Hexagram 36: Darkening of the Light

Hexagram 36, Darkening of the Light (Míng Yí, 明夷), is formed of the upper trigram Earth (坤) over the lower trigram Fire (离). Below is the classical judgment, the six line texts, and how to read this hexagram in a reading.

The Judgment

Trigrams

The outer (upper) trigram Earth describes the situation as it meets the world; the inner (lower) trigram Fire describes its inner disposition. Together they set the theme of Darkening of the Light.

The Six Lines

• 初九 · Line 1 The bright bird flies with drooping wings; the noble one travels three days unfed. There is somewhere to go, though the host murmurs.明夷于飞，垂其翼；君子于行，三日不食。有攸往，主人有言。
• 六二 · Line 2 Wounded in the left thigh, rescued by a strong horse. Good fortune.明夷，夷于左股，用拯马壮，吉。
• 九三 · Line 3 Hunting south, the chief of the darkness is taken — but do not rush to set all right.明夷于南狩，得其大首。不可疾贞。
• 六四 · Line 4 Entering the left of the belly, one grasps the dark one's heart — and quits the gate.入于左腹，获明夷之心，于出门庭。
• 六五 · Line 5 The veiled light of Prince Ji: hide your brilliance. Perseverance furthers.箕子之明夷，利贞。
• 上六 · Line 6 Not light but night: first ascending to heaven, then plunging into the earth.不明晦，初登于天，后入于地。

Reading Hexagram 36 for Your Question

When Darkening of the Light appears without changing lines, the judgment above stands as the whole answer. When you cast changing lines (a 6 or a 9), read those line texts first — they are the most specific guidance — then look to the relating hexagram they form for where the situation is heading. For love, career, or a decision, apply the theme of Darkening of the Light to your own circumstances rather than reading it as a fixed prediction.