Above; fire, brightness
Below; Thunder and awakening

This hexagram is thought of as representing a mouth. The yang line in the fourth place is something through which the teeth are biting. When this something has been bitten through, the mouth will be closed, obstacles cleared away and problems resolved.

She He signifies successful progress. It is advantageous to seek justice.

Union is brought about by biting through the intervening obstacles and the hexagram indicates successful progress. Yang and yin lines are equally divided in the figure. Thunder and movement are denoted by the lower trigram, brightness and intelligence by the upper.
Thunder and lightening are the manifestation of the sudden release of built-up tensions in nature. A yin line occupies the fifth place, the place of the ruler. Although this not its proper position, it is advantageous for the processes of law.

Thunder and lightening are the symbol of biting through. The kings of old, therefore, framed their laws with care, making the punishment fit the crime.

Line 1

His feet are locked in the stocks. His toes are gone. No reproach.

The interpretation of this line has provoked much disagreement among Chinese scholars. The first and sixth lines are considered to represent the man who suffers punishment, the rest represent whose who impose the penalties. For western readers the stocks is only a mild form of punishment and they have interpreted ‘his toes are gone’ as meaning the toes are hidden by the wooden beam of the stocks. On the other hand, cutting off a man’s toes was a specific Chinese punishment, and the penalty described here may be a rather more severe one than is generally supposed. But no matter whether the punishment is light or severe, this line indicates plainly that it is fully justified.

Line 2

Biting through the tender meat his nose is gone. No reproach.

Again this line is open to different interpretations. Some commentators translate it as meaning that the subject is so concerned to see justice done that he ‘cuts off his nose to spite his own face.’ Others merely see the nose hidden by the depth of the meat into which he has bitten, meaning that he loses sight of clemency in his pursuit of the wrong-doer. Again, however, it is worth remembering that cutting off a felon’s nose is a specific punishment. The verse makes it clear that, although this may be too severe a penalty, it is nevertheless without blame.

Line 3

Biting through the dried meat he injures himself. There is some humiliation but no reproach.

Here the punishment is being carried out by someone without sufficient power and authority. In performing this he does harm to himself. However, since the punishment was necessary, and he was performing his duty, he will soon recover and will not be blamed.

Line 4

Biting through dried gristle and bone he receives the arrows demanded. It is advantageous to realize the difficulties for perseverance brings good fortune.

In a civil law case in ancient China, it was customary for the litigants to bring to court a bundle of arrows. The case is a hard one to judge, and it is only by recognizing all the difficulties involved that one can find the persistence to reach a just conclusion.

Line 5

Biting through dried lean meat, He receives the gold required. Aware of danger he perseveres without reproach.

In a criminal proceeding it was customary for the litigants to deposit a sum of gold before the hearing. The fifth line represents the ‘lord of judgement.’ In his powerful position he is inclined to be lenient. Although the case is a difficult one, it is not too difficult. If the judge remains conscious of the dangers involved in making the wrong decision, his judgement will be just. The yellow of gold is the colour of correctness in the middle way.

Line 6

His neck is locked in the wooden cangue. His ears are gone. Misfortune

Deaf to good counsel, the felon is locked in the great block of the cangue, ( neck block) which he must carry about his neck until his crime has been expiated. It may even be that he has suffered the severest punishment of having his ears cut off.

© 1979 Neil Powell

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