yíAlso known as “The Corners of the Mouth” (Wilhelm/Baynes) and “Δ (Legge)
nourishmentwhat you take inspeech
In plain words
Thunder at the foot of the mountain, in the shape of open jaws: nourishment. Correct nourishing brings good fortune — watch what you feed yourself and others, and what comes out of your mouth.
The attitude it asks for
Be careful with words and with what you consume; nourish the worthy, and seek your own sustenance honestly.
Î indicates that with firm correctness there will be good fortune (in what is denoted by it). We must look at what we are seeking to nourish, and by the exercise of our thoughts seek for the proper aliment.
'indicates that with firm correctness there will be good fortune:'—when the nourishing is correct, there will be good fortune. 'We must look at what we are seeking to nourish:'—we must look at those whom we wish to nourish. 'We must by the exercise of our thoughts seek the proper aliment:'—we must look to our own nourishing of ourselves.
Heaven and earth nourish all things. The sages nourish men of talents and virtue, by them to reach to the myriads of the people. Great is (the work intended by this) nourishing in its time!
The Image
山下有雷，頤；君子以慎言語，節飲食。
(The trigram representing) a mountain and under it that for thunder form Î. The superior man, in accordance with this, (enjoins) watchfulness over our words, and the temperate regulation of our eating and drinking.
爻辭 The six lines
When one line moves, the hexagram becomes another:
上九Nine at the top
由頤，厲吉，利涉大川。
The sixth line, undivided, shows him from whom comes the nourishing. His position is perilous, but there will be good fortune. It will be advantageous to cross the great stream.
Its symbolism
由頤厲吉，大有慶也。
'The good fortune, notwithstanding the peril of his position, of him from whom comes the nourishing,' affords great cause for congratulation.
The fifth line, divided, shows one acting contrary to what is regular and proper; but if he abide in firmness, there will be good fortune. He should not, (however, try to) cross the great stream.
Its symbolism
居貞之吉，順以從上也。
'The good fortune from abiding in firmness' is due to the docility (of the subject of the line) in following (the subject of the line) above.
The fourth line, divided, shows one looking downwards for (the power to) nourish. There will be good fortune. Looking with a tiger's downward unwavering glare, and with his desire that impels him to spring after spring, he will fall into no error.
Its symbolism
顛頤之吉，上施光也。
'The good fortune attached to looking downwards for (the power to) nourish,' shows how brilliant will be the diffusion (of that power) from (the subject of the line's) superior position.
The third line, divided, shows one acting contrary to the method of nourishing. However firm he may be, there will be evil. For ten years let him not take any action, (for) it will not be in any way advantageous.
Its symbolism
十年勿用，道大悖也。
'For ten years let him not take any action:'—his course is greatly opposed (to what is right).
The second line, divided, shows one looking downwards for nourishment, which is contrary to what is proper; or seeking it from the height (above), advance towards which will lead to evil.
Its symbolism
六二征凶，行失類也。
'The evil of advance by the subject of the second line, divided,' is owing to his leaving in his movements his proper associates.
The first line, undivided, (seems to be thus addressed), 'You leave your efficacious tortoise, and look at me till your lower jaw hangs down.' There will be evil.
Its symbolism
觀我朵頤，亦不足貴也。
'You look at me till your (lower) jaw hangs down:'—(the subject of the line) is thus shown unfit to be thought noble.
Shown in the classical Chinese with James Legge's English (1882).
Questions about this hexagram
What does Hexagram 27, Jaws / Nourishment, mean?
Thunder at the foot of the mountain, in the shape of open jaws: nourishment. Correct nourishing brings good fortune — watch what you feed yourself and others, and what comes out of your mouth.
Which trigrams form Jaws / Nourishment?
艮 above 震 — mountain over thunder. Its nuclear hexagram (lines 2–5) is 坤 Earth.
What happens when a line of Jaws / Nourishment changes?
A moving line turns the hexagram into another one; the list above shows all six. With several moving lines, the guide to changing lines explains which text to read.
How do I get Jaws / Nourishment in a reading?
Build six lines from the bottom up with three coins or yarrow stalks; the pattern — - - - - - - - - — is Jaws / Nourishment. You can also cast a reading here — the lines are decided by code, the text is this page's.