Hexagram 27
Yi (Nourishment) - The Corners of the Mouth
颐
Meaning and Overview
The hexagram Yi (Nourishment) has the upper trigram Gen, representing stillness, and the lower trigram Zhen, representing movement. The image symbolizes the human mouth: when biting food, the upper jaw remains still while the lower jaw moves. Thus, this hexagram is closely related to food and nurturing life. For humanity, 'food is the first necessity of the people,' so obtaining nourishment is the foremost matter for survival and reproduction.
Chinese Interpretation
《颐》卦上卦为艮为止，下卦为震为动，卦象象征着人的口腔嘴巴，咬食物时，上颚不动，下颚动。因此，《颐》卦与食物和养生密切相关。对于人类来说，“民以食为天”，因此，获取食物是人类生存繁衍的第一件大事。
Line Interpretations
These passages include the core hexagram statement, the six moving line texts, and traditional commentary where available. Read them as layered guidance: the early lines describe the root of the situation, while later lines reveal development, pressure, and outcome.
贞吉，观颐，自求口实。
坚守正道，吉祥。观察他所养的人，观察他如何自己养活自己，如何找到口里吃的食物。
Perseverance brings good fortune. Observe the nourishing, and seek your own mouth's substance.
Persevering in correctness brings good fortune. Observe those whom one nourishes, and observe how one nourishes oneself and finds food for the mouth.
初九，舍尔灵龟，观我朵颐，凶。
初九爻，舍弃你自己十分灵验的宝龟不用，不思长远之道，却跑来观看我鼓着腮帮子大吃大喝，志向与兴趣仅仅停留在吃喝玩乐上面，前途当然凶险。
Nine at the beginning: You discard your own spirit-turtle and watch me with open mouth — misfortune.
The first nine line: You abandon your own highly efficacious tortoise and do not think of the long-term path, but come to watch me with bulging cheeks feasting. Your aspirations and interests are merely on eating and drinking; the future is naturally perilous.
六二，颠颐，拂经，于丘颐，征凶。
六二爻与初九来往，颠倒了颐养之道；六二与六五不相呼应，违背了颐养的常理。六二往前行动，必然发生凶险。
Six in the second: To nourish upside down, to violate the constant rule; to nourish on the mound — action brings misfortune.
The second six line: Interacting with the first nine, it reverses the way of nourishment; not responding to the sixth five, it violates the constant principle of nourishment. Moving forward, misfortune will inevitably occur.
六三，拂颐，贞凶，十年勿用，无攸利。
六三爻位不中不正，违背了颐养的常理，坚守正道可获吉祥，但十年之内不可有所作为，没有任何有利之处。
Six in the third: To violate nourishment — perseverance brings misfortune. For ten years do not act; nothing is favorable.
The third six line: Its position is neither central nor correct, violating the constant principle of nourishment. Persevering in correctness may bring good fortune, but for ten years one should not act; there is nothing advantageous.
六四，颠颐，吉。虎视眈眈，其欲逐逐，无咎。
六四爻，颠倒颐养之道，吉祥。像老虎一样瞪大眼睛盯着，欲望迫切，没有灾祸。
Six in the fourth: To nourish upside down — good fortune. With tiger-like gaze, intent and eager — no blame.
The fourth six line: Reversing the way of nourishment brings good fortune. Staring like a tiger with eager desire — no disaster.
六五，拂经，居贞吉，不可涉大川。
六五爻，违背了颐养的常理，安居守正可获吉祥，不可渡过大河。
Six in the fifth: To violate the constant rule — abiding in perseverance brings good fortune. One should not cross the great river.
The fifth six line: Violating the constant principle of nourishment — dwelling in perseverance brings good fortune. One should not cross the great river.
上九，由颐，厉吉，利涉大川。
上九爻，由颐养之道而来，虽有危险但最终吉祥，利于渡过大河。
Nine at the top: From nourishment — danger and good fortune. It is favorable to cross the great river.
The top nine line: Coming from the way of nourishment — though there is danger, it ends in good fortune. It is favorable to cross the great river.