Line 4
Hexagram 55, Line 4 marks the turning point where persistent gloom begins to break through collaboration with an equal ally. Classical commentary highlights that humbling oneself to connect with capable counterparts below unlocks meaningful progress.
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I Ching / BaZi reading request (from eastalmanac.com). Page: Hexagram 55 丰 — 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/55/4
Occupying the start of the thunder trigram, Line 4 remains partly shadowed by mid-level obscurity, yet possesses the dynamism to connect downward with Line 1 as a kindred spirit.
Classical treatises emphasize that although the position lacks formal balance, taking concerted action with an equal partner brings good fortune. Reaching out across conventional divides to form pragmatic alliances will break open the present stagnation.
Professional obstacles begin to yield as you bypass bureaucratic inertia by partnering with skilled practitioners at the operational level.
Classical wisdom suggests that pride must give way to practical collaboration, seeking talent wherever it resides rather than waiting on top-down direction. You will overcome current gridlock by teaming up with dependable colleagues who share your pragmatic vision.
A period of emotional distance or ambiguity begins to lift as both partners put aside pride and communicate on equal footing. Traditional readings view this line as an invitation to rediscover mutual respect through straightforward, unpretentious dialogue.
Reaching out with vulnerability and mutual respect restores warmth and shared direction.
Financial conditions transition from stagnation toward viable opportunity through shared intelligence and collaborative ventures. The classical text indicates that joint efforts with trusted associates uncover practical pathways that solitary management could not reach.
Pooling resources with a pragmatic collaborator provides the leverage needed to restore financial momentum.
4. The fourth line, undivided, shows its subject in a tent so large and thick that at midday he can see from it the constellation of the Bushel. But he meets with the subject of the (first) line, undivided like himself. There will be good fortune.
‘He is surrounded by a screen large and thick:’—the position of the line is inappropriate. ‘At midday he sees the constellation of the Bushel:’—there is darkness and no light. ‘He meets with the subject of the line, undivided like himself.
There will be good fortune:’—action may be taken.
Zhouyi BenyiSmall Image
Though its substance is yielding and dim, if it can bring about the brightness of all under heaven, there will be celebration, praise, and good fortune. This is set forth to open the way precisely on account of its yielding dimness.
If the diviner can act thus, then the prognosis will be fulfilled.
Yichuan YizhuanLine statement
Although the fourth is yang and firm, serving as the master of action and occupying the station of a great minister, yet because it is neither central nor correct and encounters a ruler who is dark, yielding, and weak, how could it bring about greatness and abundance?
Therefore it is called 'making his screen large.' A screen is that which encloses and conceals on all sides; enclosing on all sides makes it lack greatness, and concealing makes it lack brightness.
'At midday seeing the Dipper' means that at the very height of brightness, things on the contrary turn dim and dark. 'Yi lord' means an equal companion; because they correspond, the other is called lord.
The first and the fourth are both yang; the first resides at the beginning, so their virtues are identical, and they occupy positions of mutual resonance. Thus the first is its equal lord.
Occupying the seat of a great minister and gaining the assistance of a worthy below who shares the same virtue—how could such aid be small? Therefore it is auspicious.
If one of talent like the fourth gains the assistance of a worthy below, can he bring about greatness and abundance?
The answer is: when one below has someone in the Correct Position above to associate with, and one above has a worthy talent below to assist him, how could there be no benefit? Hence it is auspicious.
Yet bringing abundance to all under heaven requires certain conditions before it can be achieved: the fifth is yin and yielding, occupying the honored seat, yet the Zhen body lacks the image of being hollow-centered, yielding, compliant, and humbling itself before worthies; though there be many worthies below, what can be done?
For unless one is yang, firm, central, and correct, one cannot bring abundance to all under heaven.
Yichuan YizhuanSmall Image
'The position is inappropriate' means that occupying a high position while being neither central nor correct is the reason one is dark and unable to bring about abundance.
This speaks of being murky and unable to be bright and clear, because the lord is yin and yielding while the minister is neither central nor correct. Yang and firm meeting each other is 'good fortune in action.'
Moving downward to approach the initial line is why it is called 'action'; seeking downward brings good fortune.
Zhouyi ZhuLine statement
By being yang residing in a yin position, he 'makes his screen large.' Gaining the first line enables him to express himself, so 'meeting his equal lord brings good fortune.'
Zhouyi ZhengyiLine statement
The Correct Meaning states: 'Making his screen large' means that Nine in the Fourth Place, being yang residing in a yin position, shares the darkness of Six in the Second Place; hence it is said, 'He makes his screen large.'
'At midday seeing the Dipper; meeting his equal lord brings good fortune': 'yi' means equal.
The fourth corresponds with the initial line, and both are yang lines; they are able to reveal and manifest each other and thereby obtain good fortune, hence it says, 'Meeting his equal lord brings good fortune.'
To say that the fourth and the initial mutually serve as lord to one another is like the meaning of host and guest. If viewed from the initial going to the fourth, then it takes the fourth as lord; hence it says 'meeting his matching lord.'
Going from the fourth to the initial, it takes the initial as lord; hence it says 'meeting his equal lord.' The two yang lines are of equal substance and both lords are evenly balanced; thus the initial calls the fourth 'xun' (peer), and the fourth calls the initial 'yi' (equal).
Zhouyi ZhengyiSmall Image
The Correct Meaning states: 'The position is inappropriate' merely means that being yang residing in a yin position makes the position inappropriate, which is why the screen is made large and obscure.
'Gloomy and not bright': at the height of midday one on the contrary sees the Dipper, which serves as a metaphor for residing in yin when one ought to be glorious and great; this means that where there ought to be brightness, it is dark and not bright.
'Good fortune in action': residing in a yin position is already extremely dark; if one were further to correspond with yin, there would be no way to obtain good fortune. Yet here one meets with yang, and therefore obtains good fortune in action.