Hexagram 12 · ䷋

Standstill

否 · Pǐ

Upper Heaven 乾Lower Earth 坤

The Judgment · 卦辭

否之匪人，不利君子貞，大往小來。

In Phî there is the want of good understanding between the (different classes of) men, and its indication is unfavourable to the firm and correct course of the superior man. We see in it the great gone and the little come.

The Image · 大象

天地不交，否；君子以儉德辟難，不可榮以祿。

(The trigrams of) heaven and earth, not in intercommunication, form Phî. The superior man, in accordance with this, restrains (the manifestation) of) his virtue, and avoids the calamities (that threaten him). There is no opportunity of conferring on him the glory of emolument.

Plain-English Meaning

Standstill. Communication is blocked; stay true to yourself and wait for conditions to change.

The Judgment

When heaven and earth do not meet, do not compromise your integrity; the great departs, the small arrives.

The Image

Withdraw into your own worth and do not be tempted by status in a disordered time.

Editorial summary written for this site; not a translation.

The Lines · 爻辭

初六 · Line 1
拔茅茹以其彙，貞吉。亨。
The first SIX, divided, suggests the idea of grass pulled up, and bringing with it other stalks with whose roots it is connected. With firm correctness (on the part of its subject), there will be good fortune and progress.
象曰：拔茅貞吉，志在君也。
六二 · Line 2
包承，小人吉，大人否。亨。
The second SIX, divided, shows its subject patient and obedient. To the small man (comporting himself so) there will be good fortune. If the great man (comport himself) as the distress and obstruction require, he will have success.
象曰：大人否，亨。不亂羣也。
六三 · Line 3
包羞。
The third SIX, divided, shows its subject ashamed of the purpose folded (in his breast).
象曰：包羞，位不當也。
九四 · Line 4
有命，无咎，疇離祉。
The fourth NINE, undivided, shows its subject acting in accordance with the ordination (of Heaven), and committing no error. His companions will come and share in his happiness.
象曰：有命无咎，志行也。
九五 · Line 5
休否，大人吉。其亡其亡，繫于包桑。
In the fifth NINE, undivided, we see him who brings the distress and obstruction to a close,--the great man and fortunate. (But let him say), 'We may perish! We may perish!' (so shall the state of things become firm, as if) bound to a clump of bushy mulberry trees.
象曰：大人之吉，位正當也。
上九 · Line 6
傾否，先否後喜。
The sixth NINE, undivided, shows the overthrow (and removal of) the condition of distress and obstruction. Before this there was that condition. Hereafter there will be joy.
象曰：否終則傾，何可長也。

English: James Legge (1882), public domain · Text · Image (Appendix II), sacred-texts.com.

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