Hexagram 19 · ䷒

Approach

臨 · Lín

Upper Earth 坤Lower Lake 兌

The Judgment · 卦辭

元亨。利貞。至于八月有凶。

Lin (indicates that under the conditions supposed in it) there will be great progress and success, while it will be advantageous to be firmly correct. In the eighth month there will be evil.

The Image · 大象

澤上有地，臨；君子以教思无窮，容保民无疆。

(The trigram for) the waters of a marsh and that for the earth above it form Lin. The superior man, in accordance with this, has his purposes of instruction that are inexhaustible, and nourishes and supports the people without limit.

Plain-English Meaning

Approach. Something good is drawing near; meet it with care and generous attention.

The Judgment

Approach brings success, but its season will not last forever; use it well.

The Image

Like the land overlooking a lake, keep teaching and supporting others without limit.

Editorial summary written for this site; not a translation.

The Lines · 爻辭

初九 · Line 1
咸臨，貞吉。
The first NINE, undivided, shows its subject advancing in company (with the subject of the second line). Through his firm correctness there will be good fortune.
象曰：咸臨貞吉，志行正也。
九二 · Line 2
咸臨，吉无不利。
The second NINE, undivided, shows its subject advancing in company (with the subject of the first line). There will be good fortune; (advancing) will be in every way advantageous.
象曰：咸臨，吉无不利；未順命也。
六三 · Line 3
甘臨，无攸利。既憂之，无咎。
The third SIX, divided, shows one well pleased (indeed) to advance, (but whose action) will be in no way advantageous. If he become anxious about it (however), there will be no error.
象曰：甘臨，位不當也。既憂之，咎不長也。
六四 · Line 4
至臨，无咎。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows one advancing in the highest mode. There will be no error.
象曰：至臨无咎，位當也。
六五 · Line 5
知臨，大君之宜，吉。
The fifth SIX, divided, shows the advance of wisdom, such as befits the great ruler. There will be good fortune.
象曰：大君之宜，行中之謂也。
上六 · Line 6
敦臨，吉无咎。
The sixth SIX, divided, shows the advance of honesty and generosity. There will be good fortune, and no error.
象曰：敦臨之吉，志在內也。

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

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