Hexagram 60Upper Kan · WaterLower Dui · Lake

Jie · Limitation

节卦 · 水泽节

Moderation
Boundaries
Rhythm
Balance

The Judgment

Kieh intimates that (under its conditions) there will be progress and attainment. (But) if the regulations (which it prescribes) be severe and difficult, they cannot be permanent.

亨，苦节不可贞。

The Image

Water above the lake: limitation. The noble one, in the same way, sets measures and standards and considers what virtuous conduct is.

泽上有水，节。君子以制数度，议德行。

Plain-language reading

Your situation

It is time to set some boundaries in your life or work: on time, money, energy, or the give-and-take of relationships. Jie is water above the lake: the lake can hold water, but only so much, a symbol of moderation and limits. Without limits things overflow; with too many they dry up.

Where to put your effort

Build sensible rules and rhythms for yourself. Act within your means: spending, staffing and commitments all need a measure. But do not swing to the other extreme; limits that are too harsh cannot be sustained. Find a measure that feels comfortable and that you can keep up; that is sweet limitation.

Four areas of life

Career: Upright conduct brings fame and profit naturally.
Wealth: Run an honest business and wealth is attainable.
Family: A wealthy household; an auspicious marriage.
Health: Moderate your diet.

Health notes come from traditional texts and are cultural reference only. If you feel unwell, please see a doctor.

The six lines

Read from the bottom up: the first line is at the bottom, the top line is at the top. Open each line for details.

Nine at the beginningThe first line, undivided, shows its subject not quitting the courtyard outside his door. There will be no error.Moving

初九：不出户庭，无咎。

Image：Not going out of the courtyard: knowing when the way is open and when it is blocked.

Career: Stay in and cultivate yourself; peace is a blessing.
Wealth: Travelling trade is unfavourable; opening a shop works.
Family: A settled home; a well-suited couple.
Health: Rest quietly at home.

Nine in the second placeThe second line, undivided, shows its subject not quitting the courtyard inside his gate. There will be evil.Moving

九二：不出门庭，凶。

Image：Not going out of the gate, misfortune: the moment is completely missed.

Career: Sticking to old habits, you miss a good chance.
Wealth: Missing the moment; loss instead of profit.
Family: No one at home; loneliness and resentment are hard to avoid.
Health: Difficulty walking.

Six in the third placeThe third line, divided, shows its subject with no appearance of observing the (proper) regulations, in which case we shall see him lamenting. But there will be no one to blame (but himself).Moving

六三：不节若，则嗟若。无咎。

Image：The lament of having no limits: who else is to blame?

Career: Gained and then lost; helpless sighs.
Wealth: Not knowing how to keep money; you brought it on yourself.
Family: Rich first, poor later; joy first, sorrow later.
Health: Illness from an uncontrolled diet.

Six in the fourth placeThe fourth line, divided, shows its subject quietly and naturally (attentive to all) regulations. There will be progress and success.Moving

六四：安节，亨。

Image：The success of contented limitation: following the way of those above.

Career: Peace is a blessing; follow instructions.
Wealth: Living away from home, be frugal in everything.
Family: Safe and sound; a smooth marriage.
Health: Illness comes in through the mouth.

Nine in the fifth placeThe fifth line, undivided, shows its subject sweetly and acceptably enacting his regulations. There will be good fortune. The onward progress with them will afford ground for admiration.Moving

九五：甘节，吉，往有尚。

Image：The good fortune of sweet limitation: the position is central.

Career: After bitterness comes sweetness; recognition is certain.
Wealth: Selling rice elsewhere brings rich profit.
Family: Upright and thrifty; a lifelong, happy union.
Health: A moderate diet will cure it.

Six at the topThe topmost line, divided, shows its subject enacting regulations severe and difficult. Even with firmness and correctness there will be evil. But though there will be cause for repentance, it will (by and by) disappear.Moving

上六：苦节，贞凶。悔亡。

Image：Harsh limitation, persevering brings misfortune: the way runs out.

Career: Unable to adapt; a lifetime of hardship.
Wealth: A good chance missed; complaining is useless.
Family: Open-mindedness is best; stubbornness is hard to live with.
Health: The condition is critical.

Related hexagrams

Judgment and line texts from the public-domain translation by James Legge (1882). Readings by DeepHeart AI.

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