21 BITING THROUGH

Thunder and lightning.

	Fire Clarity
	Thunder Shock

This is a situation where you are annoyed by an obstruction and decide to do something about it. Strength without cruelty is needed.
Penalties are necessary in order to intimidate people who would not be reasonable otherwise.
People with bad intentions create obstructions deliberately and are hard to stop. You may not like to cause shock or be violent; but sometimes it is necessary and the best thing to do.

21 LINES

1) 9 at the start

a) His shoes are locked away. Disabling the feet. No blame.

b) Preventing movement.

Here you have to deal with somebody who is difficult and stubborn. A mild punishment, at an early stage, should prevent further problems. The example here is a simple way to stop someone going out; by hiding their shoes.

Confucius said about this line: "The inferior man is not ashamed of unkindness and does not shrink from injustice. If no advantage beckons, he makes no effort. If he is not intimidated, he does not improve himself, but if he is made to behave correctly in small matters he is careful in large ones. This is fortunate for the inferior man."

2) 6 in 2nd throw

a) Bites through flesh. The nose is cut off. No blame.

b) Controlling the persistent.

Somebody deliberately annoys you and goes too far. There is a danger that you will do something a bit excessive; like biting off their nose. There is no blame since they were asking for it and therefore they cannot complain about the results.

3) 6 in 3rd throw

a) Bites on old dried meat. Finds something unpleasant.
Evil is shamed. No blame.

b) A bad situation.

This line means that you need to deal with someone; but you are not in a good position to do anything. There is a danger that you will not do something soon enough, and that you will have a difficult time of it, when you do try. It still needs to be done even so.

4) 9 in 4th throw

a) Biting on dry old bones. Gaining a metal arrow.
Benefits due to hard work and perseverance. Good fortune.

b) Not yet a success.

There are still some difficult barriers that you will have to work your way through. This will be a long hard job, but if you are careful you will be unharmed, and it will bring good fortune later.

5) 6 on 5th throw

a) Bites on dried meat. Receives yellow metal.
Perseverance brings danger. No blame.

b) Gaining what is appropriate.

You are in a responsible position and you know what needs to be done. Although you might prefer to be lenient and avoid trouble, it is obvious that something serious needs to be done. Provided you are constantly careful, the results will be good, and many people will be grateful.

6) 9 at the top

a) Why are you in prison covering your ears? Misfortune.

b) Not learning.

This line represents a person who is arrogant and takes no notice of a warning. Consequently, he is punished.

Confucius said about this line: "If good does not accumulate, it is not enough to make a name for a man. If evil does not accumulate it is not enough to destroy a man. Therefore the inferior man thinks to himself 'goodness in small things has no value' and so neglects it. He thinks 'small sins do no harm' and so does not give them up. Thus his sins accumulate until they can no longer be covered up, and his guilt so great that it can no longer be ignored."