Hexagram 36 · ䷣
One must not unresistingly let himself be swept along by unfavorable circumstances, nor permit his steadfastness to be shaken. He can avoid this by maintaining...
Here the sun has sunk under the earth and is therefore darkened. The name of the hexagram means literally “wounding of the bright”; hence the individual lines contain frequent references to wounding. The situation is the exact opposite of that in the foregoing hexagram. In the latter a wise man at the head of affairs has able helpers, and in company with them makes progress; here a man of dark nature is in a position of authority and brings harm to the wise and able man.
DARKENING OF THE LIGHT. In adversity It furthers one to be persevering.
One must not unresistingly let himself be swept along by unfavorable circumstances, nor permit his steadfastness to be shaken. He can avoid this by maintaining his inner light, while remaining outwardly yielding and tractable. With this attitude he can overcome even the greatest adversities. In some situations indeed a man must hide his light, in order to make his will prevail in spite of difficulties in his immediate environment. Perseverance must dwell in inmost consciousness and should not be discernible from without. Only thus is a man able to maintain his will in the face of difficulties.
The light has sunk into the earth: this is Darkening of the Light. Inner light, outer mildness—to bear such great suffering as King Wen did. To persevere in hardship is to hide one's light. Though in difficult straits, one can still keep one's will correct, as King Ji did.
Light sinking into the earth creates Darkening of the Light. Inner light with outer mildness allows one to bear great suffering, as King Wen did. Perseverance in hardship means hiding one's light while maintaining correct will.
The light has sunk into the earth: The image of DARKENING OF THE LIGHT. Thus does the superior man live with the great mass: He veils his light, yet still shines.
In a time of darkness it is essential to be cautious and reserved. One should not needlessly awaken overwhelming enmity by inconsiderate behavior. In such times one ought not to fall in with the practices of others; neither should one drag them censoriously into the light. In social intercourse one should not try to be all-knowing. One should let many things pass, without being duped.
Darkening of the light during flight. He lowers his wings. The superior man does not eat for three days On his wanderings. But he has somewhere to go. The host has occasion to gossip about him.
With grandiose resolve a man endeavors to soar above all obstacles, but thus encounters a hostile fate. He retreats and evades the issue. The time is difficult. Without rest, he must hurry along, with no permanent abiding place. If he does not want to make compromises within himself, but insists on remaining true to his principles, he suffers deprivation. Nevertheless he has a fixed goal to strive for, even though the people with whom he lives do not understand him and speak ill of him.
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The superior man walks for three days without eating: but he has somewhere to go. Righteousness demands this.
Walking three days without eating shows righteousness demands sacrifice.
Darkening of the light injures him in the left thigh. He gives aid with the strength of a horse. Good fortune.
Here the Lord of Light is in a subordinate place and is wounded by the Lord of Darkness. But the injury is not fatal; it is only a hindrance. Rescue is still possible. The wounded man gives no thought to himself; he thinks only of saving the others who are also in danger. Therefore he tries with all his strength to save all that can be saved. There is good fortune in thus acting according to duty.
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The good fortune of the second line, six, is due to the fact that he follows the rule.
Good fortune comes from following the proper rule.
Darkening of the light during the hunt in the south. Their great leader is captured. One must not expect perseverance too soon.
It seems as if chance were at work. While the strong, loyal man is striving eagerly and in good faith to create order, he meets the ringleader of the disorder, as if by accident, and seizes him. Thus victory is achieved. But in abolishing abuses one must not be too hasty. This would turn out badly because the abuses have been in existence so long.
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The aim of hunting in the south is to achieve something great.
The hunt in the south aims at achieving something great.
He penetrates the left side of the belly. One gets at the very heart of the darkening of the light, And leaves gate and courtyard.
We find ourselves close to the commander of darkness and so discover his most secret thoughts. In this way we realize that there is no longer any hope of improvement, and thus we are enabled to leave the scene of disaster before the storm breaks.
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He penetrates the left side of the belly: thus he reaches the heart of the matter.
Penetrating the left belly means reaching the heart of the matter.
Darkening of the light as with Prince Chi. Perseverance furthers.
Prince Chi lived at the court of the evil tyrant Chou Hsin, who, although not mentioned by name, furnishes the historical example on which this whole situation is based. Prince Chi was a relative of the tyrant and could not withdraw from court; therefore he concealed his true sentiments and feigned insanity. Although he was held a slave, he did not allow external misery to deflect him from his convictions. This provides a teaching for those who cannot leave their posts in times of darkness. In order to escape danger, they need invincible perseverance of spirit and redoubled caution in their dealings with the world.
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Darkening of the light as did Prince Ji: his light could not be extinguished.
Prince Ji's darkness shows true light cannot be extinguished.
Not light but darkness. First he climbed up to heaven, Then he plunged into the depths of the earth.
Here the climax of the darkening is reached. The dark power at first held so high a place that it could wound all who were on the side of good and of the light. But in the end it perishes of its own darkness, for evil must itself fall at the very moment when it has wholly overcome the good, and thus consumed the energy to which it owed its duration.
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First he climbed up to heaven: he illumined the four regions of the world. Then he plunged into the depths: he had lost the rule.
First illuminating the world, then losing the rule brings darkness.
What does Ming I / Darkening of the Light mean in the I Ching?
One must not unresistingly let himself be swept along by unfavorable circumstances, nor permit his steadfastness to be shaken. He can avoid this by maintaining...
How should I study Hexagram 36 on this page?
Start with the judgment and image, then read the line statements in sequence. With grandiose resolve a man endeavors to soar above all obstacles, but thus encounters a hostile fate. He retreats and evades the issue. The time is difficult. Without rest, he mu...
How can this hexagram be applied in a modern reading?
Light sinking into the earth creates Darkening of the Light. Inner light with outer mildness allows one to bear great suffering, as King Wen did. Perseverance in hardship means hiding one's light while maintaining correc...
Primary text: Zhouyi / I Ching, including the Judgment, Image, line texts, and related commentaries.
Translation basis: public-domain and modern study references, with AI used only as a learning aid.
Zhouyi / I Ching primary text: The received text of the Book of Changes, including the Judgment, Image, and line statements.
The I Ching or Book of Changes, Richard Wilhelm / Cary F. Baynes: Princeton University Press translation used as a major English-language reference point for names, structure, and commentary framing.
The Sacred Books of China: The Texts of Confucianism, James Legge: Classical English reference used for comparative reading of source terminology and commentarial tradition.
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