Reading
Judgment
The Corners of the Mouth. Perseverance brings good fortune.
Look at the nourishment
and at what one seeks to fill one's own mouth with.
In the bestowing of care and nourishment, it is important that one provide for the right people, and that one provide for one's own nourishment in the right way. If one wants to know a person, one need only look at whom they bestow their care upon and which sides of their own being they cultivate and nourish. Nature nourishes all beings. The great man nourishes and cares for the capable, in order through them to provide for all people.
Mencius VI A 14 says on this: "If one wants to recognize whether someone is capable or not capable, one need only look at which part of their being they particularly take to be important. The body has noble and ignoble parts, important parts and lesser parts. One may not, for the sake of the lesser, injure the important; and for the sake of the ignoble, injure the noble. Whoever cultivates the lesser parts of their being is a lesser person. Whoever cultivates the noble parts of their being is a noble person."
Image
At the foot of the mountain is thunder: the image of Nourishment.
Thus the noble one is careful with their words
and temperate in eating and drinking.
"God comes forth in the sign of the Arousing." When in spring the life forces stir again, then all things come into being anew. "He completes in the sign of Keeping Still." So in early spring, when the seeds fall to the earth, all things are made ready. This gives the image of nourishment through motion and stillness. The noble one takes this as an example for the nourishment and cultivation of their character. Words are a motion going from within to without. Eating and drinking is motion going from without to within. Both kinds of motion are to be moderated through stillness. Thus stillness causes the words going out from the mouth not to exceed measure, and the food going into the mouth not to exceed measure. Thereby character is cultivated.
Commentary
The hexagram is the image of an open mouth: above and below the firm lips, and between them the opening of the mouth. From the image of the mouth, through which one takes in food to nourish oneself, the thought passes to nourishment itself. In the three lower lines one's own nourishment, namely bodily, is depicted; in the three upper lines, the nourishment and care of others, namely the spiritual, higher, is represented.
Changing Lines
Line 1
A nine at the beginning means:
You let your magic tortoise go
and look at me with drooping corners of the mouth.
Misfortune!
Commentary
The magic tortoise is a being that needs no earthly nourishment, but possesses such magic power that it can live on air. The image says that, according to one's kind and position, one could very well live freely and independently out of oneself. Instead, one renounces this inner independence and looks up with envy and displeasure to others who have it better outwardly. But this low envy only provokes mockery and contempt in the other. This is evil.
Line 2
A six in the second place means:
Turning to the summit for nourishment,
deviating from the path to seek nourishment from the hill:
if one continues thus, it brings misfortune.
Commentary
The normal is that one provides for one's own nourishment oneself, or lets oneself be nourished in a lawful way by those who have the duty and right to do so. If through inner weakness one is unable to provide for one's nourishment, an unease easily shows itself, in that, bypassing lawful acquisition, one lets one's livelihood be bestowed on one through favor from those in higher places. This is unworthy, for one deviates from one's kind. If continued, this leads to misfortune.
Line 3
A six in the third place means:
Turning away from nourishment.
Perseverance brings misfortune.
For ten years do not act thus. Nothing is furthering.
Commentary
Whoever seeks nourishment that does not nourish lurches from desire to enjoyment, and in enjoyment pines after desire. A passionate lurching to satisfy the senses never leads to the goal. Never (ten years is a completed period) may one act thus. Nothing good comes of it.
Line 4
A six in the fourth place means:
Turning to the summit for nourishment brings good fortune.
Looking about with sharp eyes like a tiger,
with insatiable desire. No blame.
Commentary
Unlike the six in the second place, which signifies a person busily concerned only with their own advantage, this line signifies a person who from a high position strives to let their light shine. For this they need helpers, because alone they cannot reach their high aim. Greedy as a hungry tiger, they are intent on finding the right people. But because they provide not for themself but for the general welfare, such eagerness is no fault.
Line 5
A six in the fifth place means:
Turning away from the path.
Staying in perseverance brings good fortune.
One should not cross the great water.
Commentary
One is conscious of a lack. One should provide for the nourishment of people, but one has not the strength to do so. Thus one must deviate from the accustomed path and ask advice and help from a spiritually superior but outwardly unassuming person. If one nurtures this disposition perseveringly, one has success and good fortune. Only one must remain conscious of one's dependence. One must not come forth with one's own person and try to undertake great works like crossing the great water.
Line 6
A nine at the top means:
The source of nourishment.
Awareness of danger brings good fortune.
It is favorable to cross the great water.
Commentary
Here is a sage of the highest kind, from whom go forth all the influences that provide for the nourishment of others. Such a position brings heavy responsibility. If they remain conscious of it, they have good fortune and may confidently undertake even great and difficult works like crossing the great water. These bring general happiness for them and for all.