Standstill (否) — Hexagram 12

Judgment · 卦辞

Standstill. The unworthy person. Not favorable for the wise person's perseverance. Great goes, small comes.

否之匪人，不利君子貞，大往小來。

Commentary on the Judgment · 彖传

Heaven and Earth do not connect, and all things are blocked.

天地不交而萬物不通。

Image · 象传

Heaven and earth do not intermingle: stagnation. The wise person withdraws with frugal virtue to avoid difficulty.

天地不交，否。君子以儉德辟難。

Six Lines · 六爻

Line 1 ⚋

Pulling up reed roots, bringing connected ones. Perseverance brings fortune.

拔茅茹，以其彙，貞吉亨。

Pulling up the reed, perseverance brings good fortune. The will is directed toward the leader.

拔茅貞吉，志在君也。

Line 2 ⚋

Bearing and containing. The small person has fortune. The great person is blocked — yet there is success.

包承，小人吉，大人否，亨。

The great person's obstruction turns to success. They do not disturb the group.

大人否亨，不亂群也。

Line 3 ⚋

Bearing shame.

包羞。

Bearing shame. The position is not appropriate.

包羞，位不當也。

Line 4 ⚊

Heaven's mandate — no blame. Companions share the blessing.

有命无咎，疇離祉。

Having a mandate, no blame. The will carries through.

有命无咎，志行也。

Line 5 ⚊

Standstill ending. The great person has fortune. "Will it perish? Will it perish?" It is tied to the mulberry roots.

休否，大人吉。其亡其亡，繫于苞桑。

The great person's good fortune. The position is exactly right.

大人之吉，位正当也。

Line 6 ⚊

Overturning the standstill. First blockage, then joy.

傾否，先否後喜。

Obstruction ends in overturning. How can it last?

否終则倾，何可长也。

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