁其須。
Adorning the beard.
Six in the second place is central yin moving with the firm line above. The Small Image stresses this dependence, like formatting that supports the argument of a report rather than developing a separate purpose.
Line 3 · 九三
賁如濡如，永貞吉。
Adorned and glistening. Lasting constancy brings good fortune.
Nine in the third place is yang surrounded by attractive yielding influences. The Small Image values enduring integrity, like a designer keeping a useful product's quality intact despite praise for its appearance.
Line 4 · 六四
賁如皤如，白馬翰如，匪寇婚媾。
Adorned, yet plain white. A white horse comes swiftly, as if winged. Not a raider, but a marriage seeker.
Six in the fourth place is fitting yin but hesitant about the first yang's correspondence. The Small Image resolves suspicion, like discovering that an unfamiliar colleague's direct proposal is sincere rather than threatening.
Line 5 · 六五
賁於丘園，束帛戔戔，吝，終吉。
Adornment in hills and gardens. The bundle of silk is meager. Humiliation, yet good fortune in the end.
Six in the fifth place is central yin offering modest substance rather than display. The Small Image finds joy here, like bringing a simple thoughtful gift instead of overspending to impress a host.
Line 6 · 上九
白賁，无咎。
Plain white adornment. No blame.
Nine at the top is yang reaching clarity through simplicity. The Small Image says its purpose is attained, like an experienced writer removing decorative phrases until the meaning stands clearly on its own.
When asking about
Career
Good presentation often helps useful work receive attention. Keep evidence and competence visible beneath the polish.
Love
Thoughtful gestures can express care. Let sincerity matter more than expense or public display.
Money
Appearance can influence spending more than usefulness. Compare actual value before paying for prestige.
Home
Simple improvements may make a room more welcoming. Choose arrangements that support daily life.
Study
Clear notes and structure can aid understanding. Check that attractive organization reflects accurate knowledge.
Health
A calm, orderly setting may support rest and ordinary habits. See a doctor for any health concern.
Advice
Let form clarify what is already worthwhile. Favor fitting simplicity, and reserve serious judgments for careful examination of substance.
Related hexagrams
Weighing a decision? Cast a hexagram for your own question.
Cast a hexagramReference content based on the I Ching classic, not a prediction.