21. Shih Ho

	Biting through
	Upper Trigram:	Li, Clinging Brightness, Fire
	Lower Trigram:	Chen, Thunderclap, Movement
	Governing Ruler:	Six in the fifth place

The Image
Thunder and lightning: the image of Shih Ho. The ancient kings, in accordance with this, framed their penalties with intelligence, and made public their laws.

Miscellaneous Signs
Shih Ho takes eating for its theme, and Pi takes what is plain, from ornament quite free.

The Judgement
Shih Ho, in the condition of things which it presupposes, indicates great progress and success. It will be advantageous to use legal constraints.

See also: Ta Chuan - Section 2, Chapter II-4.

Commentary
The existence of something between the jaws gives rise to the name Shih Ho: union by means of eliminating (biting through) the intervening obstacle. This union indicates 'the great progress and success', denoted by the hexagram. The strong and weak lines are equally divided in the hexagram. Movement is denoted by the inner trigram, bright intelligence by the outer; thunder and lightning uniting in them, and having brilliant manifestations. The weak fifth line is in the centre, and acts in its high position. Although it is not in its proper position, this is advantageous for the use of legal constraints.

The Lines and commentaries
Bottom nine
Showing one with his feet in the stocks and deprived of his toes. There will be no error.

See also: Ta Chuan - Section 2, Chapter V-7.

'His feet are in the stocks and he is deprived of his toes': there is no walking to do evil.

Six in the second place
Showing one biting through soft flesh and proceeding to bite off the nose. There will be no error.

'He is biting through soft flesh and proceeding to bite off the nose': marking the strong bottom line.

Six in the third place
Gnawing dried flesh, and meeting with what is injurious. There will be occasion for some small regret, but no great error.

'He meets with what is disagreeable and hurtful': his position is not the proper one for him.

Nine in the fourth place
Showing one gnawing the dried flesh on the bone, and getting the pledges of money and arrows. It will be advantageous for him to realise the difficulty of his task, and be firm, in which case there will be no error.

'It will be advantageous for him to realise the difficulty of his task, and be firm, in which case there will be no error': his light has not yet been sufficiently displayed.

Six in the fifth place
Showing one gnawing at dried flesh, and finding yellow gold. Let him be firm and correct, realising the peril of his position, and there will be no error.

'Let him be firm and correct, realising the peril of his position, and there will be no error': he will possess every quality appropriate to his position and task.

Top-most nine
One wearing the cangue, and deprived of his ears. There will be evil.

See also: Ta Chuan - Section 2, Chapter V-8.

'He is wearing the cangue, and is deprived of his ears': he hears, but will not understand.