頤

Hexagram 27 · 頤

Upper trigram: 艮 · Lower trigram: 震

Yi (Nourishment): the hexagram of what sustains us. Examine what you take in, choose words carefully, and support dependable daily habits.

The image

Mountain stands above thunder, stillness over movement. Firm lines at the top and bottom frame four yielding lines like an open mouth. Yi means the jaws and, by extension, nourishment. Its picture asks both what one receives and how one helps sustain others.

Judgment

貞吉。觀頤,自求口實。

Constancy brings good fortune. Observe nourishment and how one seeks to fill one's own mouth.

The commentary distinguishes what people nourish from the means by which they nourish themselves. Choosing daily reading with care, rather than absorbing every available message, applies the same attention beyond food.

Great Image

山下有雷,頤;君子以慎言語,節飲食。

Thunder below the mountain: Nourishment. The exemplary person accordingly is careful in speech and measured in eating and drinking.

Both receiving and expressing need proportion. Pausing before an angry reply and making time for an ordinary meal are small forms of the same everyday care.

Line texts

  1. Line 1 · 初九

    舍爾靈龜,觀我朵頤,凶。

    Leaving your sacred tortoise, you watch me with your jaw hanging. Misfortune.

    Nine in the first place is yang neglecting its own resources through envy. The Small Image finds little worth in that gaze, like abandoning a useful skill because another person's success looks easier.

  2. Line 2 · 六二

    顛頤,拂經,于丘頤,征凶。

    Turning nourishment upside down, departing from the regular way, seeking nourishment on the hill. Going forward brings misfortune.

    Six in the second place is central yin seeking support outside a fitting relationship. The Small Image notes losing one's proper company, like depending on an unsuitable contact instead of building a dependable working arrangement.

  3. Line 3 · 六三

    拂頤,貞凶,十年勿用,无攸利。

    Rejecting nourishment. Constancy brings misfortune. Do not use this for ten years. Nothing is beneficial.

    Six in the third place is yin departing sharply from a sustaining way. The Small Image emphasizes that reversal, like persisting with a study method that consistently replaces understanding with distraction; the years are classical wording.

  4. Line 4 · 六四

    顛頤吉,虎視眈眈,其欲逐逐,无咎。

    Turning nourishment upside down brings good fortune. Watching intently like a tiger, desire following desire. No blame.

    Six in the fourth place is fitting yin corresponding with the first yang below. The Small Image values benefits spreading from above, like a coordinator persistently seeking expertise needed to support the whole team.

  5. Line 5 · 六五

    拂經,居貞吉,不可涉大川。

    Departing from the regular way. Remaining constant brings good fortune. One must not cross the great river.

    Six in the fifth place is central yin relying on strong support above. The Small Image favors responsive following, like an inexperienced director accepting specialist guidance while postponing a major expansion.

  6. Line 6 · 上九

    由頤,厲吉,利涉大川。

    The source of nourishment. Danger, yet good fortune. It is beneficial to cross the great river.

    Nine at the top is yang carrying responsibility for what sustains others. The Small Image sees broad benefit, like an experienced teacher accepting a demanding role while recognizing the care it requires.

When asking about

Career

Work tends to improve when support is dependable. Examine the information, training, and cooperation your role receives.

Love

Words can nourish or drain closeness. Give attention generously while discussing needs without envy or manipulation.

Money

Spending often reveals what receives priority. Distinguish sustaining needs from purchases driven by comparison.

Home

Shared meals and thoughtful speech can support family life. Notice who provides care and whether that effort is shared.

Study

The quality of material often matters more than its volume. Choose sources that develop understanding rather than constant stimulation.

Health

Regular meals, rest, and manageable habits deserve attention. See a doctor for any health concern.

Advice

Examine what you repeatedly take in and give out. Choose reliable nourishment for attention and character, and use your resources to sustain others responsibly.

Related hexagrams

Weighing a decision? Cast a hexagram for your own question.

Cast a hexagram

Reference content based on the I Ching classic, not a prediction.