Skip navigation, go to main content
#36

Darkening of the Light

明夷 — Míng Yí
Upper trigram: Earth (Kūn) · Lower trigram: Fire (Lí)

Overall meaning

Hexagram Darkening of the Light symbolizes light obscured and endurance in hardship. Upper trigram is Earth, lower is Fire — sun setting beneath the earth, light hidden. This is the hexagram of dark times when the worthy are oppressed and must endure, preserving inner light.

Judgment text (Thoán từ)

Darkening of the Light: in adversity, perseverance furthers. In darkness, hold firm to virtue and mettle.

Line texts (6 lines)

  1. 1
    First Nine: Darkening of the light — flying lower with drooping wings — the superior person, on three days' journey, does not eat — there is somewhere to go — the host has words. Talent buried, must endure on the way.
  2. 2
    Second Six: Darkening of the light wounds him in the left thigh — give aid with the strength of a horse — good fortune. Wounded but still helping others — good fortune.
  3. 3
    Third Nine: Darkening of the light in the south — in the chase one captures the great chief — one must not expect perseverance too soon. Defeating the head of darkness — do not be hasty.
  4. 4
    Fourth Six: Penetrates the left side of the belly — gets at the very heart of the dark light — and leaves gate and courtyard. Enter the heart of darkness, see clearly, and exit.
  5. 5
    Fifth Six: Darkening of the light as with Prince Chi — perseverance furthers. Like Prince Chi at the court of King Chou — keep virtue in darkness.
  6. 6
    Top Six: Not light but darkness — first he climbed up to heaven, then he plunged into the depths of the earth. The great evildoer obscures the light, in the end is swallowed by the earth — misfortune.

Applications by topic

Marriage
The relationship is in a hard, obscured phase. Endure and wait. Hold love within, await the moment to express.
Career
Talent unrecognized, oppressed by the wicked. Endure, don't show talent too early. Keep virtue and await change.
Wealth
Finances strained by external conditions. Preserve capital, no risk. Wait for conditions to change before investing.
Health
Health weakened by stress and pressure. Protect health in hard conditions. Rest and keep an optimistic spirit.
Lawsuit
Position bad, blocked by the powerful. Endure and await. Gather evidence quietly, await chance to counter.

✨ AI-powered deep analysis

Get a detailed reading tailored to your situation — free, daily limit applies.

← View all 64 hexagrams