Zhouyi BenyiSmall Image
Six in the Fifth Place occupies the place of the jaws, hence its image is such; its divination is that regret vanishes. 'Regret' refers to occupying a yang position with a yin line.
52. Keeping Still (Mountain) (艮)
Line 4
4. The fourth line, divided, shows its subject keeping his trunk at rest. There will be no error.
Modern reading
Six in the fourth place rests correctly at the base of the upper mountain, embodying the quiet virtue of restraining one's own trunk and impulses. Classical interpretations praise this position for maintaining disciplined self-containment without fault.
Ask your AI about this page
Links prefill your prompt without sending it — you stay in control. If a link fails, copy the prompt below.
Prompt preview
I Ching / BaZi reading request (from eastalmanac.com). Page: Hexagram 52 艮 — Line 4. Interpret through classical principles in two layers: 1) Structural Evidence: identify key line dynamics, changing line pivot, or element balance. 2) Actionable Verdict: direct answer to the inquiry in plain language, followed by 2–3 concrete next steps (action-verb first) and mindful cautions. Grounded wisdom for self-reflection. Source page: https://eastalmanac.com/yijing/52/4
I Ching casting
A yielding line in an appropriate yin place transforming toward Hexagram 56, this line reflects stillness applied directly to the self. The Commentary on the Image highlights resting the body as an act of personal discipline that asks nothing excessive from the outer world.
Focusing on your own conduct and keeping within your lane reliably keeps trouble at bay.
Career
In shifting workplace environments, focusing strictly on your designated responsibilities keeps you clear of external office politics. Classical accounts view this line as self-preservation through quiet competence, avoiding unnecessary entanglements while fulfilling core duties.
Doing your job well without meddling in others' affairs secures your professional standing.
Love & relationships
Emotional harmony flourishes when each partner manages their personal reactions instead of projecting insecurities onto the relationship. Traditional readings interpret this restraint as giving both individuals room to breathe, preventing unnecessary friction over minor habits.
Cultivating your own emotional balance offers your partner the stability needed for true intimacy.
Wealth
Managing resources under this line requires steady moderation and living strictly within your established means. The symbolism of keeping the torso still suggests holding steady assets rather than chasing outward trends or overextending credit.
Exercising personal restraint in spending protects your material security over the long term.
References
Original text
Small Image
‘He keeps the trunk of his body at rest:’—he keeps himself free (from agitation).
Classical commentary
Yichuan YizhuanLine statement
The fourth line is the position of a great minister, who stops what ought to be stopped under heaven. Being yin and yielding, and not meeting a firm, yang ruler, it cannot stop others; it can only stop its own body, which allows it to be without blame.
The reason it can be without blame is that it stops in correctness. Saying that stopping its own body brings no blame shows that it cannot stop external things; applied to government, it would incur blame.
Dwelling in a high position yet only capable of perfecting one's own person is utterly unworthy of praise.
Yichuan YizhuanSmall Image
Unable to effect stopping for all under heaven, it can only stop its own person; how could this be worthy of the position of a great minister?
Zhouyi ZhuLine statement
The middle-upper region is called the torso. Treading and obtaining its proper position, it seeks stopping within its own person and attains its proper place, hence it does not fall into blame.
Zhouyi ZhuSmall Image
It stops its own person, not dividing the whole body.
Zhouyi ZhengyiLine statement
Six in the Fourth Place: Keeping still his torso, without blame.
The Correct Meaning states: As for 'Keeping still his torso, without blame,' 'the middle-upper region is called the torso.'
Six in the Fourth Place dwells in the time of stopping, having already entered the upper trigram; treading and obtaining its position, it seeks stopping within its own person and does not fall into blame, hence it says: 'Keeping still his torso, without blame.'
'Seek' means to demand of; 'within' refers to oneself.
Zhouyi ZhengyiSmall Image
From 'The Symbolism says' to 'stopping within his own person.'
The Correct Meaning states: 'Stopping within his own person' means being able to keep one's own body quiet without rash movement.
Note: 'It stops its own person, not dividing the whole body.'
The Correct Meaning states: Hexagram-52 combines its two trigrams to form two bodies; when the two trigrams are undivided, it is considered complete, and only when complete is it called the body.
Nine in the Third Place resides at the boundary of the two trigrams, in the middle of the body, not yet having entered the upper trigram; this means stopping at the lower trigram without communicating with the upper, which is why the body is divided and the spine cleaved.
Six in the Fourth Place has already entered the upper trigram, so upper and lower are not disconnected; thus it can encompass and stop its body without dividing the whole body. But if 'body' is a collective name, why is it said that 'the middle-upper region is called the torso'?
Because reaching the middle divides the body and ruins it, whereas entering the upper trigram leaves it undivided and complete.
Nine in the Third Place applies stopping to the severed body, hence it is called 'the waist'; Six in the Fourth Place applies stopping to the whole body, hence it is called 'the torso.' It is not that the middle-upper alone is the body while the middle-lower is not.