Grace
贲 (Bì)
Hexagram #22
Hexagram Structure
Upper Trigram
Mountain
Lower Trigram
Fire
Core Essence
Keywords
Meaning
Represents the importance of beauty, grace, and cultural refinement in life.
Guidance
Pay attention to aesthetics and refinement. Beauty and grace enhance effectiveness.
Classical Texts
Judgment
Grace has success. In small matters it is favorable to undertake something.
贲：亨。小利有攸往。
Image
Fire at the foot of the mountain: the image of Grace. Thus does the superior man proceed when clearing up current affairs. But he dare not decide controversial issues in this way.
山下有火，贲；君子以明庶政，无敢折狱。
Hexagram Story & Origin
The Grace hexagram emphasizes the aesthetic concept of balancing substance and form. 'Bi' means decoration and beautification, but in moderation. Confucius said 'If substance exceeds refinement, one becomes crude; if refinement exceeds substance, one becomes superficial. Only when substance and refinement are balanced does one become a gentleman.' The Bi hexagram teaches us: external beautification must be built on the foundation of inner quality; true beauty is the harmonious unity of inner and outer cultivation. Modern society needs this character of inner and outer cultivation even more.
Detailed Analysis
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