Hexagram 20 · ䷓
Contemplation requires preparation. The cleansing has been made but the offering not yet presented. The people look up with full trust.
Judgment
Contemplation requires preparation. The cleansing has been made but the offering not yet presented. The people look up with full trust.
Image
Wind blowing over the earth represents the image of Contemplation. The kings of old traveled through their realm, observed the people, and gave them proper instruction.
Lines
Childish, superficial contemplation brings no blame to the inferior person but brings humiliation to the superior person. Peering through the crack of the door brings furtherance t...
The washing has been performed, but not yet the offering. There is sincerity and solemn reverence.
Contemplation requires preparation. The cleansing has been made but the offering not yet presented. The people look up with full trust.
A great vision is above: compliant and gentle, centered and correct, one contemplates the world. In Contemplation, the washing has been performed but the offering not yet presented; there is sincerity and solemn reverence, and those below look on and are transformed. By contemplating the divine way of heaven, one sees that the four seasons do not go astray. The sage uses the divine way to establish teaching, and all under heaven submits.
Contemplation means looking over the world from a high and centered place. Reverent sincerity, shown before the offering is made, transforms those below. By contemplating the divine way, one sees how the seasons do not go astray. The sage uses this same spirit of contemplation to establish teaching, and all under heaven submits.
The wind blows over the earth: the image of Contemplation. The kings of old visited the regions of the world, contemplated the people, and gave them instruction.
Wind blowing over the earth represents the image of Contemplation. The kings of old traveled through their realm, observed the people, and gave them proper instruction.
Boylike contemplation. For an inferior man, no blame. For a superior man, humiliation.
Childish, superficial contemplation brings no blame to the inferior person but brings humiliation to the superior person.
Small Image
Boylike contemplation shows the humility of an inferior man.
Boylike contemplation demonstrates the limited vision of the inferior person.
Contemplation through the crack of the door. Furthering for the perseverance of a woman.
Peering through the crack of the door brings furtherance to the perseverance of a woman, but not to one with broader vision.
Small Image
Contemplation through the crack of the door is a thing for a woman to further.
Contemplation through the door crack suits a woman who should remain in her proper sphere.
Contemplation of my life decides the choice between advance and retreat.
Contemplating one's own life helps decide whether to advance or retreat. Self-reflection guides action.
Small Image
Contemplation of my life decides the choice. One has not yet lost the way.
Contemplating one's life to decide shows one has not yet lost the correct way.
Contemplation of the light of the kingdom. It furthers one to exert influence as a guest of the king.
Contemplating the light of the kingdom furthers one to serve as the king's guest, exerting influence from within.
Small Image
Contemplation of the light of the kingdom shows the yielding who finds place above.
Contemplating the kingdom's light shows the yielding properly placed above.
Contemplation of my life. The superior man is without blame.
Contemplating one's own life, the superior person remains without blame through constant self-examination.
Small Image
Contemplation of my life; the superior man is without blame. One has not yet lost the way.
The superior person contemplating his life remains blameless, having not lost the way.
Contemplation of his life. The superior man is without blame.
Contemplating his own life, the superior person remains without blame, for his will remains connected to the world.
Small Image
Contemplation of his life; the superior man is without blame. The will has not yet lost the world.
The superior person contemplating his life remains blameless because his will embraces the world.
What does Kuan / Contemplation mean in the I Ching?
Contemplation requires preparation. The cleansing has been made but the offering not yet presented. The people look up with full trust.
How should I study Hexagram 20 on this page?
Start with the judgment and image, then read the line statements in sequence. Childish, superficial contemplation brings no blame to the inferior person but brings humiliation to the superior person. Peering through the crack of the door brings furtherance t...
How can this hexagram be applied in a modern reading?
Contemplation means looking over the world from a high and centered place. Reverent sincerity, shown before the offering is made, transforms those below. By contemplating the divine way, one sees how the seasons do not g...
Primary text: Zhouyi / I Ching, including the Judgment, Image, line texts, and related commentaries.
Translation basis: public-domain and modern study references, with AI used only as a learning aid.