Hexagram 30
Li - The Clinging, Fire
离
Meaning and Overview
The Li hexagram, like the Kan hexagram, is one of the eight pure trigrams. Kan represents water, while Li represents fire. The Li hexagram is more favorable than Kan: its hexagram statement is auspicious, and its line statements contain both good and bad omens, whereas the Kan hexagram has no auspicious line statements.
Chinese Interpretation
《离》卦与《坎》卦一样，是八纯卦，坎为水，离为火。《离》卦比《坎》卦好些，卦辞为吉，爻辞有吉有凶，而《坎》卦则无吉利爻辞。
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.
利贞，亨。
坚守中正之柔道，前途光明亨通。
Perseverance furthers. Success.
Adhering to the gentle path of centrality and correctness, the future is bright and prosperous.
畜牝牛吉。
畜养母牛，吉利。
Raising a cow brings good fortune.
Raising a female cow is auspicious.
初九，履错然，敬之无咎。
初九爻，穿着鞋走起路来，步伐错然不乱，整齐有序，如此小心谨慎，不会有灾祸发生。
Nine at the beginning: Treading with careful steps, respectful and reverent, no blame.
The first nine line: Walking with shoes, the steps are orderly and not chaotic; being so cautious and respectful, no misfortune will occur.
六二，黄离，元吉。
六二爻，六二中正，坚持坤道，美德远扬，大吉大利。
Six in the second place: Yellow light, supreme good fortune.
The second six line: Being central and correct, adhering to the way of the earth, virtue spreads far and wide, great good fortune.
九三，日昃之离，不鼓缶而歌，则大耋之嗟，凶。
九三爻为《离》卦下卦之终，好比偏西的太阳，日薄西山，好景不长，不奏瓦器不用乐器伴奏而悲歌，那么那些年迈垂老之人也哀叹不已，处境凶险。
Nine in the third place: The setting sun's light. If one does not beat the pot and sing, then the sigh of the very old. Misfortune.
The third nine line, being the end of the lower trigram of Li, is like the sun in the west, declining toward the horizon, the good times are brief. If one does not play the earthen pot or use instruments to accompany a sad song, then even the very old will sigh in lament, the situation is perilous.
九四，突如其来如，焚如，死如，弃如。
九四爻，灾祸突然而来，来不及躲避，焚毁一切，烧死一切，抛弃在荒郊野外。
Nine in the fourth place: Suddenly it comes, blazing, dying, cast away.
The fourth nine line: Calamity comes suddenly, with no time to avoid; everything is burned, all are killed, and cast away in the wilderness.
六五，出涕沱若，戚嗟若，吉。
六五，泪流满面，哀叹悲伤，吉利。
Six in the fifth place: Tears flow in torrents, sorrowful sighs. Good fortune.
The fifth six line: Tears streaming down the face, sorrowful sighs and grief. Yet it is auspicious.
上九，王用出征，有嘉折首，获匪其丑，无咎。
上九爻，王命出征，讨伐凶逆，俘杀首恶，值得庆祝。王恩浩荡，胁从不问，民心稳定，不会再有叛乱发生。
Nine at the top: The king uses it to go on an expedition. He cuts off the heads of the leaders, captures those not of his kind. No blame.
The top nine line: The king orders an expedition to punish the wicked, capturing and executing the chief offenders, worthy of celebration. The king's grace is vast, the accomplices are not questioned, the people's hearts are stable, and no further rebellion will occur.