Hexagram 20 · ䷓

Contemplation

觀 · Guān

Upper Wind 巽Lower Earth 坤

The Judgment · 卦辭

盥而不薦，有孚顒若。

Kwân shows (how he whom it represents should be like) the worshipper who has washed his hands, but not (yet) presented his offerings;--with sincerity and an appearance of dignity (commanding reverent regard).

The Image · 大象

風行地上，觀；先王以省方，觀民設教。

(The trigram representing) the earth, and that for wind moving above it, form Kwan. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, examined the (different) regions (of the kingdom), to see the (ways of the) people, and set forth their instructions.

Plain-English Meaning

Contemplation. Step back, observe deeply, and let your sincerity be seen.

The Judgment

Like the moment before an offering, quiet, sincere attention inspires trust.

The Image

Like wind moving over the earth, look closely at the world around you and respond to it.

Editorial summary written for this site; not a translation.

The Lines · 爻辭

初六 · Line 1
童觀，小人无咎，君子吝。
The first SIX, divided, shows the looking of a lad;--not blamable in men of inferior rank, but matter for regret in superior men.
象曰：初六童觀，小人道也。
六二 · Line 2
窺觀，利女貞。
The second SIX, divided, shows one peeping out from a door. It would be advantageous if it were (merely) the firm correctness of a female.
象曰：窺觀女貞，亦可醜也。
六三 · Line 3
觀我生，進退。
The third SIX, divided, shows one looking at (the course of) his own life, to advance or recede (accordingly).
象曰：觀我生，進退；未失道也。
六四 · Line 4
觀國之光，利用賓于王。
The fourth SIX, divided, shows one contemplating the glory of the kingdom. It will be advantageous for him, being such as he is, (to seek) to be a guest of the king.
象曰：觀國之光，尚賓也。
九五 · Line 5
觀我生，君子无咎。
The fifth NINE, undivided, shows its subject contemplating his own life(-course). A superior man, he will (thus) fall into no error.
象曰：觀我生，觀民也。
上九 · Line 6
觀其生，君子无咎。
The sixth NINE, undivided, shows its subject contemplating his character to see if it be indeed that of a superior man. He will not fall into error.
象曰：觀其生，志未平也。

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

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