#4
Youthful Folly
蒙
— Méng
Upper trigram: Mountain (Gèn) · Lower trigram: Water (Kǎn)
Overall meaning
Hexagram Youthful Folly symbolizes the inexperience and confusion of youth. Upper trigram is Mountain (stillness), lower is Water (peril hidden below) — like a spring that does not yet know its way to the sea. This is the hexagram of learning, education, and seeking a teacher.
Judgment text (Thoán từ)
Youthful Folly has success. It is not I who seek the young fool; the young fool seeks me. At the first oracle I inform; if asked two or three times, that is impertinent — and I do not respond. Furthering through perseverance.
Line texts (6 lines)
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1
First Six: To enlighten folly, discipline is needed; if fetters are removed, regret follows. Children need some discipline; over-indulgence harms.
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2
Second Nine: To bear with fools brings good fortune. To take a wife brings good fortune. The son can manage the household. The capable person who tolerates and teaches the inferior — good fortune.
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3
Third Six: Do not take a maiden who, on seeing a wealthy man, abandons her own. Nothing furthers. The fool tempted by wealth, lacking will — avoid.
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4
Fourth Six: Folly in difficulty — humiliation. Surrounded by ignorance with no escape — humiliation follows.
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5
Fifth Six: Childlike folly — good fortune. The child learns with a pure, humble heart — will find a wise teacher and succeed.
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6
Top Nine: Smiting folly — does not further to commit transgressions, furthers to ward them off. Use discipline to prevent error, not to oppress.
Applications by topic
- Marriage
- Inexperienced in matters of the heart. Take time to know each other before deciding. Listen to advice from elders and the experienced.
- Career
- A phase of learning and skill-building. Find a good teacher and learn humbly. Not yet a time for independence — fulfill the role of student well.
- Wealth
- Lack of experience in managing finances. Avoid risky investment. Learn from those with experience before deciding alone.
- Health
- Watch kidney and urinary system. Irregular living invites illness. Learn self-care early.
- Lawsuit
- Lacking legal experience — hire a lawyer and an advisor. Do not act on your own; you may lose for lack of knowledge.
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