Hexagram 21: Biting Through
Breaking through obstacles, justice
| Chinese | 噬嗑 (Shì Kè) |
|---|---|
| Upper trigram | ☲ Fire — The Clinging (Fire) |
| Lower trigram | ☳ Thunder — The Arousing (Wood) |
| Keywords | justice, breakthrough, determination, clarity |
| Opposite | Hexagram 48: The Well |
| Inverted | Hexagram 22: Grace |
What does Hexagram 21 (Biting Through) mean?
Biting Through 噬嗑 (Shì Kè) is hexagram 21 of the I Ching, formed by Fire (The Clinging) over Thunder (The Arousing). Its theme is breaking through obstacles, justice, with key ideas of justice, breakthrough, determination, clarity. The Judgment reads: “Biting Through has success. It is favorable to let justice be administered.”
The Judgment of Biting Through
Biting Through has success. It is favorable to let justice be administered.
The Image of Biting Through
Thunder and lightning.
The six changing lines of Hexagram 21
When a casting produces moving lines, their texts speak directly to your situation. Read from the bottom line upward.
Nine at the beginning
“His feet are fastened in the stocks so that his toes disappear. No blame.”
Minor punishment in the early stage prevents greater wrongdoing. Constraint applied now is corrective, not harsh.
Six in the second place
“Bites through tender meat, so that his nose disappears. No blame.”
The penalty overshoots slightly in zealous correction; but the intent is right and the result is sound.
Six in the third place
“Bites on old dried meat and strikes on something poisonous. Slight humiliation. No blame.”
Dealing with an old, deeply entrenched problem is unpleasant and produces some embarrassment, but persisting is correct.
Nine in the fourth place
“Bites on dried gristly meat. Receives metal arrows. It furthers one to be mindful of difficulties and to be persevering. Good fortune.”
Justice requires effort against stubborn resistance. Awareness of the difficulty, combined with persistence, brings a just outcome.
Six in the fifth place
“Bites on dried lean meat. Receives yellow gold. Perseveringly aware of danger. No blame.”
The task of justice yields genuine reward, though vigilance must be maintained throughout. Conscious awareness of risk is protective.
Nine at the top
“His neck is fastened in the wooden cangue so that his ears disappear. Misfortune.”
Refusing to hear or heed correction at the final stage brings the harshest consequence. Obstinacy against justice destroys itself.
Will Biting Through answer your question?
Cast the three coins yourself — the I Ching reading is free, no account needed.
Cast the I Ching →