䷣ Ming Yi míng yí
Core Meaning
The Ming Yi hexagram reveals the wisdom of maintaining light in darkness. Damaged light is not eternal failure but temporary concealment of brilliance. Like the sunset, it will rise again tomorrow; like King Wen's imprisonment, he will eventually see the light of day. Ming Yi advises: In the initial stage, decisively withdraw, 'lower one's wings' to act discreetly; if injured, know how to nurture oneself, 'with the help of a strong horse' to recover slowly; when engaging in conquest, seize the opportunity, 'obtain its great head' but do not be hasty; to understand the inner situation, be decisive, 'obtain the heart of Ming Yi' and leave; in the most difficult times, persevere, 'Jizi's Ming Yi' means the inner light must not be extinguished; tyranny will eventually perish, 'first ascending to heaven, then entering the earth' implies evil reaps evil. The wisdom of Ming Yi lies in: outer obscurity and inner light, bending the body but not the spirit, enduring temporarily to await the opportune moment. In modern society, Ming Yi is even more needed during adversity: maintain inner light and belief.
The Judgment
It is beneficial to persevere in adversity.
Interpretation:
The Ming Yi hexagram symbolizes the damage to light, benefiting from adhering to the right path in difficulty. The sun sinks beneath the earth, darkness falls, but the inner light must not be extinguished. Conceal one's brilliance and bide one's time until dawn.
The Image
Light enters the earth, Ming Yi; a superior person presides over the multitude, using obscurity to manifest brilliance.
Structure
The Ming Yi hexagram has Li (fire/sun) below and Kun (earth) above, forming the image of fire under the earth, or 'brightness injured'. The sun sinks below the horizon, and light is hidden in darkness. The lower trigram Li represents civilization and light, while the upper trigram Kun represents docility and compliance. Inner brightness accompanied by outer compliance is the way to survive in difficult circumstances. Ming Yi is the opposite of Jin (Progress), where the sun rises in the east and light gradually appears. Ming Yi signifies the sun setting in the west and light being damaged. However, Ming Yi is not true darkness; it is 'using obscurity to manifest brilliance,' seemingly concealing one's talents while maintaining inner light. Examples include King Wen being imprisoned and Jizi feigning madness; both embody the wisdom of Ming Yi. True light will not be extinguished in darkness; instead, it becomes more precious.
The Lines
The six lines are read from bottom to top, representing the progression from the foundation to the culmination.
Initial Nine: The wounded light flies, lowering its wings. A superior person travels, not eating for three days. If he has somewhere to go, the master has something to say.
Six in the Second Place: Wounded light, injured in the left thigh. With the help of a strong horse, good fortune.
Nine in the Third Place: Wounded light in the southern hunt, obtaining its great head. It is not advisable to rush in righteousness.
Six in the Fourth Place: Entering the left belly, obtaining the heart of Ming Yi, then leaving the courtyard.
Six in the Fifth Place: Jizi's wounded light, perseverance is beneficial.
Top Six: Not bright but dark. First ascending to heaven, then entering the earth.
Modern Interpretation
💼 Career & Business
When your career enters a dark period, you need to know how to conceal your brilliance and bide your time. 'Using obscurity to manifest brilliance' is fundamental; be low-key externally while maintaining inner resolve. If treated unfairly, like a bird 'lowering its wings,' act discreetly to avoid disaster. 'Not eating for three days' illustrates the spirit of sacrifice; temporary difficulties are for the long term. If struck or hurt, do not confront directly; 'with the help of a strong horse' slowly recover your strength. When the time is ripe, you can counterattack, 'southern hunt obtains its great head,' but 'not advisable to rush.' If you see that the situation is wrong, 'obtain the heart of Ming Yi' and decisively leave. In the most difficult times, learn from Jizi; 'light must not be extinguished' means your inner belief cannot die out. Believe that tyranny will not last, 'first ascending to heaven, then entering the earth' means justice will eventually triumph over evil.
❤️ Relationships
When your relationship encounters difficulties, maintain your inner light. 'Inner brightness and outer compliance' means adhering to true feelings internally but not being pushy externally. If the other person is cold, 'lower your wings' and wait discreetly, 'not eating for three days' patiently. Emotional wounds need to heal slowly, 'with the help of a strong horse,' time will cure everything. If the other person has problems, point them out at the right time, 'southern hunt obtains its great head' to resolve the core contradiction, but without haste. If you discover the other person's nature is bad, 'obtain the heart of Ming Yi,' see the truth clearly, and decisively leave. If true love faces external obstacles, learn from Jizi and persevere, 'perseverance is beneficial,' showing that the inner light must not be extinguished. Believe that true love will overcome difficulties, and false, violent relationships will 'enter the earth' and eventually perish.
🎯 Decision Making
When making decisions in adversity, maintain clarity. 'Beneficial to persevere in adversity' tells us that in difficulties, we must adhere to the right path. If the environment is unfavorable, conceal your brilliance, 'using obscurity to manifest brilliance,' and temporarily restrain yourself. When suppressed, respond discreetly, 'lower your wings' to avoid becoming a target. If you suffer losses, do not rush for revenge; 'with the help of a strong horse,' recover your strength first. Choose the right time to counterattack, 'southern hunt obtains its great head,' aiming at the crucial point, and 'not advisable to rush' or be impulsive. When clear about the situation, be decisive; 'obtain the heart of Ming Yi,' if you should go, then go. In the most difficult times, persevere, 'Jizi's Ming Yi' means holding onto your inner light and belief. Believe that justice will ultimately prevail, 'first ascending to heaven, then entering the earth' means evil cannot suppress good. Remember: darkness is only temporary; it is darkest before dawn; perseverance leads to victory.
⚠️ Warning & Caution
The greatest warning of Ming Yi is not to lose light in darkness. 'Light must not be extinguished' is the core; inner belief cannot die out. 'First ascending to heaven, then entering the earth' warns: although tyranny may gain power for a time, it will eventually perish. But also be wary: when 'lowering your wings,' do not truly give up flying; concealing brilliance is not eternal submission. 'Not eating for three days' can be endured, but you cannot starve yourself forever. 'With the help of a strong horse' means seizing the opportunity; you cannot heal forever without moving forward. 'Southern hunt' requires caution; 'not advisable to rush' means haste will lead to failure. 'Obtain the heart of Ming Yi' means being decisive; if you see the truth and still don't leave, it's foolish. Be wary of losing faith in darkness, letting the concealment of brilliance turn into true cowardice, missing opportunities to counterattack, and sinking deeper by not leaving when you should. Remember: Ming Yi is a temporary strategy, not a permanent state.
Applicable Scenarios
The Ming Yi hexagram can provide guidance and inspiration when you encounter the following situations:
Historical Context & Cultural Heritage
King Wen of Zhou being imprisoned in Youli is a prime example of Ming Yi. King Zhou was incompetent, 'not bright but dark,' while King Wen was a sage, 'inner brightness.' When imprisoned, he 'lowered his wings,' no longer soaring high, 'not eating for three days,' enduring hardship. He 'used obscurity to manifest brilliance,' outwardly studying the I Ching, while internally adhering to the right path. He was 'injured in the left thigh,' but 'with the help of a strong horse,' he completed the I Ching in adversity. He did not rush to resist, 'not advisable to rush,' waiting for the opportune moment. Finally, he was released, 'leaving the courtyard' of the prison. This was not submission but 'Jizi's Ming Yi,' where 'light must not be extinguished,' and the inner light never died. King Zhou 'first ascended to heaven,' gaining power for a time, but ultimately 'entered the earth,' leading to his own demise. King Wen's son, King Wu, successfully conquered Zhou. This is precisely the wisdom of Ming Yi: maintaining light in darkness, enduring humiliation for a greater purpose, and eventually seeing the light of day.
Related Hexagrams
Based on the connections between hexagrams, the following are also worth exploring:
Deepen Your Understanding
This interpretation provides a foundational understanding of the Ming Yi hexagram. For a deeper comprehension, consider:
- • Reading commentaries from classical scholars and modern interpreters
- • Studying the hexagram's position within the overall sequence of the 64 hexagrams
- • Reflecting on how its wisdom applies to your current life situation
- • Exploring the changing lines and their resulting hexagrams in divination
Authoritative Resources
Want to explore the I Ching more deeply? These authoritative resources provide scholarly perspectives: