Darkening of the Light

明夷于飛，垂其翼。君子于行，三日不食。有攸往，主人有言。

Light is wounded in flight, and its wings hang down. The exemplary person travels without food for three days. There is somewhere to go, though the host voices criticism.

Wounded flight begins at Line 1, where lower Fire first meets the ground. Changing that firm base to yielding makes Mountain below Earth and gives Hexagram 15, a low and bounded place.

明夷，夷于左股，用拯馬壯，吉。

The light is darkened; the left thigh is wounded. A strong horse is used for rescue. Favorable.

Line 2 is wounded in the thigh but remains within reach of rescue. Making Fire's center firm turns the lower trigram into Heaven and produces Hexagram 11, Heaven beneath Earth.

明夷于南狩，得其大首，不可疾貞。

The light is darkened. In the southern hunt, the great leader is captured. Restoring what is right must not be rushed.

The southern hunt and capture of the chief occur at Line 3, the upper edge of inner Fire. The traditional reading pairs decisive removal with patience in restoring order. Changing Line 3 makes Thunder below Earth, Hexagram 24.

入于左腹，獲明夷之心，于出門庭。

Entering the left side of the belly, one reaches the heart of the darkening, then goes out through the gate and courtyard.

Line 4 enters a concealed interior and then leaves through the gate. Zhu Xi marks the passage as uncertain and tentatively reads it as discovering the inner intention and withdrawing. Changing Line 4 makes Thunder above Fire, Hexagram 55.

箕子之明夷，利貞。

The wounding of Jizi's light. Constancy is beneficial.

Jizi appears at Line 5, the center of outer Earth, as the named instance of obscured light. When that line turns firm, Water stands above Fire and the figure is Hexagram 63, an ordered crossing.

不明晦，初登于天，後入于地。

No light, only darkness. At first it rises to heaven; afterward it enters the earth.

At Line 6, ascent has reversed into darkness and descent. A firm top changes Earth to Mountain and yields Hexagram 22, where Fire remains beneath visible form.