Hexagram 27 of 64
Nourishment
yi · 颐
TL;DR
- ◈Hexagram 27, Nourishment, is summarized by the Judgment: The Corners of the Mouth. Perseverance brings good fortune. Pay heed to the providing of nourishment.
- ◈Its structure is Mountain above Thunder; read the trigram interaction before treating it as a simple label.
- ◈Core keywords: nourishment, sustenance, speech, moderation.
By the Numbers
- #27
- King Wen Order
- Nourishment in the 64-hexagram sequence.
- 2
- Trigrams
- Mountain above Thunder.
- 6
- Lines
- Each hexagram is read from bottom to top.
Classical Context
Hexagram 27, Yí (頤), is the hexagram of Nourishment — the art of feeding body, mind, and spirit correctly. Composed of Gèn (☶ Mountain) above and Zhèn (☳ Thunder) below: the mountain contains thunder — the image of a mouth, with firm lines at top and bottom (the jaws) and soft lines within (the space for food). What you nourish determines what you become.
This expanded note is adapted from the long-form hexagram draft as cultural and textual context; a live reading still depends on the question, changing lines, and the full transformation pattern.
Six-Line Theme Map
I Ching lines are read from the bottom upward. This map runs from the initial line to the top line so the Judgment, Image, and moving-line position can be read together.
- L1
初九 · 舍尔灵龟
Abandoning the sacred turtle — greed
- L2
六二 · 颠颐
Inverted nourishment — seeking below
- L3
六三 · 拂颐
Wrong nourishment — ten years no benefit
- L4
六四 · 颐虎视眈眈
Nourishing like a tiger watching
- L5
六五 · 拂经居贞
Against the norm — depend on the wise
- L6
上九 · 由颐厉吉
Source of nourishment — responsibility
Deep Reading
The mouth as a gate of cultivation
Yi draws attention to the mouth: what enters, what is spoken, and what kind of life those inputs create. The Judgment asks the reader to observe nourishment and seek mouth-substance through personal effort. Nourishment is therefore responsibility, not mere consumption.
- •The hexagram shape resembles a mouth, firm at top and bottom, open within.
- •The Image pairs careful speech with moderation in food and drink.
- •The first line warns against abandoning inner wisdom for appetite.
- •The third line shows that wrong nourishment can waste a long cycle.
Feeding self and feeding others
Yi is not limited to private diet. The later lines ask how nourishment is provided to others and who becomes the source. Tiger-like attention is not aggression here; it is focused care. The top line carries both danger and good fortune because the source of nourishment has responsibility.
- •Seeking nourishment below can invert the proper order.
- •Depending on the wise may be correct when one's own position is limited.
- •Focused attention can make nourishment reliable.
- •Those who feed others must hold boundaries and accountability.
Reading Yi in a live question
- Information and speech
- Review what you consume mentally and what your words feed in others. Careful speech is part of nourishment.
- Food, habits, or body care
- Use Yi as a prompt for moderation and self-responsibility. For diet or medical concerns, qualified professional guidance comes first.
- Caring for others
- Nourishment requires focus and boundaries. Giving everything without structure can become wrong nourishment.
Source Notes
- Primary text
- This reading follows the Zhouyi Yi Judgment, Image, and line statements, especially observing nourishment, seeking mouth-substance, careful speech, moderated intake, wrong nourishment, and the source of nourishment.
- Zhouyi: Yi Judgment, Image, and line statements
- Method boundary
- Yi is used here as a symbolic framework for nourishment, speech, and responsibility. It is not nutrition, medical, or mental-health advice.
- CosmicTao editorial method note
Interpretation
Yes, if you nourish the right things. Choose wisely.
Upper Trigram
Mountain
Lower Trigram
Thunder
The Judgment (King Wen)
The Corners of the Mouth. Perseverance brings good fortune. Pay heed to the providing of nourishment.
The Image
At the foot of the mountain, thunder: the image of Providing Nourishment.
Keywords
FAQ
What is Hexagram 27 (Nourishment)?
The Corners of the Mouth. Perseverance brings good fortune. Pay heed to the providing of nourishment.
What is the geometric structure of Hexagram 27?
Hexagram 27 acts with the upper trigram Mountain and the lower trigram Thunder.
What are the core themes of Nourishment?
The core themes and meanings include: nourishment, sustenance, speech, moderation.