Ming Yi (Darkening of Light) (地火明夷)

Light enters into the dark earth. Hide your brilliance and endure trials with quiet inner dignity until dawn.

The light has sunk into the earth: The image of Darkening of the Light. Thus does the superior man live with the great mass: he veils his light, yet still shines.

1. Line 1 初九Bottom line (1st) · Yang明夷于飛，垂其翼。君子于行，三日不食，有攸往，主人有言。Darkening of the light in flight; he lowers his wings. The noble person on a journey goes three days without eating; wherever he goes, the host has complaints.
2. Line 2 六二2nd line · Yin明夷，夷于左股，用拯馬壯，吉。Darkening of the light: wounded in the left thigh; he is rescued by a strong horse: good fortune.
3. Line 3 九三3rd line · Yang明夷于南狩，得其大首，不可疾貞。Darkening of the light during a hunt in the south; he captures the great leader. One must not hurry to set things right.
4. Line 4 六四4th line · Yin入于左腹，獲明夷之心，于出門庭。Entering the left side of the belly, he grasps the heart of the darkening; he leaves by the gate and courtyard.
5. Line 5 六五5th line · Yin箕子之明夷，利貞。The darkening of the light of Prince Ji; steadfastness is beneficial.
6. Line 6 上六Top line (6th) · Yin不明晦，初登于天，後入于地。Not light but darkness; first he climbed to the heavens, afterwards he plunged into the earth.

Original line texts are transcribed from Wikisource (周易). The English renderings are literal working drafts under editorial review and may change.